NSR 2008 Event Risk Assessment

NSR 2008
Risk Assessment for Events at the National Water Sports Centre

Risk Assessment Matrix

Severity of Outcome
Probability of Accidents	Slightly harmful (Low)	Harmful (Medium)	Extremely harmful (High)
Highly unlikely (Low)	Trivial Risk	Tolerable Risk	Moderate Risk
Unlikely (Medium)	Tolerable Risk	Moderate Risk	Substantial Risk
Likely (High)	Moderate Risk	Substantial Risk	Intolerable Risk

Risks and Actions

RISK LEVEL	ACTION AND TIMESCALE
Trivial	No action required.
Tolerable	No additional controls are required. Consideration may be given to a more effective solution or improvement.
Moderate	Efforts should be made to reduce the risk. Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined time period. Where the moderate risk is associated with harmful/serious consequences further assessment may be necessary to establish more precisely the likelihood of harm as a basis for determining the need for improved control measures.
Substantial	The activity should not be started until the risk has been reduced. Considerable resources may have to be allocated to reduce the risk. Where the risk involves activity already in progress, urgent action should be taken.
Intolerable	Activity should not be started or continued until the risk has been reduced. If it is not possible to reduce risk even with unlimited resources, activity has to remain prohibited.

Risks at the National Water Sports Centre

Note : All distances are from the start.

