Health & Safety

Statement Of Intent


Leamington Cycling & Athletics Club (the Club) takes the health, safety and wellbeing of its members and other persons who may be affected by any acts and omissions associated with its undertakings seriously. This value also extends to the respect it has for property and the environment.

The Club accepts its duties to people, property and the environment under statute and common law and will put in place appropriate measures to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, these duties are met for all organised Club events.

To help ensure that the Club achieves these objectives all members of the Club are expected to follow or exceed the health and safety standards and guidance as outlined out within this Policy. It is also the responsibility of all Club members to take ownership for, and care of, their own health and safety and ensure that others are not affected by their acts or omissions.

Ultimate responsibility for the discharge of these duties falls onto the Chair.

To assist the Club in understanding and meeting its general health, safety and environmental duties it shall appoint a person with the appropriate training and knowledge for health, safety and environmental protection or who elsewise has access to competent advice. This person shall sit on the Committee and be responsible for considering the health, safety and environmental implications associated with decisions made by the Committee.

The Club will create safe environments for events by completing risk assessments and implementing the control measures which are identified where a risk is not deemed to be tolerable.

Training undertaken by Club members for their own purpose and events which are organised by other organisations / running clubs and attended by members of the Club are not subject to the requirements of this Policy.

This Policy was approved by the Club Committee to reflect the Committee’s collective commitment to its intent.

David Ashbourne
Chair

Roles & Responsibilities

This section outlines responsibilities assigned to all Members of the Club with additional responsibilities for those elected to specific roles. The intention is that the successful implementation of these responsibilities will ensure that the requirements of the general statement of intent will be met.

MEMBERS

All members of the Club have a responsibility to:

  • Take care of their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of other persons, property and the environment by what they do or omit from doing.
  • Assessing their own fitness levels and maturity as a competitor when deciding what training to undertake and what competitions to enter.
  • Cooperate with the Club on matters relating to health, safety and the environment.
  • Not interfering with or misusing anything provided for health, safety or the protection of property or the environment.
  • Follow all safety instructions as set out within this Policy or communicated by the Club especially during pre-event briefings.
  • Report any health, safety or environmental issues or concerns they may be aware of relating to the Club or its undertakings to an elected representative of the Club as soon as possible in order that the Club may act, as deemed appropriate, to address the matter.
  • Report all accidents and incidents relating to the Clubs activities whether it involved them or another person, property or the environment.
  • Take care of their own safety, whilst keeping a watchful eye on others, particularly new members.
  • Always consider other persons, animals, vehicles, and the environment.
  • Only participate if they are medically fit to do so. Members with existing medical conditions or allergies are encouraged to carry or wear a suitable means of bringing such conditions to the attention of the emergency services such as an emergency chain or card.
  • Never leave training sessions without letting others know, ideally the lead Coach, giving details of the reason if appropriate.
  • New members should ensure they are known to the Coach before the event starts.

In addition to the responsibilities above some members have additional responsibilities where they have been elected to one or more specific role within the Club as outlined below.

CHAIR

The Chair shall:

Make every effort to ensure that the requirements of this Policy are implemented to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of members of the Club, other persons, property and the environment.

COMMITTEE

The Committee shall:

  • Review health and safety documentation presented to them for approval.
  • Monitor general health, safety and environmental matters relating to the Club through reports, either written or verbal, from the Clubs Safety Officer.
  • Bring this Policy to the attention of Club Members upon joining and thereafter when significant changes are made. As best practice a reminder will be sent out at the time of membership renewals.
  • Make this Policy, and subsequent revisions, available on the Clubs website.
  • Lead by example and championing the implementation of the requirements and standards set out in this Policy.
SAFETY OFFICER

The Safety Officer shall:

