Ottawa Rowing Club Safety Policy

April 25, 2009

SAFETY POLICY 2009

Through its various programs – competitive, learn-to-row, recreational, adaptive or corporate, for example – the Ottawa Rowing Club provides a broad range of opportunities for individuals to row.

The single most important object of these programs is to have individuals row safely.  No rowing program, no matter how important its other goals, is worth the risk of an athlete being injured or killed.  No rower wants to carry the burden of negligently injuring another. Rowing safely is also a simple matter of respect for fellow athletes and other users of the river.  For this reason, the Ottawa Rowing Club is strengthening its longstanding safety policy to reemphasize the central role of safety in its operations.

1.  Building and maintaining a strong safety policy

• Safety Advisor
• The ORC Executive may appoint a Safety Advisor to assist with the development, review and enforcement of the policy.
• Communication of Policy
• Website
• Email (competitive and recreational members; coaches)
• Athletes’ meeting(s)
• Post hard copy (ORC office; old boathouse; new boathouse)
• Annual Review
• Policy to be reviewed once per annum by the ORC Executive.
• Enforcement
• Enforcement may range from verbal warning to ban from ORC property, including loss of fees paid;  requirement to perform reasonable duties to help compensate for any damage or injury caused, and/or requirement to compensate for damage or injury.
• The Safety Policy will be enforced by the ORC Executive or their designate(s).

2.  Safety in the rowing environment

• Traffic Patterns
• Ottawa River
• All rowing shells are to be launched with the bow pointing westward, upstream, (ie pointing toward the Alexandra Bridge (old Interprovincial) / Parliament Hill). Crews/scullers are to row along the Ottawa side to the Alexandra Bridge and then turn the shell perpendicular to the shore and travel to the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. Crews/scullers row following along the Quebec side of the river until they choose to turn around and return to, or towards, the ORC boathouse.  On the return trip, crews/scullers travel perpendicular to the shore when crossing from the Quebec side towards the Ottawa side. Travel to the ORC boathouse continues on the Ottawa side.  Shells are to be docked with the bow pointing westward, upstream (ie pointing towards the Alexandra Bridge / Parliament Hill).
• Gatineau River
• Prohibited unless approved in advance by Head Coach.
• Violation of Traffic Pattern Rules
• Each member of a crew on the water when their shell violates a traffic pattern, is responsible for the violation – and for damages should an accident occur. Coaches are responsible for enforcing compliance with traffic patterns. Coaches who are on the water with their crews are liable to the same extent as their crews for any violation of traffic patterns or damages caused by a violation of the rules.
• Exceptions to Traffic Pattern Rules
• Exceptions may be made when danger or emergency make it dangerous to row according to the established traffic patterns. However, deviations may only be made to the extent necessary to address the emergency or eliminate the danger.  When deviating from the rules, it remains the rowers’ duty to warn others of their presence. Failure to warn others can result in the same penalties as for violating traffic pattern rules generally.
• Exceptions may be made by those engaged in supervised races when coach boats are on the water and in a position to warn other rowers. However, to the extent feasible, races should be conducted in a manner that respects the traffic pattern rules.
• Entering a traffic lane
• It is the responsibility of rowers crossing the river to get to the correct rowing ‘lane’ to watch out for, yield to, and avoid rowers who are rowing according to the rules in those ‘lanes’.
• Rowing in the middle of a river should be avoided by all crews unless during a supervised race, crossing the river, or to avoid collision or hazard.
• Maps of traffic patterns shall be posted in the boathouse of the ORC.
• Weather Hazards 
• If a rower see strong winds, white caps, hears thunder, sees lightning, or sees fog – they should not go out to row, or if on the water they should seek safe haven.
• Cold Water. 
• Cold Water Rules apply when the river water temperatures are 10 degressC or colder as determined by either the Head Coach or Club Manager.  Cold Water Rules remain in effect until lifted by the Head Coach or Club Manager. 
• Cold Water Rules
• No one is permitted to row past the Gatineau River when Cold Water Rules are in effect, in order to minimize the time required to return to the ORC in case of an accident.
• Rowers in singles must wear inflatable (waist) PFDs.
• Doubles and pairs must carry PFDs in their shell.
• Every boat must be accompanied by a coach/safety boat.
• Fog
• Crews and coaches must avoid (to the extent that fog can be forseen) rowing in fog that is sufficiently thick to hide them from oncoming traffic on the water or foggy conditions which prevent rowers from maintaining their proper direction in the water.
• Rowers ‘lost’ in fog are responsible for signaling their presence to other crews by using a whistle or calling out.
• Lightning, hail, high wind conditions
• Regardless of water conditions, crews/scullers must dock and remove their shells from the water as soon as possible.
• Low Light Conditions
• Low light conditions will be determined by the Head Coach or Club Manager.
• Low light conditions include mornings before sunrise and evenings after sunset.
• Rowers must return to the docks no later than the evening ‘curfew’ set by the Head Coach or Club Manager.  It is the responsibility of each rower to know the ‘curfew’.
• All shells on the river in low light conditions must have a bow and stern light which give 360 degree visibility to signal their presence to others.
• Each rower, including coxie, on the river in low light conditions must wear a personal light.

