AAA Health and Safety Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

Appleby Angling Association is committed to ensuring that it will do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent injury and damage to property. We will have due regard for protecting all other people who come into contact with the Associations activities.

When dealing with health and safety issues officials, members, and volunteers carrying out activities have a clear understanding of the need to operate within the context of this policy and arrangements.

Officials, members and volunteers involved in events or work parties will take all reasonable steps to safeguard all those taking part in activities and those who may be affected by them.

Appleby Angling Association will co-operate with other organisations (landowners etc) to ensure risks are properly controlled.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS

Duty of Care

Appleby Angling Association requires that all people involved in organising activities, work parties and day to day management consider the consequences of their acts and omissions and ensure that those acts/or omissions do not give rise to a foreseeable risk of injury to any other person.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Appleby Angling Association will ensure that suitable risk assessments are carried out and the results of the assessments are implemented. The aim of risk assessment is to avoid harm and to promote the health, safety and welfare of all involved or who may be affected by an activity (work or leisure). As members of Appleby Angling Association, administrators and event organisers have not only a moral but also a legal responsibility to ensure that club activities and any organized events are as safe as practicably possible. Risk assessments will be carried out with a view of minimizing risk as well as reducing the likelihood of accidents happening; in the event of an accident it will also reduce the chance of serious injury or ill health.

Risk Assessment procedures require the Assessors to consider:

  • Hazards – anything that has potential to cause harm.
  • Who could be affected?
  • Measures already in place – to avoid possible harm.
  • Risk – the likelihood that something could happen, on a scale of ‘high’, ‘medium’, ‘low.’
  • Further actions – what more can be reasonably done to reduce the likelihood of an accident happening.

The Risk Assessment document will be completed and signed by the responsible person (administrator or organiser0, key actions will be conveyed (where appropriate read and understood) to all participating so that they know and understand what is expected of them.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Person in charge (Secretary)

  • Ensure this policy is adhered to.
  • Ensure Risk Assessments have been carried out.
  • Brief other officials/participants on all matters relating to organizational activities especially risk management and allocation of equipment and resources.

Officials and Organisers

Club officials, administrators and/or organisers (persons in charge of a work activity or events) are primarily responsible for ensuring safety is properly managed. He/she has the responsibility to undertake all measures available to ensure the safety and well-being of all person taking part in an activity/event and those who could be affected by the event. The success of an activity/event depends on effective management. The event organizer must ensure that there is effective:

  • Planning
  • Delegation
  • Resources allocation (people and equipment)
  • Decision making
  • Clear (and effective) communication

Responsibility of volunteers

  • Turn up at the venue in sufficient time to prepare for the event/activity.
  • Attend briefing (and debriefing)
  • Carry out allocated duties in a professional manner

Specific procedures when working with young people

Appleby Angling Association has a Child Protection Policy, all officials, organisers and volunteers carrying out activities for the club (or association) must complete a declaration that they know of the policy and will comply with its contents.

People working for the Appleby Angling Association must be aware of the legal requirements regarding the supervision of young people.

COACHES AND HELPERS

All coaches participating in activities organized by Appleby Angling Association must hold an appropriate qualification. During events and activities, the ratio of responsible adults (coaches) to young people depends in the main on the age and ability of participants but is never too little to ensure the safety of participants. The following ratios are currently being followed:

  • Novice: 1 adult to 2 young people
  • Intermediate: 1 adult to 3-5 young people
  • Senior: 1 adult to 6-8 young people

First Aid and Incident reporting

First Aid

All responsible persons must have attended basic first aid instruction.

Incident Reporting Procedure

In the event of an incident or accident involving personal injury the following procedures must be followed:

  • All injuries other than minor cuts and abrasions should be recorded on accident forms. It is a requirement that both the injured party and the responsible person sign the form. If the circumstances of the accident are not clear – notes of the accident must be made on the form.
  • If there are doubts about the nature or seriousness of the injury, the responsible person will ensure the injured person is given appropriate medical attention as soon as possible.

NOTES ON THIS POLICY

This safety policy template has been developed jointly by the Angling Trust and Canal and River Trust for the benefit of angling clubs and the wider angling community following consultation with club members from across the country. Its aim is to provide organisations with a template to allow them to establish management systems which demonstrate to others their competence and commitment to safety; it covers core areas of a safety policy including policy statement, the responsibilities of club officials including chairs, volunteers and coaches, risk assessment and duty of care. It is available to any angling organisations via the Angling Trust & Canal & River Trust websites. Whilst every care has been taken to provide a robust template the organisations who have developed the document cannot accept liability for any omissions or issues caused by its use.