Milton Keynes Health & Safety

Risk Assessment

Off Water hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Accessing the water	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Participants must comply with AquaPaddle/Club Policies and therefore with certain British Canoeing Policies. Access to the canal with craft can sometimes be limited, there may be instances where we have to walk over a bridge to access the other side. Both sides of the canal have metal piping running on the cement tow path, all paddlers and crew must be aware of this before entering the water for risk of entanglement. Crew will help paddlers on and off the water if needed. 2 people per craft needed if we are to carry craft over the bridge	Ongoing continual review that all conditions are being observed and adhered to by Crew. Ensure each member/visitor has access to a current copy of the AquaPaddle Policies, via the website.	Crew to assist paddlers if needed. 2 people to carry craft if needed
Boat and Manual Handling	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Briefly	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	If carrying a boat alone, paddlers are to ensure it is within the limits of their limitations and experience. Paddlers can ask for help from the crew so that 2 people are moving the craft.	All paddlers are advised that two people should lift boats at least. Failure to do so could lead to injury.
Car Park	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Minority	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	People are to be made aware of traffic within parking areas. Vehicles are to park safely so as not to obstruct access routes. Club officials are to control cars in the venue at the start and the end of the event when the traffic flow requires it. Cars are to adhere to the speed limit of 5mph during the event.	The car park is also accessed by other users. AquaPaddle Crew are to wear high-visibility clothing to ensure the cars can see the marshals.
Spectating	Spectators	Constant	Probable chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	Spectators are not to encroach over the perimeter fencing or water's edge. Instructions will be issued. On-site induction.	AquaPaddle Crew to monitor and advise the spectators when they are not acting in the best manner.

On Water hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Collision with mooring buoys and other static objects	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Major incident	Instructor and assistants to give clear guidance and path the avoid obstacles. Crew to be placed at anything we deem to be a risk to avert paddlers away from the area.	Review path/crossing annually and ensure Crew are fully trained.
Collision with other waterway users	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Major incident	Paddlers instructed to be aware of other river users and how to take appropriate/avoiding action. Paddlers to pass on River right when going upstream or downstream. However, on bends a dynamic assessment of position is necessary.	All members of the group are to be informed as to possible other river users and locations, what to do when boats approach. We are close to the marina, but paddling away from it, there may be points where there is a lot of canal traffic. We will ask in the safety briefing that paddlers pause and give way if it gets busy.
Effect of Hot, Cold and wind from Weather and Environmental	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Captain and Location Safety Team to assess the weather before getting on the waterway.	The event is to be cancelled if not considered safe. Captain should consider instructing participants to bring: drinking water, hats, sunscreen, windproof clothing, or extra layers as appropriate
Equipment Failure - board deflates while on the water - fall in and hit head or get injured, Leash Snaps causing them to come detached from their board if they fall in. Paddle snaps and unable to paddle back to launch point	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Major incident	All equipment will need to be checked before launching into the water. Crew are trained in how to tow Paddlers if issues arise with boards. Dynamic risk assessment to be carried out on the water to monitor any issues that may arise with equipment.	Before Padders enter the water a visual check of all craft needs to be carried out
Falling from inability to stand	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Possible chance of a Minor incident	During the AquaPaddle Briefing, Check that all Paddlers can self-rescue, if not, talk through the correct way to fall and climb back on a board or kayak.	Bring Paddlers to a safe spot on the riverbank and assist back on the vessel. Make Paddlers aware.
Hazard from prevailing wind and weather conditions	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Events will not operate over 18 mph standing wind (depending on the wind direction) unless a safe location is found and agreed upon by two Event Safety Team (Captain, Time Lord and experienced on-water Crew Member).	Assess by Captain, check weather forecast. If thunderstorms occur after an event has begun, ask the Paddlers to return to a safe area on the bank, if there are less than 7 seconds between the lightning flash and the thunder. This follows the BC guidance.
Low Bridge	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Major incident	Improbable chance of a Major incident	Low bridges at various points (750m and 1000m) Paddlers are requested to sit or kneel if they feel the bridges are too low.	Crew to be placed at bridges
Moorings and ropes	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Advise Paddlers where ropes/boats/moorings are and direct them to a clear spot. Access to Local Area Users Risk Assessment.	Local direction given.
Narrow bridges	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Possible chance of a Major incident	Possible chance of a Major incident	The bridges narrow along the canal, sometimes they are only wide enough for 1 boat. Please give way to boats and other craft.	A regular dynamic assessment near any bridges needs to be completed & radio'd ahead by a crew member to tell us of traffic flow on the canal.
Over hanging branches	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Probable chance of a Minor incident	Probable chance of a Minor incident	Make group aware that there are over hanging branches along the riverbank or lake shoreline.	Make Paddlers aware of potential overhanging branch hazards.
Polution and risk of infection	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Advised to wash hands with hot water and soap before eating or drinking and shower at the end of the event, especially after immersion and made aware of flotsam.	Crew to assess waterway condition on the day. Avoid intentional capsizes in poor conditions

Medical hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Drowning.	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Majority	Remote chance of a Major incident	Improbable chance of a Lost Time incident	Paddlers are required to be able to swim and wear a buoyancy aid on the water. Sole people on shore or pontoons must wear buoyancy aids if there are no other people nearby. Site induction, visitors are to be advised of any danger areas.	throw lines are available with crew for people to throw to the causality when a person needs assistance. Paddlers are to either have a Crew member present or be in a minimum number of three that are at the standard to self-rescue and rescue others; one person is aged over 18 or a Crew (Land or Water) is in the vicinity with a throw line if on land. For the event, the Crew are to ensure that water activities under their control are safe, and paddlers are to follow the instructions of the Crew in all safety matters without question.
Emergency situation	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Constant	Improbable chance of a Major incident	Improbable chance of a Major incident	Ensure that the casualty and group are all called to a designated assemble/exit point. Call appropriate FHC/Coastguard/Partners/emergency services if require.	Annual emergency drills to be conducted. Signed terms and conditions by AquaPaddlers. Follow EC emergency action plan and brief AquaPaddlers at the start of the session.
Pre-existing medical conditions	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Major incident	Terms and conditions require the person making the booking to notify any relevant medical conditions for their group before arrival. If the AquaPaddler has NOT informed the Captain or Time Lord or Crew, those parties are NOT responsible for any incident involving said condition.	Captain/Crew only to authorise event admission where safety precautions can be put in place. DO NOT TAKE AQUAPADDLER OUT IF UNSURE OR WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S NOTE. Captain/Crew to ask about medical conditions during land base intro.
Weil’s Disease	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Serious incident	Remote chance of a Serious incident	Equipment is to be washed after use according to the NOP. If on static water, such as lakes and reservoirs, sampling should be carried out at regular intervals, including both micro and algae testing. Procedure in place for actions to be taken in the case of a poor water quality test, including Event Cancelation. Participants are encouraged to wash their hands as soon as possible after the activity. Participants are encouraged to cover any cuts and avoid ingesting the water.	Waterway owners are to monitor the water and publish the results so that all Crew can comply with safe working practices.

General hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Safeguarding	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Minority	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	All members and people on our site agree to follow our AquaPaddle/Club Policies and procedures, of which safeguarding and code of conduct is one of them. An Event Captain/Safeguarding Officer is to have oversight over the Safeguarding of the event.	Crew and other Volunteers who have regular contact with U18 are to be DBS checked and attend a safeguarding course. Parents of U18's are to paddle along side their young person.