Health and Safety Policy
Policy Statement
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The responsibility for Health and Safety lies with the Committee unless an individual is appointed by the committee to take on that responsibility.
It is the aim of the Club to provide a safe environment to enable members and visitors to participate in their sport.
The Club activities takes place at The Blue Lagoon, Womersley. This lake is a private venue but there are other users and risk assessments will reflect this situation.
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Safety issues will be dealt with according to budgetary constraints, practicalities and the requirements for members and other users conducting their sport.
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Members are therefore requested to take their share of responsibility for health and safety when at the Club.
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Risks
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Trips and Falls and Danger to the Public
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The Blue Lagoon is a private site; however, other events take place at the venue and visitors are allowed. To avoid danger to other users of the lake and facilities the following must be adhered to. Yachters must not obstruct the pathways and leave enough room for the other users to pass. Care must be taken when handling yachts to avoid injury to the other users from masts etc. All equipment must be kept off the pathways and stored neatly on the grassed areas. Equipment should not be left unattended.
Danger from the Sailing Pond
It is a requirement of the sport that a stretch of unprotected water be provided and is a natural hazard of the sport. The water is between 5 and 6 metres deep and the edges are almost vertical. It is essential that sailors are kept away from the edges as much as possible.
A life buoy is proved at the lakeside.
Young persons are always required to have a supervising responsible adult with them.
If it is necessary to go on the lake in a boat, then at least two people must be present for rescue purposes and anyone in the boat must wear a life jacket. Only people with the appropriate training may use the safety boat.
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Accident or Emergency
In the event of an accident or other emergency help can be summoned by use of the phone in the on-site café.
First aid facilities are available in the café.
Swimmers in the Water.
Triathlon and Open Water Swimming events take place in the water intermittently. Measures must be taken to avoid danger to the swimmers. When a major event is held which requires all the lake, no sailing will be allowed.
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In other circumstances where there are swimmers in the water appropriate courses will be agreed between the various party to ensure no interference. Should a yacht have lost contact with its skipper through loss of radio contact or damage it will usually drift to shore. If there is a southerly wind, then any boat not under control may drift northward and become a hazard. In the case it will be necessary to retrieve it by boat. Any boat must have a propeller guard and the skipper must be aware of swimmers in the water and take all measures to avoid them. In all cases swimmers and divers have right of way over the yachts.
Divers in the Water
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When divers are in the water, they will be using a different area to the yachting. It is possible that a diver may wander into the sailing area by mistake. This will be evident by bubbles rising to the surface. The procedure for divers surfacing is to surface via a buoy rope with one arm extended upwards. In the unlikely event this happens on the sailing course all yachts must round the buoy giving a wide berth for the diver.
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Waterborne Diseases
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Members and visitors must follow strict personal hygiene procedures when they have been in contact with the water and should use on site toilet facilities before smoking or eating.