Plas Menai Health & Safety

Notes

This event is part of the Paddle Cymru pop up tour

Risk Assessment

Plas Menai risk assessment was reviewed by Brett Scillitoe (Captain) on 09 May 2025.

Off Water hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Car Park	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Minority	Probable chance of a Major 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.
Changing rooms	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Minority	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Changing rooms are to be kept as dry as possible and tidy to prevent trips and falls.	No food waste is to be left within changing rooms.
Manual Handling	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Briefly	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Brief on safe practice of carrying equipment. Working in pairs if necessary.	Refresher training
Spectating	Spectators	Majority	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.
Trailers, moving, loading/unloading	Paddlers, Crew	Briefly	Probable chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Qualified and trained staff. Good manual handling techniques with heavy trailers. Use jockey wheel/brake. Avoid moving trailer on your own. Trailer should be left horizontal and chocked, or left attached to the minibus. Work in pairs to load and unload boats.	All paddlers and staff are advised that ideally two people should move trailers where possible. Failure to do so could lead to injury.
Tripping or Slipping on access steps or pontoons. (see also Drowning - Medical section)	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Minority	Possible chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Advised to wear suitable wet footwear with a non-slip sole, or training shoes, when using the access steps to the pontoons and whilst stepping on and off the pontoon bridges. Pontoon walking surface wood is specific non-slip construction. But care needs to be exercised to avoid algae or, bird deposits etc. particularly when wet.	Ongoing Housekeeping Maintenance to ensure the minimum build-up of growth or droppings by AquaPaddle Crew when the risk is increasing. Ongoing continual review that all conditions are being observed and adhered to by AquaPaddle Crew.
Viewing Area		Minority	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	The viewing area is to be kept tidy to prevent trips and falls. Both access doors are to be open to allow access and escape routes. Doors are to be tied back in windy conditions.	At least one shutter is to be open to allow viewing of any incidents on the water.

Event Specific hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Challenging, inappropriate, or unsafe behaviour	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Briefly	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	If at any time a member of the Crew finds an AquaPaddler is engaging in behaviours that put anyone at risk, the Captain will use their discretion on managing the activity in a safe manner. This can include ending the Event.	If event is cancelled due to incident. The AquaPaddler will be band from future events, until a full investigation is carried out.
Engine and fuel	Crew	Briefly	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	Engines are to be routinely serviced. Fuel to be securely stored on both the boat and at the boat shed.	Crew training.
Extreme weather	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Constant	Probable chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	Current up to date weather forecast for the area assessed by competent person and made available to session.
Safety Boat	Crew	Majority	Possible chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Safety Boat to be used for various activities or to transport Paddlers to river locations that are safely out of the wind/tidal pull if deemed necessary. Also, to be used in the event of an emergency. Only exceed the maximum manufacturer's limit in an emergency. Collisions are to be reported to AquaPaddle HQ and the local waterway Governing Body.	All AP Crew to have completed the RYA Powerboat level 2 qual. In-house Crew training to all other employees.