Risk	Probability H / M / L	Severity H / M / L	Risk Level	Planned Action to Control Risk
Risks that apply to all events
Collision in boating area	Low	Medium	Tolerable	North bank landing stage to be used only for embarkation. Two northerly stages in the boating are to be used for embarkation only. Two southerly stages are to be used only for disembarkation. No other stages to be used at any time.
Collision between crews rowing in opposite directions during practice	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Practice Circulation Pattern in Safety Instructions leaves empty lanes between crews going in opposite directions. Lanes 5 and 6 are closed by large buoys at each end of the course
Collision between crews rowing in different directions during racing	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Lane 7 only to be used going to the start. Lane 5 only to be used for warming up between 1000m and 1500m. The draw for repechages, semi-finals, finals etc. to leave lane 6 empty wherever possible.
Damage and injury resulting from collision	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Bow balls, heel restraints and buoyancy compartments aids may be inspected by Control Commission prior to going afloat to race. Buoyancy aids may be visually checked by Control Commission. Competitors and coaches are responsible for ensuring that their boats are safe and are prepared to the required standards at all times including practice.
Capsize during a race	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Every race is usually followed by an umpire. Fully equipped safety launches manned by lifesavers follow races or are stationary along the course, they are linked to other launches by radio. Cox’s life jackets may be checked by Control Commission prior to going afloat to race. Particular attention paid to “front loader” boats.
Capsize during practice	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Safety plan and instructions to competitors advise crews or scullers that they must not go afloat unless there is a safety boat on the course. Lanes 5 and 6 closed by large buoys at each end of the course.
Collision with presentation raft	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Crews are specifically prohibited from using Lane 0 which is for motor boats and distressed craft only. During racing the umpire will warn a crew to move back into Lane 1 or if necessary stop the crew. Large buoy placed at end of presentation raft.
Crews turning from Lane 7 into the racing lanes for practice, warm up or cooling down and thus endangering crews already in the racing lanes	Medium	Medium	Moderate	Warming up is permitted. Crews are only to turn into racing lane 5 at 500m and not at any other intermediate points. Cooling down is not permitted.
Crews warming up in lane 7 interfering with other crews in lane 7 or with crews racing in lane 6.	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Safety Instructions to advise crews not to do racing starts or bursts at high speed in lane 7.
Crews warming up in lane 7 interfering with other crews marshalling in lane 7 at the 500m mark.	Low	Low	Trivial	Risk of accident is small but risk of confusion is great. Warming up circulation pattern now to run from 500m to 1500m in lane 5.
Crews warming up or cooling down obstructing races or launches.	Medium	Low	Tolerable	Safety Instructions advise all crews that lane 5 only is to be used for warming up and cooling down.
Stationary crew in lane 7 blown into path of crew racing in lane 6	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Safety Plan warns of danger and advises crews to stop near to the bank.
Sudden bad weather causing unrowable and / or dangerous conditions	Medium	Medium	Moderate	Any umpire or other key race official will stop racing. Any crews on the water will be moved into the most sheltered lane and shepherded back to the landing stages by umpire launches and safety boats.
Severe storm accompanied by thunder and lightning during racing.	Low	High	Moderate	Provisions laid down in the document “Advice for Events and Clubs in Developing Action Plans for Risk from Lightning” available from the ARA (Water Safety Committee Chairman, Stuart Ward) to be followed: - “Suspension and resumption of play should follow the 30/30 rule: play should stop when the flash-to-bang count is 30 seconds, and should not resume until 30 minutes after the last lightning”. Crews and officials will be cleared from the course as quickly as possible, aiming to get everyone to safe shelter within 15 minutes. PA will instruct all athletes, officials and spectators to move under cover. Transport to be available to move rowers from the bank to areas of safety. Any variation from 30/30 rule to be agreed unanimously by Event Chairman, Safety Adviser, Starter, Race Committee Chairman and all members of Race Committee.
Severe storm accompanied by thunder and lightning during practice sessions.	Low	High	Moderate	Safety Boat personnel will be briefed in the use of the 30-30 rule and will clear the course if necessary.
Crews practicing on the Trent being involved in collisions	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Crews are told they must have licences for the Trent, must advise the regatta of their intentions and must read the River Trent circulation and safety instructions. This is now covered in the Safety Instructions.
Problem occurs that requires medical attention, e.g. athlete collapses on landing stages with asthma.	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Regatta officials (e.g. umpires, commentators etc.) will summon medical aid by radio (on-call doctor and/or First Aid). Ambulance to use their siren when moving quickly in crowded areas.
Accident involving cyclists, rollerbladers, skaters and pedestrians on North and South course-side roads.	Low	Low	Trivial	Cyclists,etc. prohibited from cycling,etc. into enclosure areas on both sides of the course and prohibited from cycling,etc anywhere in the boating areas. Cycling,etc prohibited on South side of course from 30 minutes before racing until 30 minutes after racing. South side of course to be closed to pedestrians, NWSC to be asked to put up signs. Some events may only permit specified crew coaches to cycle on the North side of the course during racing hours.
Accident involving vehicles on South course-side road	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Signs to be displayed advising all vehicles to drive on the right.
Congestion involving vehicles & pedestrians in the Finish Tower area.	Medium	Low	Tolerable	Signs and barriers erected across the road at both ends of main Centre buildings to stop unauthorized vehicles.
Strong tail wind blowing crews which have finished racing onto landing stages or onto other crews boating	Low	Medium	Tolerable	If there is a strong tail wind Control Commission to monitor situation constantly and warn crews of an impending collision. Megaphone to be provided for this purpose. Control Commission also provided with radio to summon aid and throw lines.
Possibility of collision involving crews waiting for prize giving.	Medium	Medium	Moderate	All events to use anti-clockwise circulation pattern or to hold the prize giving on dry land taking into account time between races and likely ability of crews. Full details to be included in the Safety Instructions and to be circulated to all crews. Marshal to be placed to supervise crews turning into lane 0 to go to presentation raft.
Risks involved with the 2000 Start
Crew being blown round on to the bank at the 2000 metre start in a SW wind	Medium	Medium	Moderate	Start team to have throw lines to be used to assist the crew in getting back onto the pontoon. Notice to competitors on how to get onto the pontoon.
Crew being blown into the outflow channel in the NE corner of the lake whilst waiting to get onto the start	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Start Marshals to ensure crews do not move into the 100 metre start zone. Start team to have throw lines to be used to assist any crew who may be blown into this area. Notice to competitors on how to get onto the pontoon.
Collision in Start Zone	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Start Marshals “collect” crews for the next race in ‘reverse’ lane number order (i.e. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1 with 6 nearest the start) and dispatch all crews diagonally across the course to their allotted lane. Crews must then stay in their own lane.
Risks involved with the Intermediate Start
Collision with intermediate start cable in Lane 7	Low	Low	Trivial	Warning in Safety Instructions to crews. Large ‘sausage’ buoy placed on the cable to mark a safe line to take. Warning notice on bank facing in both directions for coxed and coxless boats.
Collision with intermediate stakeboats whilst getting attached	Low	Low	Trivial	Umpire’s launch and safety boat on the water.
Collision with intermediate stakeboats during practice	Medium	Medium	Moderate	Warning in Safety Instructions.
Collision in Start Zone	Low	Medium	Tolerable	Start Marshals “collect” crews for the next race in lane no. order and dispatch to the correct lane in lane order. Crews must then stay in their lane.
Person falling off intermediate stakeboat or start tower	Low	Medium	Tolerable	All personnel ‘on the water’ must wear buoyancy aids. Umpire’s launch and safety boat on the water.
Risks involved with Time Trials
Any collision either on the way to the start, whilst turning at the start or during racing.	Low	Low	Trivial	Special instructions are circulated to all crews and officials detailing how the time trials are to be organized.