SENIOR REGATTA - SATURDAY JULY 17th 2004

Molesey Amateur Regatta 2008 Risk assessment
General water safety
All boat movements on the water are covered by the Amateur Rowing Association water safety Code. The Code applies to all participants, who are responsible for self-policing the code. Coaches, marshals, umpires and all regatta officials should apply the code. All involved in the Regatta have a duty of care to other river users. Failure to comply with any part of that code in relation to equipment or behaviour will lead to the crew or participants not being able to go afloat and/or race.
At the Saturday regatta, two safety launches patrol the course and there are marshalling launches at the start and elsewhere. Races are followed by Umpires in launches with a driver, who can either summon assistance from the safety launches or provide assistance themselves if necessary. All the above launches are in radio contact with regatta officials. At the Sunday regatta, with a shortened course, there is a safety launch to patrol the course, and there are marshalling launches at the start and elsewhere. Races are bank Umpired. All launches and Umpires are in radio contact with regatta officials

Specific risk assessment
Hazard	Potential outcome	Likelihood	Measure to reduce risk	Overall risk

Landing stages
Trip hazard due to items being left on the landing stages	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Moderate	Raft marshals instructed to minimise time crew equipment is left on staging. Incoming and outgoing stages are segregated	Low
Prior to race start
Collision with other boats on way to start or in marshalling area	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Moderate	Reliance on competency of crews & coaches, and compliance with WSC and the navigation rules applicable to the Thames. Circulation patterns advised to crews prior to the event, non-compliance may lead to race penalties being applied. Potential hazard behind Thorneycroft Island due to two way working clearly signposted.	Low
During the race
Incidents involving other racing crews	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Low	All racing is carried out under ARA Rules of Racing and in compliance with the Water Safety Code (WSC). Bank marshals or Umpires (Sunday) along the course will advise boats to move as necessary if there is a safety issue. No warm up on the course. All competitors are advised and must meet the circulation pattern. St John’s Ambulance available.	Low
Capsize	Potential drowning, injury or hypothermia	Medium	Umpires & marshals along the course can summon safety boats. Umpires have instructions to control an incident until safety boat arrives. See also WSC & Coach education programme. St John’s Ambulance available.	Low
Incidents involving other vessels	Injury to persons or damage to vessels and equipment	Low	Environment Agency informed of the Regatta and agreement obtained to close the navigation channel on the Surrey side of Thorneycroft Island. Navigation channel closure advised to masters of other vessels by means of warning notices.	Low
Weather risks
Strong stream	Crews unable to control boats	Moderate	Risk will be known of in advance and safety adviser will assess the situation in advance. The safety adviser should take account of advice from the EA, and in particular whether red or yellow boards are shown. The Race Committee may postpone or cancel racing or categories of races if the conditions are deemed unsafe. Racing may be curtailed if red or yellow boards are shown.	low
Thunderstorm or other storm	Damage to equipment and structures. Fatal risk from lightning	Low	Race Committee to apply 30 second / 10 minute rule. When gap between visible lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, racing to be stopped, water to be cleared. All tents are to be evacuated, and all spectators to be advised to get into vehicles, to close doors and windows. Action should be taken to minimise the risk of lightning strikes (eg on oars held vertically) All clear when lightning gap / thunder exceeds 30 seconds for 10 minutes.	Low
High Winds	Severe injury, death or damage to equipment and structures	Low	Umpires on the start tower to use own judgment if the tower moves inappropriately. The Race Committee may postpone or cancel racing or categories of races if the conditions are deemed unsafe.	Low
Major incident
Bomb, terrorist or other war action	Deaths, injuries and severe damage	Low	Police notified and all further instructions will be issued from Surrey Police	Low
Fire	Deaths, injuries and severe damage	Low	Tented areas to evacuate and wait instructions from Fire Service. Fire Service to control incidents once on site.	Low
Vehicle and cycle movements
Fall hazard while unloading boats	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Low	Reliance on competency of crews. The ARA provides guidelines on trailers and towing.	Low/ Moderate
Collision hazard due to trailers, boats and cars and cycles	Injury to rowers, spectators and/or damage to boats and vehicles	Moderate	Vehicles only allowed to access car and trailer parks and not the course	Low
Fall hazard while unloading boats	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Low	Reliance on competency of crews. The ARA provides guidelines on trailers and towing.	Low/ Moderate
Illness and other medical conditions
Illness and other medical conditions of rowers and spectators	Illness or other medical conditions (eg asthma, epilepsy) may require immediate assistance	Moderate	Provide St John’s Ambulance cover at enclosure. Ensure that there are landing points for casualties marked on Regatta map	Low