Oamaru Rowing Club - ORC Safety Management Plan and Water Rules

Oamaru Rowing Club
Safety Management Plan and Water Rules

(Based on the New Zealand Rowing Association Water Safety Code (2016)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This document is intended to provide the members of Oamaru Rowing Club (‘ORC’) with safety guidelines and water rules in relation to the activity of rowing. The members of ORC should use their own judgment at all times and are ultimately responsible for their own safety.

1.1 SAFETY OFFICER

ORC has a Safety Officer duly elected at the AGM. This officer shall advise the club on the requirements of the NZRA Water Safety Code and oversee its implementation and operation.

1.2 EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Emergency services Ambulance, Fire, Police ‘111’ .
Oamaru Hospital Emergency Department 433-0290.
If cellphone not available and ORC phone not working the nearest telephone to ORC is The Penguin's Nest, McKeown and Graham, Portside Restaurant or Criterion Hotel.

1.3 GENERAL WATER SAFETY

Visual aids on water safety, life saving and resuscitation procedures shall be displayed on the Club Safety Notice Board.

1.4 LOCAL WATERWAY HAZARDS AND RULES

The plan of the harbour, drawing attention to the navigation rules and any additional rules required to accommodate specific local hazards shall be displayed on the Club Safety Notice Board.

1.5 ACCIDENT REPORTING

All accidents shall be reported to the Club captain and Safety Officer. The Safety Officer will record the incident in the accident log. The accident log will be stored by the Safety Officer.
The following paragraphs relate to specific aspects of rowing which, for convenience, have been grouped under separate headings for ease of reference

2.0 EQUIPMENT

For the safety of all concerned, rowing equipment must be maintained in good order.

PRIOR TO GOING ON THE WATER ALL ROWERS/SCULLERS MUST CHECK THE FOLLOWING:

2.1. BOW BALLS

Every boat must at all times carry firmly attached to its bows a white ball diameter made of rubber or material of similar consistency

2.2 HEEL RESTRAINTS

Heel restraints and "quick-release" mechanisms must be in proper and effective working order in all boats equipped with fitted shoes. The restraints must allow no more than 50mm of heel lift on the shoe.

2.3 LIGHTS

For outings between the hours of 30 mins before sunset to 30 mins after sunrise boats shall be fitted with lights as required

2.4 OAR BUTTONS

Check oars and sculls to ensure that "buttons" are secure and properly set.

2.5 BUOYANCY COMPARTMENTS

Buoyancy compartments, bow and stern canvasses, etc., must be checked to ensure that they will function as intended.

2.6 BOAT LOG

Every boat taken on the water must be signed out in the boat log located on the rowing shed writing desk.
The boat is required to be signed back in at the completion of the rowing session. Any issues with the boat or water-way should be noted in the log and the Club Captain informed.
The safety flag must be displayed on the front of the ORC building whenever rowers are rowing on the harbour. It must be taken down when the last boat comes off the water. Failure to sign in/out of the logbook or display / take down the safety flag will result in disciplinary action taken by the ORC Committee.

Either repair the issue before going on to the water (in the case of minor repairs) or if it requires substantial repairs note the problem in the boat log, inform the Club Captain, and use another boat.

3.0 ROWERS, SCULLER AND COXSWAINS

3.1 SWIMMING & STRENGTH

All persons participating in rowing or sculling must be in good health and able to swim a minimum of fifty [50] m in light clothing and shoes. Also they are required to demonstrate sufficient strength to lift a 25kg from the ground to over their heads with arms outstretched. This is to simulate the task of lifting boats into and from the water or dumps.

3.2 LIFEJACKETS

All coxswains shall wear an approved lifejacket when on the water for both training and in competition. Where the coxswain is located in the bow of a boat, care must be taken in the choice of lifejacket to ensure that the coxswain is not restricted when exiting the boat.

3.3 CREW CAPTAIN

All crews, when going on the water - whether accompanied or not, must appoint a person to have overall responsibility for the crew. This person will usually be the person steering the boat or the stroke of the crew if the person steering is considered unsuitable. It is this person’s responsibility to ensure that the crew complies with the rules and is the person to whom any inquiry will be directed should an incident occur.

3.4 BOAT LAUNCHING

At Oamaru Harbour boats must be carried down or up the ramp by all members of the crew.
A crew member will be designated to direct the crew to safely carry the boat down to the water for launching/retrieving. That member, will be the only one talking , and is responsible for avoiding contact with pedestrians, lampposts, bollards, buildings and any other hazard between the clubhouse and the water. At least one crew member should hold the boat whilst the oars are fitted or removed.

3.5 SWAMPING

In the case of a swamping or accident on the water, all crew members must remain with the rowing skiff until advised otherwise by the coach or emergency services.