3. Safe equipment and boathouse

• Coach / Safety Boats and Motors
• Motors and coach / safety boats must be kept in good working order.
• Each motor must be equipped with kill switch which is attached to the operator.
• Boats must carry lights when on the water before sunrise or near sunset.
• Boats must carry the following safety equipment as required by law:  bailer, whistle, 15m buoyant heaving line, flashlight, and paddle.
• Boats must be equipped with safety equipment for crews:  lifejackets, and thermal blanket.
• One working cell phone.
• Laminated list of current season cell phone numbers in the safety kit.
• Rowing Shells
• Shells must be in good working order.
• Must have whistle in bow seat.
• Each shell must have bow ball, heel restraints, tightened bolts, proper rigging and vents closed.
• Must be equipped with bow and stern lights when rowing before sunrise or near sunset (see 2c).
• Must carry safety equipment and PFD unless traveling with coach / safety boat outside of ‘Cold Water Rules’.
• Boathouse
• Must have a working telephone.
• Adjacent to the telephone, a sign indicating site location, phone number and directions to the boathouse must be posted.
• Traffic Pattern map must be posted in visible location.
• Safety Policy must be posted
• First Aid Kit must be stocked and accessible from the new boathouse.
• Sign in/out log book must not be removed from boathouse.
• Instructions for responding to an emergency must be posted next to the telephone.
• Office must contain health and emergency contact information for each member or program participant.
• Docks
• Shoes, clothing, water bottles and other personal items must be stored off of, and away from, the ramps to prevent tripping.

4. Safety conscious people

• Head Coach / Club Manager
• Have the authority to cancel rowing operations due to emergency, hazard or other unforeseen event.
• Coach / Safety Boat Operators
• Must have Boat Operator’s License.
• Should have First Aid training.
• Must view RCA Safety video annually.
• Must be aware of how to get a rower out of the water and safely into the coach boat.
• Must leave the docks with the shells under their supervision.
• Must return to the dock with shells under their supervision.
• Help enforce compliance of Traffic Patterns.
• Must be registered with the ORC.
• May be required to submit a Police Records Check for the vulnerable.
• Coaches
• Should have First Aid training.
• Must view RCA Safety video annually.
• Must be registered with the ORC.
• May required to submit a Police Records Check for the vulnerable.
• Coxies
• Must understand traffic patterns, navigation, boat operations and how to avoid accidents.
• Must wear a lifejacket (see 5a).
• Coxies must keep their crews with their accompanying coach / safety boat.
• Must view RCA Safety video annually.
• Should complete a swim competency test.
• Must advise coach / safety boat operator if unable to swim.
• Must be registered with the ORC.
• Must advise Coach/Safety Boat Operator of all pertinent medical conditions.
• Rowers
• Junior rowers may not row unless accompanied by a coach / safety boat.
• Rowers are responsible for staying with their accompanying coach / safety boat.
• Must understand traffic patterns, navigation, boat operations, and capsize recovery.
• Must view RCA Safety video annually.
• Should complete a swim competency test.
• Must advise coach / safety boat operator if unable to swim.
• Must be registered with the ORC.
• Must advise Coach/Safety Boat Operator of all pertinent medical conditions.

5. Safety tools

• Personal Floatation Devises (PFD)
• Must be worn by coaches, and safety / coach boat operators.
• Coxies must wear a PFD which does not impede egress from the boat.
• Must be worn in singles during cold water rules.
• 2x/2- must carry PFD in the shell during cold water rules.
• Must be carried in any boat not accompanied by coach / safety boat.
• Rowers are encouraged to own and wear inflatable PFDs.
• Lights
• Safety / Coach Boats – see 2c., 3a.
• Sculls – see 2c. 3b.
• Rowers – see 2c
• Logbook
• Rowers are responsible for signing boats in and out in the logbook provided in each boathouse whenever rowing unaccompanied by a coach / safety boat.
• Logbooks may not be removed from the boathouses.
• Emergency Communications Equipment
• Personal cell phones shall be used to communicate during on-water emergencies.
• Each coach / safety boat operator is required to provide their cell phone number to the Head Coach who will compile a list which is to remain in each coach / safety boat.
• First Aid Kits
• Each First Aid Kit should be inspected annually and restocked as required.
• First Aid Kits must be stored in a visible and accessible place in the new boathouse.

6. Safety procedures

•  Avoiding Collisions
• It is the duty of each rower/ crew to take reasonable steps to avoid the collision, without putting themselves into additional risk of harm.  Such steps should be taken regardless of whether they are in the ‘right’. Such steps may include:  yelling, blowing a whistle or changing course.  Failure to take reasonable steps may be considered a violation of the rules and both rowers in the collision may be considered at fault.
• Launching
• Each boat shall launch with the bow ball facing westward towards Parliament Hill and them proceed according to Traffic Patterns.
• Docking
• Each boat shall be docked with the bow ball facing westward towards Parliament Hill.
• Rowers in the water
• Coaches, safety boat operators and rowers must be familiar with procedures to deal with capsize situations, as outlined in the RCA Safety Video.
• During ‘Cold Water Rules’ it is essential that rowers be removed from the water.
• Chain of Command in case of emergency.
• In case of emergency, on or off the water contact:
• Emergency Services, if required;
• Head Coach, or  Club Manager;
• Parents or emergency contact designated;
• Coach;
• ORC Executive.
• Chain of Command must be posted in the new boathouse.
• Individuals involved in an emergency or accident must complete an ‘Incident Form’ available from the ORC office. 
  

Appendix A: Contents – First Aid Kit

The First Aid Kit must be inspected annually and restocked when necessary.  It must be stored in a visible and accessible location, designated as the blue locker in Bay 1 of the new Boathouse.

Supplies required include:

Cleansing supplies: