CTC Cycling Guidlines for Group Leaders (

Transcription

1 Swaledale Outdoor Club Mountain Bike Section Risk Assessment (Version 2.0 Completed 19/11/2010) 1. Background Swaledale Outdoor Club is based in Richmond, North Yorkshire. The club aims to promote, encourage community participation in, and provide facilities for, amateur outdoor sports and activities. The club does not provide instruction or formal guiding in it s activities, people participating in activities in a voluntary capacity. It is the responsibility of anyone involved in these activities to personally look after their own safety. The Club s approach to risk assessment is set out in the Swaledale Outdoor Club Risk Assessments and Guidance Policy, a copy of which is available on the Club s website. 2. Key Reference Documents The CTC is the UK s national cyclists organisation, providing guidance which is useful for amateur cycling groups and clubs. Members are encouraged to read and follow the guidance documents provided by the CTC. The following documents have been used to develop this risk assessment and have been referred to in it: Swaledale Outdoor Club Risk Assessments and Guidance Policy CTC Cycling Guidlines for Group Leaders ( CTC/Rideleaderguide.pdf) CTC Guide to Cycling a Group ( CTC/Guidetocyclingagroup.pdf) CTC Advice Sheet June 2006 Vesion 3.0 Law and Liability for Cycling Activties and Events ( CTC/LawandLiabilityforCycleActivityPr oviders.pdf) 3. Mountain Bike Section Specific Risk Assessment 1

2 General Unclear expectations regarding ride organiser role Unclear expectations regarding ride participant role The club s approach to risk assessment is set out in its Swaledale Outdoor Club Risk Assessments and Guidance Policy. Guidance leaflets offering general guidance on group riding and group leading / organising are provided by the CTC. Members are encouraged to read and follow this guidance and appropriate information has been incorporated into this risk assessment. The CTC s advice sheet Law and Liability for Cycling Activties and Events provides background information on the appropriate legislative background and has been taken into account in this risk assessment. The Club s programme provides information about the planned rides, including the ride length and grading. Ride organisers can be contacted for further information. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are available on the mountain biking section of the SOC website. Guidance leaflets offering general good practice guidance on group leading / organising are provided by the CTC. CTC/Rid eleaderguide.pdf Members are encouraged to read and follow this guidance when organising rides. Ride organisers to remind any non club members of our disclaimer and that they ride at their own risk. Guidance leaflets offering general guidance on group riding are provided by the CTC. CTC/Gui detocyclingagroup.pdf) Members are encouraged to read and follow this guidance and appropriate information ( ( ( 2

3 Unsuitability of Equipment Adverse Weather Challenging and remote Terrain This is largely out of our control - participants use and maintain their own equipment and are responsible for the roadworthiness and maintenance of their own bike and personal equipment. Any club equipment is subject to annual, recorded safety checks to ensure that it is in safe, working order. Visual checks should be carried out before any club equipment is used. All people participating in club rides must wear a helmet. Decisions about wearing additional protective equipment is the personal choice of the participant and at their own risk. Ride organisers are able to refuse to take people on a club ride if they feel they are too poorly equipped to safely participate. However, this does not negate people s personal responsibility to ensure that they have suitable equipment, clothing, spares, food and water for the programmed ride. The weather is out of our control, but can have a large impact on mountain bike rides and needs to be considered by ride organisers. Where possible organisers should be aware of short cuts and contingency plans in case of adverse weather and may cancel or cut short rides if they consider that this is appropriate. This is largely out of our control. Mountain biking inherently involves risks associated cycling over challenging and sometimes remote terrain and participants should expect this. The Club s programme provides information about the planned rides, including the ride length and grading. Ride organisers can be contacted for further information if required. Participants are individually responsible for riding in their own abilities and making decisions about what they do and don t attempt to ride. ( ( ( 3

4 Riding on roads Varying ability of riders Splitting the group/loosing riders This is largely out of our control, it being impossible to avoid riding on the roads during club rides (High rides will include some riding on roads). Individual participants are responsible for being alert and on the watch for hazards such as junctions, poor road surfaces and other road users. As road users individual participants are responsible for riding safely and in accordance The Highway Code. This is largely out of our control as the club has a wide variation in participant s abilities (High rides will have participants of varying abilities on them). The Club s programme provides information about the planned rides, including the ride length and grading. Ride organisers can be contacted for further information if required. Participants are individually responsible for riding in their own abilities and making decisions about what they do and don t attempt to ride. Ride organisers to be aware of the number of people participating in a ride and periodically wait to allow people to catch up/regroup. All participants are responsible for remaining the group, waiting for slower riders and keeping the group together. Participants to make the ride organiser aware if they are cutting the ride short and leaving the group. ( ( ( Malicious third party attacks and thefts Participants are individually responsible for their own safely and should be vigilant and advise others of any apparent dangers/threats. Participants are individually responsible for the safety and security of their own equipment. However, after a recent spate of bike thefts participants are encouraged not to leave their bikes unsecured. (Medium Medium 4

5 Conflict/collisio n other trail users Injuries Participants are individually responsible for riding in their own abilities and in control. Participants are individually responsible for riding responsibly and giving way to other trail users where appropriate. This is largely out of our control as mountain biking inherently involves the risk of crashing and injury. Participants are individually responsible for riding in their own abilities and making decisions about what they do and don t attempt to ride. Participants are individually responsible for carrying basic first aid equipment and looking after their own minor injuries. In the event of a serious injury other ride participants can only be expected to respond as an untrained member of the public (for example, calling for appropriate help and medical assistance). Accident reporting procedure (report of injuries needing hospital attention to the section coordinator for discussion by committee) is in place and allows for any lessons learned to be considered. ( (Medium Medium 4. Arrangements for Review and Update This risk assessment should be reviewed on a yearly basis. If a significant event or incident occurs before the yearly review is due, consideration should be given to the need to review and revise the risk assessment as appropriate. Date completed: 19/11/2010 By: Rachel Martin Position: Mountain Bike Section Coordinator Date of Review Name Position Brief Summary of any Amendments Made 5

6 Date of Review Name Position Brief Summary of any Amendments Made 6