4.0 COACHING

Only approved persons are allowed to use such powered craft.

4.1 CREW SAEFTY REQUIREMENTS

Coaches are not only concerned with coaching their crews; they have a responsibility to remind crews that they need to fulfil the crew's safety requirements on the water.

4.2 CREW CLOTHING

Coaches shall ensure that the whole crew, including the coxswain, are dressed suitably, adequately protected for the weather conditions they are likely to encounter.

4.3 LIFEJACKETS
Coaches and coaching launch drivers shall wear life jackets at all times whilst afloat.

4.4 COACHING CRAFT SAFETY EQUIPMENT

All coaching safety boats shall carry the following safety aids:

A bailer.
A sound signalling warning device, capable of attracting attention over at least 200 metres. e.g. Air horn or whistle
A grab line at least 15m (50ft) long with a large knot tied in one end to assist throwing (ideally a purpose made rescue/heaving line - 'throw bag').
Sufficient approved Buoyancy aids or PFD's for the biggest boat they are coaching (8 max) (see Club Training Below)
A basic first aid kit (contents recorded and checked before going out).
A sharp knife in carrying sheath.
A paddle.

Engine cut-out lanyard device, accessible to the driver at all times
Anchor and line.
It is recommended that all Coaches should carry a mobile phone with them when they are on the water to assist in communications if there is an emergency

4.5 LIGHTS

Any activity on the water between the hours of 30 mins before sunset to 30 mins after sunrise requires the launches to be fitted with lights and carry a torch to alert other vessels to avoid collision or to signal for assistance.

5.0 CLUB TRAINING

5.1 GENERAL

The area of water in which the club carries out its training is clearly defined in the plan. This plan must be displayed on the Club Safety Notice Board.

5.2 TRAINING AREAS

These Training Water Areas are:

Oamaru Harbour
Lake Ruataniwha
Waiau Box
Bells pond

Charts of these areas showing the applicable navigation rules, local variations and hazards will be displayed on the Club Safety Notice Board.
All members are required to make themselves familiar with these.
When Training/Racing in waters outside these areas Coaches, Coxswains and Steerers (coxless boats) are required to make themselves familiar with the local conditions and water traffic code.

5.4 EXIT POINTS

Suitable landing or exit points need to be identified along the rowing route. These are identified on the charts of the normal training areas.

5.5 TRAINING

Three types of training are identified as
1. Accompanied training (with coach)
2. Unaccompanied training (without coach)
3. Training before dawn and after dusk
The following conditions apply and must be adhered to.

5.5.1 Accompanied training.

When accompanied by the coach in a powerboat - One coach in a powerboat can supervise a maximum of 3 rowing skiffs at any one time, provided that the crew/s are always able to hear given instructions from the coach. The powerboat shall carry the required number of Buoyancy Aids/PFDs as per 4.5
All coxswains and coaches must wear approved lifejackets when carrying out their duties on the water.

5.5.2 Unaccompanied training

Permission to train unaccompanied must be sought and obtained from the Club Captain prior to beginning training. Permission maybe granted for either a limited number of unaccompanied training sessions or permanent unaccompanied training.
NOTE: Before going on the water a member of the crew must assume responsibility for the crew. It is that person’s responsibility to ensure that the crew complies with the rules for unaccompanied crews and is the person to whom any inquiry will be directed should an incident occur.

5.5.3 Training before dawn and after dusk

The rules above for Accompanied and Unaccompanied training will apply, in addition:
Boats must carry on the bow a continuous all round (360 degrees) white light one metre above the level of the canvas on the bow with a range of 2 nautical miles.
All other boats must display a continuous all round white light on the bow capable of being seen for at least 2 nautical miles.

5.5.4 Rowing at Lake Ruataniwha

Rowers are only permitted to train at Ruataniwha with the permission of either Head Coach or Club Captain.
Complex manager Trevor Wilson must also be consulted before you go on the water and informed immediately after you come off the water. He can be contacted in person or on 0211341073.
Unaccompanied rowing is no longer permitted at Lake Ruataniwha and rowers must always be accompanied by a safety boat.
Particular attention should be paid to the weather conditions and provision of warm clothes. Remember Ruataniwha can blow up quickly and safety boat operators must be able to locate their crews quickly and get them to shore as soon as possible. Make sure you know where you can exit all over the lake and not just at our ramp.

6.0 DISPUTES PROCESS

Collision avoidance is the responsibility of both parties in a dispute regardless of Right of Way.
If a collision does occur the Club Captain & Safety Officer should be informed as soon as possible. These two officers will progress the matter with the full co-operation of those involved.

Failure to comply with the Oamaru Rowing Clubs Safety Plan may result in disciplinary action being taken by the Committee.