SAFETY
STATEMENT
Safety Advisors
Gearoid Mitchell
Policy
It is the policy of Tribesmen Head of the River Organizing Committee to encourage water safety awareness during the event.
Responsibility
In accordance with current guidelines it is the responsibility of each participating Club committee to ensure the safety of their members while participating in the Tribesmen Head of the River 2005. References include The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, The National Safety Council, The Irish Sailing Association and The Irish Amateur Rowing Union.
Intent
It is the intention of the Organizing committee to implement its own policy and to provide example to participating clubs by creating a positive Safety Environment during the event.
This plan outlines the precaution that the club will implement to fulfill the requirements of the IARU water safety code to promote the safe participation in rowing by members of the IARU, at all levels.
Method
Safety awareness will be promoted by
1. Informing Club Secretaries of the event rules in advance by correspondence and on the www.tribeshead.com website.
2. Providing a map of the course for all participating clubs, coxes and steerers showing the points on the course where caution is required.
3. Holding a coxes meeting prior to the first headrace.
4. Advising that coxes wear lifejackets that will not impede their escape from a submerged boat.
5. Providing marshals in the parking areas, slips and start.
-Parking area marshals will direct where to park safely and give due consideration to others.
-Start Marshals to ensure the safety and fairness to all competitors at the start.
-A
buoyed holding area will be in use at the start. It is imperative that crews
obey the instructions of the safety
-ALL CREWS MUST ADHERE TO THE DECISION OF THE MARSHALS, WHO WILL BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE
6. The safety advisor, slip-marshal or start-marshal may prevent crews or individuals from taking part in the HOR if they consider them a risk to themselves, other competitors or equipment.
7. Providing six safety launches as required on the river. A separate briefing and instruction sheet will be given to the drivers of these boats.
Crew Safety
It is the responsibility of each participating club to ensure that their competing crews are competent to participate in the grade for which they are entered. On the day the cox or steer-person should attend the coxes meeting. This meeting will include a safety briefing. Maps of the river will be provided at this meeting and are provided in the registration pack and the website. Bow numbers are issued to provide an identification system to Marshals. All rowers and equipment must comply with the IARU safety regulations. The air temperatures during March are usually cold, coaches are asked to ensure that your crews are appropriately dressed for the event and weather conditions.
Rules of the River
-Crews should launch ready to row upstream.
-Crews should proceed to the start keeping to the left of the river.
-At the start, crews should maneuver carefully to their allotted holding area and wait for the race to begin.
-During the race crews overtaking have the right-of-way.
-Crews in difficulty or having capsized should remain with their boat.
The
safety of competitors, event organizers, spectators and other river users
is the priority activity. Unless abandoned boats or equipment represent a
hazard to others their recover should be left until after the event when river
traffic has eased.
In the event of accident where assistance is required please contact the:
Emergency Numbers: 999 or 112
Gardai: 091-538000
Summary
Encouraging Water Safety during the TimeTrials is an ongoing activity. It is an essential element of all decisions made in the organizing of the event. Compliance with the code is a condition of entry and the code will be reviewed annually.
Date:
February 2005.