  • Review this Policy annually and additionally following a serious accident / incident or should it no longer be considered fit for purpose.
  • Consult changes to the Policy with the Committee before presenting it for approval.
  • On an annual basis remind, in writing or verbally at committee meeting, the responsibilities and duties under this Policy assigned to the Chair, Committee and Coaching team.
  • Submit a health, safety and environmental report to the committee.
  • Identify best practice initiatives for improving safety, health and the environment and discuss with Run Leaders and / or the Committee to determine if an appetite exists for adoption.
  • Attend Committee meetings and monitor general Club communications to identify any health, safety and environmental implications which should be considered as part of general Club planning etc.
  • Bring to the attention of the Committee:
    • Details of accidents and incidents and any measures identified and introduced to help prevent a reoccurrence.
    • Any concerns at the suitability and effectiveness of the Clubs health, safety and environmental arrangements.
  • Review and store event risk assessments submitted by Coaches and to provide support and feedback as deemed appropriate.
  • Monitor risk assessment review dates and remind Coaches of the need for them to be reviewed.
  • Offer help to Coaches with the creation and review of risk assessments or other matters.
  • Review accident and incident reports and investigations and notify England Athletics via the UK Athletics online reporting page.
  • Endeavour to attend, as a participant or observer, all Club events to objectively review health, safety and environmental arrangements providing feedback to Coaches as appropriate.
  • Support and advise Coaches and others within the Club to identify solutions to meet the requirements of this Policy.
  • Provide general advice and guidance on matters relating to health, safety wellbeing and the environment.
  • Seek specialist advice and information from expert bodies such as UK Athletics as necessary.
  • Occasionally promote good safety and health practices through the Clubs Facebook page.
  • Supply Coaches with suitable first aid kits and obtain and retain a small stock of replacement kits / content spares.
  • Review at least annually the contents of the Clubs first aid kits.
ACCIDENTS & INCIDENTS


All members have a duty to report an accident or incident which may be experienced during a Club event no matter how significant it is. By doing so the Club will have an opportunity to investigate the event with the intention of identifying the root cause and so enable steps to be taken which might prevent a reoccurrence. An unreported event on the other hand is likely to occur again and potentially have a far more serious outcome.

For the purposes of this Policy:

  • Accidents are defined as unplanned events that result in injury or harm.
  • Incidents are defined as unplanned events that did not results in injury or harm but had the potential to do so. Incidents are commonly referred to as near miss events.

Coaches are responsible for investigating all reported accidents and incidents which will comprise:

  • Gathering information
  • Analysing the information
  • Reviewing existing controls (as outlined within risk assessment)
  • Determining if changes / additional control measures are required.
  • Recording the outcome
  • Passing details to the Safety Officer

The Safety Officer will assistance if required to complete an investigation. The Safety Officer is also responsible for logging the accident / incident on the UK Athletics online “accident book”.

THUNDER & LIGHTNING

Flash to bang
To check if a storm is coming or going from where you are standing apply the flash to bang principle, counting as soon as the lighting flash is seen until the thunder is heard. ‘Flash to bang’ is based on the following facts:

  • Sound travels at 330 meters per second or at 1 km in 3 seconds (approximately 1 mile every 5 seconds).
  • Light travels at 300,000 km per second.
  • Lightning will always be seen before thunder.
  • To calculate the distance between yourself and the storm divide the number of seconds by 3 to find the distance in kilometres.

If the distance between the thunder and lightning increases over a couple of strikes, the storm is moving away from you. If it decreases, it is coming towards you.

When a storm is approaching

  • You should immediately cease your activity and evacuate the track and field.
  • Athletes in the vicinity of the throwing cage or the pole vault bed with uprights in place should quickly leave the area to safety.
  • Equipment such as throwing implements or vaulting poles should be placed on the ground and left until the storm has passed.
  • Coaches of younger athletes must ensure all their group is led to safety and a check against the register is taken.

Use the 30/30 rule

The 30/30 rule provides a good way of ensuring one is sheltering during the most risky parts of the storm. It proposes that if the flash to bang is 30 seconds in length or less you should seek shelter. Staying inside this shelter is advised until 30 minutes past the last clap of thunder. This ensures that any distant strikes at the beginning of the storm (lightning can travel up to 10 miles), or trailing storm clouds at the back of the storm do not take anyone by surprise.

Seeking shelter

  • Do seek shelter inside a building or a motor vehicle keeping away from, and getting out of wide, open spaces. The club room and the gym should be used.
  • Do not shelter in the equipment storage containers. Under no circumstances should anyone shelter underneath the metal covers at the pole vault or high jump areas.
  • Do not shelter beneath tall or isolated trees, it has been estimated that one in four people struck by lightning are sheltering under trees.
  • If you are exposed to the elements with nowhere to shelter, make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down with your feet together, hands on knees and your head tucked in. This technique keeps as much of you off the ground as possible.
  • The inside of a car is a safe place to be in a storm, lightning will spread over the metal of the vehicle before earthing to the ground through the tyres.