Risk Assessment Form

Event: National Student Rodeo 2008	Assessed by: T. Trew and N. Horwood
Date: 7-9^th March 2008	Assessment date: 1^st February 2008

Participation Statement

Participants and volunteer staff of the National Student Rodeo 2008 (NSR) are reminded of the following:

“Canoeing and Kayaking are ‘Assumed risk.’ ‘Water contact sports.’ that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement”.

General Risk Assessment Information

The above participation statement highlights that Canoeing and Kayaking carry attendant risks, of which the participant should be aware of. The purpose of a risk assessment is to allow the participant to be aware of these risks and their consequences, and the measures that may be taken to ensure that these risks are minimised.

An assessment of risk is nothing more than a careful examination of what, during canoeing activity, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh

up whether you’ve taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt, or becomes ill and the activity is completed in the safest possible way. In order to assist in the construction of a risk assessment, we first define the terms hazard and risk.

- A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm.

- A risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by the identified hazard, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be.

There are five steps to risk assessment:

1. Identify the hazards

2. Assess the risks arising from the identified hazards

3. Evaluate who is at risk, when and how

4. Assess and evaluate means of avoiding the hazard and/or minimising or eliminating the risk

5. Record your findings

6. Review your assessment

The following section deals with steps 1-4 of the above by identifying general hazards that might be encoutered during NSR 2008.

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Hazards	Severity A	Probable frequency B	Risk Ranking A x B	Groups of people at risk	Control Measures required
Slip / trip injury	2	2	4	All	Egress edges are graduating slopes. Horisantal jetties used to reduce risk of slipping. Participants to wear appropriate footwear at all times. Event staff are to ensure paths are clear of obstructions.
Water Quality	2	2	4	Competitors / officials / safety	The centre monitors water quality daily. Centre closed if bacteria levels considered unsafe Signage and printed information provided around slalom course area. Printed information provided in every competitor’s ‘goody bag’ All competitors advised to shower after activity and cover all cuts and abrasions.
Drowning	3	1	3	Competitors / officials / public	All competitors are competent canoeists. Club captains to ensure club members are of BCU 3* standard. All participants, officials and safety team must wear a CE approved PFD at all times whilst on the water. Club captains are reminded that all boats must be fitted with adequate buoyancy. Emergency Telephones are located in the vicinity of the slalom course. Trained and experienced safety cover personnel provided at all times. Adequate first aid cover to be provided at all times. All boats must have end loops. Safety signage is in place along the length of the course. Event to be held on flat water if river water levels are considered too high to be safe. All participants must be able to swim 50m. This is to be confirmed by club captains.
Electrocution from electrical equipment	3	1	3	Officials	Hands free mic is low voltage. Electrical equipment to be run in control centre. No wet people allowed behind desk. Signage to warn people of this.
Injury from Traffic	3	1	3	All	Low volume of traffic. Universities encouraged to bring minibuses rather than private cars. Competition has no public access. Limited number of official vehicles. Speed limits in operation.
Medical Emergency	3	1	3	All	Emergency vehicle access maintained at all times. Emergency Telephones available at various points along the course. First Aid provision on site at all times; LUUCC volunteers provide this. All medical emergencies are to be reported to Leisure Connection staff at Slalom Control through use of the emegency telephones.
Head injury	3	1	3	Competitors / safety	All competitors and safety personnel must wear a CE approved helmet at all times when on the course. Slalom poles to be moved out of the way where possible.
Minor cuts and scrapes	1	3	3	All	Appropriate first aid kits at specified locations. Visible ‘first aid post’. First aid team to wear armbands denoting their status. First aid points advertised on event map.
Injury due to use of alcohol or drugs	3	1	3	Competitors	Competitors not allowed on or around the water whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Event party, where alcohol will be served, takes place away from water hazard. Excessively intoxicated people will be refused alcohol from the bar. Door staff to ensure no private alcohol is brought into the party tent.
Injury from low lines across the course	2	1	2	Competitors	Ensure slalom pole lines are not lowered which may interfere with the course. Upstream spotters when positioning lines.
Leisure Connection Ltd and LUUCC will want a report of any incident, where a participant is involved in an injury or near miss, during the course of NSR 2008.

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