Welcome to 'rowingsafely' a website that is the personal opinion of Chris George whose experience on developing safety can be seen in the CV section. This site is hosted by ATICS Ltd.

The site supplements the TRC official site "Safety Section" and is not yet 100% finished.  the idea is to put as much information in one place so as to make it possible to educate the average adult rower at TRC in a few hours such that he or she has access to and can cover all the necessary safety information to comply with the navigational requirements fo the Tideway and the requirements of the ARA RowSafe;

Below is an update of the Dave Baldwin/Birgitta Kramer page that was/is? on the old TRC website.

 

(Old)NEWS FLASH - February 9th 2007 from the TRRC Water Safety Development Adviser

 

The TRRC has pioneered an on-line reporting of good/bad navigation incidents, a develpment on which we have been working hard for over four months has come on line. The url is http://onlinerep.vorboss.net.  Information on its purpose is on on the TRRC website here and the next page    All rowers are actively encouraged to use this facility and the sender can be named openly, name kept in confidence or even be anonymous.   The data from this pilot study are made available to the ARA Water Safety Working Group in exchange for some partial funding  by the ARA of the costs of the development.

Chris George

 

Safety Code replaced by RowSafe in December 2008

COMPLIANCE WITH RowSafe

 

The ARA has issued  RowSafe for guidance and had changed Rule D such that all clubs are required to adopt the minimum safety standards therein. Each year all clubs addtionally have to do and submit a self- udit in order to get affiliated with the ARA.  The new rowSafe describes the duties of care for athletes, coaches and coxswains. The Safety advisers at Thames Rowing Club are Emma James and Chris George . Other people on the Safety Committee are  Graham Redman and Caroline Smith.

In a nutshell

- All members of the club have a duty of care to assess risk avoid any dangers

- All members of the club need to be aware what to do in case of a medical emergency.

- All members who boat from the club need to have complied with Level 0 by reading the necessary documents and confirming this in writing by email. 

- All steers should log their outings in the in/out log as per instructions. (All crew members please!)

- All members are responsible to report any incidents on the new ARA incident reporting system and record minor damage in the log book on the register desk

- Coaches need to train the athletes on responsible conduct on the water and while training to safeguard the athletes' health

- Coxswains and steer(wo)men need to be fully aware of navigation rules (1) and (2), hazards and what to do in case of an emergency or accident

- The safety advisers need to report on a regular basis to the committee

ACTIONS NEEDED

1) Communication:

It is a requirement for all the members to acknowledge that they are aware of our procedures, not only with the Safety Audit in mind but also for their own good.

A list of those who have and who have confirmed TheSafety Committeechrisgeorge(at)rowing.atics.co.uk that they have read all the contents of the required documents is kept on the Rowing Office commputer by Graham Redman

In order to be certified at Level 0, you are required to read the following documents:

• Thames Rowing Club Safety Summary
• “Rowing on the Tideway” Code of Practice
• ARA “Row Safe” Leaflet 
• “Lessons For Rowers” from the Dove Pier Incident (main body only)
• “Coxing for beginners” (coxes and those new to the sport only) 

Once you have read and understood all the above documents, please email the Safety Committee on safety@thamesrc.co.uk to confirm this. You will then be added to the list.

It is updated from time to time and is available from Greaham on request. It will be placed on this site as soon as a secure way of publishing it can be found.

So far about 250 have signed.

2) Responsibility: Safety and the informantion on this website need to be addressed in a meeting with the coaches. We need to ensure that they are fully aware of their duties and rights as they are the first port of call for all our athletes.

3) First Aid and checking life vests:

We need put up more guidance on what to do in case of emergencies.

Caroline Smith has checked (late 2008) the life vests and will have a maintence check programme.