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	Majority	Possible chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Instructor and assistants to give clear guidance and path the avoid obstacles.	Review path/crossing annually and ensure Crew are fully trained.
Collision with other waterway users	Paddlers, Crew	Majority	Possible chance of a Major incident	Possible chance of a Lost Time 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
Effect of Hot, Cold and wind from Weather and Environmental	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Majority	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote chance of a Minor 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
Entrapment	Paddlers, Crew	Briefly	Possible chance of a Major incident	Improbable chance of a Lost Time incident	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 coach (Land or Water) is in the vicinity. Spray decks are to be appropriate for kayaks. Paddlers are to be competent to wear a spray deck if one is used	British Canoeing Awards set an appropriate level for standards, such as 2 Star, Explore awards and higher. However other factors can be taken into account such as experience, competition level and paddlers being at the standard that to self-rescue and rescue others, during paddling on the water.
Environment	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Possible chance of a Serious incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Paddlers are to be aware of other water users and keep away from powered craft Paddlers are to be aware of wildlife on and surrounding the water system and steer clear of any floating rubbish, which is to be cleared from pitches before use.	Captains, Crew and Experienced Paddlers are to stay vigilant and ensure they have a plan to get to safe water at all times to mitigate the risks when they occur.
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	Briefly	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor 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	Minority	Possible chance of a Minor incident	Improbable 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.
Flow rate / Levels on Rivers and Canals - Paddlers, boats and, craft could get washed downstream into hazards	Paddlers, Crew	Minority	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	River level to be assessed before getting on the river by sight and through use of EA River gauges.	No paddling when the Straits outside of a hour each side of high/low Tide. The AquaPaddle event should not be scheduled. Ideally it should be sheduled so the majority of the paddlers turn at high tide to ride the current back to the start/finish line.
Fog and poor visibility	Paddlers, Crew	Majority	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	Captain to check the forecast and if in doubt go to the location to check the conditions.	Assess by Captain and Crew, check weather forecast.
Hazard from prevailing wind and weather conditions	Paddlers, Crew	Minority	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Improbable 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.
Launching / Landing Areas and Sides	Paddlers, Crew	Minority	Probable chance of a Serious incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Paddlers are to use the primary Launching area at our ramp, paddlers are not to exit on pontoons unless required to fulfil official duties for the event. When embarking and disembarking from the water from a Kayak, Canoe, or SUP ensure that care is used with help if necessary, using the correct technique Crew are to be inducted to location of safe evacuation locations.	Standing in SUPs is prohibited when within falling distance to an object – including walls. Kneeling when embarking and disembarking the SUP. Helmets may be used for SUPs.
Moorings and ropes	Paddlers, Crew	Majority	Possible chance of a Lost Time incident	Remote 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.
Multiple capsizes/fall in - Loss of group control, physical injury	Paddlers, Crew	Briefly	Remote chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Brief group before launching. Staff carry several means of raising alarm (Radios, flares, phone, whistle etc.) Change route to avoid area where multiple capsize may occur. Crew NGB qualified and training provided at the start of season recapping all rescues.	Keep Crew up-to-date with training
SUP Leashes and entanglement	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Possible chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	SUP leashes are to be worn at all events unless it is deemed to be an entanglement risk. Entanglement from submerged plant life.	Quick-release belts are advised and assessment of the conditions/abilities of the group to determine the route. Specific pocket knife to be carried by Crew on duty.
Wildlife	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Remote chance of a Serious incident	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Brief Paddlers about approaching wildlife, and maintaining a safe distance whenever possible. ‘If it's free, let it be’	Ensure Crew relay information to the AquaPaddlers.

Medical hazards

Hazard	Who is at risk?	Duration	Inherent risk	Residual risk	Control measures	Further action required	Notes
Drowning. (see also Safety Cover - Off Water Section )	Paddlers, 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.	Life Buoys & throw lines are available on shore or the dock wall 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.
Exhaustion/Fatigue	Paddlers	Majority	Possible chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	Advise paddlers to bring a drink and have eaten appropriately prior to paddling	Water safety team will assist and help them ashore.
Hazard from slipping or tripping	Paddlers, Crew	Majority	Remote chance of a Major incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	Brief Crew and AquaPaddlers on the danger of slipping and tripping at all entry and exit points if necessary.	Briefing/checklist of Crew used at start of the session.
Hypothermia / Hyperthermia	Paddlers, Crew	Constant	Possible chance of a Major incident	Remote chance of a Lost Time incident	AquaPaddlers to be given info about appropriate dress and Crew to give the AquaPaddlers a wetsuit if deemed necessary.	Carry foil blanket (if the instructor sees fit). Make sure the AquaPaddlers are out of the water and taken to an appropriate assemble/exit point and call for emergency assistance if need be.
Injury from damaged equipment	Paddlers, Crew	Minority	Remote chance of a Minor incident	Improbable chance of a Minor incident	Check PSI regularly. Ensure regular equipment checks are carried out.	Daily/monthly Crew checks. All equipment checked regularly.
Pre-existing medical conditions	Paddlers, Spectators, Crew	Majority	Remote chance of a Major incident	Improbable 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.