TRC - Safety Guidelines (It is the text on the back of every application form)
Introduction
The Sport of Rowing is justifiably not generally considered a hazardous sport. However, incidents do happen, usually as a consequence of ignorance of basic guidelines related to safety. This sheet is issued as guidance to you and other members by the Committee. The guidance applies to you when you are training, coaching or coxing. It draws your attention to local rules of the river and hazards.
Your Responsibility
It is a condition of membership of the Club that you are a competent swimmer. When assessing your swimming competence, remember that you may be thrown into very cold and fast flowing water wearing rowing kit.
You are also reminded that ignorance of the law is no defence. Accordingly you must ensure that you understand the rules of navigation and your responsibilities with respect to other river users.
Remember that an accident involving personal injury may result in a claim for damages of several hundred thousand pounds or more. You may be sued if an injured party believes that you may have been in anyway responsible for an accident. You should consider taking out insurance against liability to third parties.
You should also assist any fellow water user in distress, if you can do so without endangering yourself.
You should also read the ARA Water Safety Code, printed each year in the British Rowing Almanac.
Condition of Boats
You should check that any boat you take out is equipped with heel restraints. A heel restraint is a strap or piece of cord, which attaches the heel of the shoe to the stretcher. It is designed to ensure that if your boat capsizes that you can remove your feet from the shoes without using your hands. Make sure that the fitting is strong and secure and that you cannot lift the heel of the shoe above the height of the toes.
You should also ensure that any boat you take out is fitted with a bow ball - a white rubber ball of at least 4 centimetres in diameter fixed to the bows of the boat. The ball is designed to prevent boats impaling others.
Coxless Boats
A coxless boat should only be used with the permission of the Captain or a Deputy Captain who will satisfy himself that the steersman is capable, having regard to whether or not the crew will be accompanied by a coaching launch.
The primary responsibility for navigation rests with the steersman, who will normally be the bowman.
Accident Procedure
If your boat capsizes, first get your feet out of the shoes. Then hold onto the boat. Prior to the outing you should have noted the water temperature in your risk assessment or got a rough idea of it. If it is very cold, you may have to wait until your breathing stabilises. When it has it is likely that you are safer out of the water on the hull of your boat be it upside down or right way up. If you can, swim with the boat to the bank. The reason for climing on or holding on to the boat is that it will normally float, even if capsized, and you may be unable to swim in cold water due to the effect of cold and shock on muscles. See the Leo Blockley Memorial site for detailed information. Down load the document and read it!
New Capsize Drill
There is a new Capsize Drill published by the ARA as a response to the new Level 2 UK coaching certificate. It is a much extended version of the previous IA one. All single scullers should read this and be familiar with it. Go to the link and download it!
Coxes
As a cox, you have primary responsibility for the safety of your crew.
Remember, if in doubt about whether you can proceed safely, stop. Do not be intimidated by crew members into proceeding in a dangerous or uncertain situation.
If accompanied by a coaching launch, do not assume that they will either observe all hazards or, if aware of a hazard, advise you of them.
Never turn your boat close to a barge, bridge or other obstacle in the river. The tide will almost always be stronger than you realise and may sweep you into danger. As a rule of thumb, proceed at least 250 metres past an obstacle before turning with a normal tide or 400 metres if there is a strong tide.
You must wear a life jacket when coxing. The Club may, on request to the Safety Adviser, assist you to fund the purchase of one. The club has a stock of various lifejackets and buoancy aids.
Strokes
A young or inexperienced cox will reasonably expect you to assist them to navigate the boat and manage the boat. Always be aware of the speed, position and direction of your boat and if in doubt issue instructions to the cox.
The Tideway
The Tideway should at all times be treated with respect. It is a wide and fast flowing river and you share it with many others, some of whom will be ignorant of navigation rules.
You should be aware of the following rules of navigation: -
* Do not turn your boat between the line of moored boats on the Putney reach.
The following rules apply to navigation between (just above) Putney Bridge and Teddington Lock
When you are proceeding in the same direction as the tide FLOW, navigate to the Starboard [right as cox sees it] of the "Fairway". This is well to the right of the middle of the stream.
When proceeding against the tide stick as close as possible to the relevant bank. Between Putney Bridge and the Crossing Point near Chiswick Steps this is the Surrey Bank [The side of the river the Club is on]. Between the Crossing Point and just after Chiswick Bridge it is the Middlesex bank. 500m before Chiswick Bridge, it is the Surrey bank again. Just above the Barges by the Isleworth "ferry" it is the North bank on up to Teddington
In all other areas the normal rules of navigation on the Tideway apply. All boats proceed on the right hand side of the river Fairway.
