Safety

Introduction:

Safety has become and increasing issue in sport. For some people this is a question of having more rules, and for others it is a matter of having more common sense.

Both viewpoints have some merit and in developing a safety policy the South West Coast Yawl Rowing Association (SWCYRA) has defined responsibilities and procedures for all those involved in the sport so that each of us can manage safety issues within our rowing environment.

All decisions about safety at rowing clubs and competitions should be based on ‘risk management’ as no ‘book of rules’ can possibly cover all situations. By continually assessing likely risks and taking action to manage them, some generalized ‘standards’ and ‘procedures’ can be developed, enabling us to provide guidance on how to avoid and take action on unforeseen hazardous situations.

A strong theme for this policy is ‘think safe’ and encourage all members to have safety in mind from the moment they approach their club or a competition area to the time of leaving.

The main message in this policy is that clubs have a responsibility to inform, educate and train their members about safety, and individuals have a responsibility to find out, learn, question and put safety into action. A club should be confident that none of its members can justifiably say “I was never told about that’ or ‘I didn’t know who to ask or what to do when it happened’. Having safety in mind at all times is an important part of what it means to be a club member.

This document outlines the SWYRA safety statement, the roles and responsibilities, procedures and rules that must be followed to ensure safe practice within the sport. This document will continue to be developed in response to new standards and safety issues and most importantly, feedback from members.