 

 

WHAT YOU MUST DO TO ENSURE YOUR OWN SAFETY

Safety for TRC Athletes

* You MUST be able to swim AT LEAST 400 metres in light clothing (more than the ARA minimum to give proper respect to the Tideway)

* Confirm with the correct text that you have read all the mandatory sections of the TRC site for level 0

* Know the rules of navigation (please read these mandatory sections)

* Log your outing in the in-and-out logbook / register as per instructions

* Report incidents or damage to boats (please also see Accident Log and Damage log at entry of club)

* Assist any fellow water user in distress (please read First Aid guidance)

* Read the ARA Row Safe sections applicable to you (copies available in club and on this page)

* Using a boat is only allowed when you have the specific permission to do so (please see the Allocation files and work out who to ask)

* When going out at night including in the evening or at dawn, attach 2  approved white lights (with 180 degree spread so a "normal" torch is NOT suitable) to bow and stern of your boat and take a spare

* Know how to make an emergency stop and take a steering test when you are the designated steersperson (see Chris George and/or read the page)

* Avoid injury whilst training by warming up, stretching and focusing on technique

 

Safety for TRC Coxswains

* You MUST be able to swim AT LEAST 400 metres in light clothing.

* Always dress suitably, wearing several layers to keep warm, particularly around the lower back and head. Have some waterproof clothing available.

* Know the rules of navigation (please read these mandatory sections)

* Log your outing in the in-and-out logbook / register as per instructions with ALL crew names

* Report any incident or damage to boats (please see Accident Log and Damage log at entry of club)

* Read the ARA Water Safety code (copies available in club and on this page)

* Using a boat is only allowed when you have the specific permission to do so (please see Allocation files)

* When going out at night including in the evening or at dawn, attach 2  white lights (with 180 degree spread so a "normal" torch is NOT suitable) to bow and stern of your boat and take a spare

* Know how to make an emergency stop and take a steering test when you are the designated steersperson (see Chris George and read the page)

* Make sure such wellies are loose enough to be slipped off easily  in the water.

* NEVER fasten any weight to yourself, or yourself to the boat.

- You and your crew know how to get in and out of the boat safely.

- Your crew know make an emergency stop quickly and safely.

- Your crew know how to move a boat forwards, backwards and around.

- You know how to steer a boat.

- You know when the river is in a safe condition.

- The boat is in a safe condition.

- If you are in a novice crew, you have a coach present BEFORE you go on the water.

 

Safety for TRC coaches and launchdrivers

* Wear a life jacket

* You MUST be able to swim AT LEAST 400 metres in light clothing.

* Confirm with the correct text that you have read all the mandatory files in Tideway and Club sections of this site

* Know the rules of navigation (please read this website's mandatory sections)

* Ensure your crew has entered the outing in the in-and-out logbook / register as per instructions

* Report any incident or damage to boats (please see Accident Log and Damage log at entry of club)

* Assist any fellow water user in distress (please be competent in first aid)

* Read the ARA Water Safety code (copies available in club and on this page)

* Use a launch only when you have the specific permission to do so

* When going out at night including in the evening or at dawn, attach 2 (180 degree) white lights to both ends of your boat and take a spare

* Check fuel and First aid kit are present in the boat

* Attach the safety pin kill cord of the outboard appropriately

 

WHAT TO DO IN CASE…

1) You have an accident or damage the boat…

All cases of ANY accident or NEAR ACCIDENT involving ANY club member on or off the water needs to be reported to the ARA via Graham Redman who will determine how it is done on linesafetyadviser(at)thames-rrc.orgIncidents.

Reports must be electronic only and contain the information required on line which is likely to be some or all of

* A detailed summary of the incident, including date, time, names of boats, the ID number and crew members; and light, wind and stream conditions.

* A sketch, showing boats, obstructions, direction of travel and stream done by scanning and attachement.

* Statements by those involved and by witnesses in other boats or on the bank.

* If the accident requires first aid treatment then the name of the first aider should also be recorded, and the treatment given.

* Details of hospitals, doctors or any other agency, involved.

* "Reports should be filled in on line as soon as practical after the event, certainly within 24 hours. "

 

2) If you see something at the club that you consider unsafe tell us!

The majority of the work done at the club is voluntarily so if you can do something about it, please do so immediately. Do report to any one of the Safety Committee be it concening the house, building or boats.