On other rivers and waterways
Off the Tideway other rules apply. Normally, you proceed on the right hand side of the river - the opposite side to when driving a car.
The Turn of the Tide
Most accidents that happen on the Tideway occur at the turn of the tide. You must exercise extra caution at these times. Remember that:
* The tide does not change direction suddenly. Rather, there is a period when either there is no discernible tide or the tide is flowing in different directions at different points in the river e.g. flowing out near the bank but flowing in near the middle.
* The tide changes at different times in different places. For example if it is high tide at 10.00 a.m. at London Bridge, high tide at Richmond Lock will not happen until nearly 11.00 a.m. A rowing boat can proceed faster than the tide is turning.
* When the tide is out, the navigable channel is a narrow one and that shoals pipes and other hazards to navigation will force crews into the centre of the stream.
Rowing At Night
A coach should normally accompany crews training at night.
All boats used at night must be equipped with the legally defined effective lighting. In the case of a rowing boat this comprises white lights fitted to both the bow and stern of the boat shining a minimum of 180 degrees each way to the front and the stern. At lease one spare light must be taken, preferably two to cater for risk of battery or bulb failure. White LEDs are acceptable and recommended if strong ones.
Boats may not go downstream beyond Putney Rail Bridge at night.
Regattas
Ensure that you read and observe the safety notes issued by the Regatta. In the past few years there have been several serious accidents caused by crews warming up or proceeding to the start hitting other competitors.
Always obey immediately the directions given by Regatta officials with respect to safety and navigation.
Coaches Using Club Launches
You should not use a Club launch unless authorised by the Captain. Your crew will expect you to advise them of hazards to navigation. Never assume that they have observed a particular hazard, especially when it is directly in front of them (as a consequence of the fact that a cox cannot see through the crew).
Advise other crews of any hazards to navigation or if they are proceeding in a dangerous manner. You will not always be thanked for your advice but "better safe than sorry".
Always assist any other river user in distress. When assisting persons in distress, be careful not to endanger yourself. For example a person trying to climb into a launch may well sink it. Think before you act!
Always wear a life jacket. The Club may on request to the Safety Advser, assist you to fund the purchase of one. There a numerous club ones.
Always make sure that you and your coaching launch are equipped with: -
* At least one life buoy
* A thermal blanket (to cover anyone pulled from the water)
* Proper lighting at night
* An oar (in case of engine failure)
* Adequate fuel for the outing
* A bailing device
* A megaphone fitted with a klaxon device
* A rope of at least 10 metres in length
Emergency Stops
If your cox or steersman needs to stop the boat urgently he will issue the instruction "Hold it Hard" or "Hold it up everyone". The command will be issued if a collision is imminent or a crew member has been thrown overboard. Never try to second-guess the cox's decision.
To stop the boat, do not insert a fully squared blade into the water. This action will almost certainly throw you into the water. The correct procedure is start with your blade flat on the water and then to gradually twist it anti-clockwise into the water.
Coxes should regularly rehearse the emergency stop procedures with their crew.
Reporting Of Accidents
If you are the stroke of the a crew, or as a sole sculler, been involved in an accident which involves:
* Injury to any person and/or
* Damage to a Club boat and/or
* Damage to a boat belonging to another club or individual
Then you must tell the other party, where applicable, your name and Club.
You must also make a written report of the incident as soon as possible after the accident in the Accident Log and also tell to the Captain. The report should contain:
* The time, date and location of the accident
* The precise position of the boats at the time
* Details of weather conditions and the state and direction of the tide.
* The names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses.
* The names of all crew members.
* Full details of apparent damage to property or person and an explanation as to how you believe the accident happened. This may be supported by sketches or diagrams.
You will normally also be required to complete an incident report for the Port of London Authority ('PLA').
All other accidents no matter how minor are "Recordable" rather than "Reportable" and also should be recorded in the appropriate section of the book.
Land Training
Every year, several members suffer injury in the gym. There are two main causes:
* Failing to stretch and warm up properly.
* Poor technique on power cleans and other exercises using the lower back.
Ask your coach for guidance in these areas.
The potential for accidents also exists when lifting heavy weights. You must never lift heavy weights on your own. There must always be another member either side of you. Your coach should train you to 'take' and 'spot'. If he doesn't, ask.
Towing
You are strongly advised not to tow a trailer without receiving instruction from another driver with extensive towing experience. In the last few years the Club has been involved in two serious accidents involving heavily loaded trailers. The Club towing vehicle is only insured for certain named drivers.