Whitchurch Bowmen Risk Assessment for Target Archery This document covers all club activities related to shooting bows and arrows as described by GNAS rules of shooting. Any activity not covered by this risk assessment must be evaluated individually, and not carried out until the risk assessment is updated accordingly Applicability Hazard Nature of Hazard Person/s at risk Equipment Failure Bowstring may snap, limbs or riser may fail while shooting, Arrows may break on release. Scrap equipment Bows and arrows that have been discarded by the club could fall into the wrong hands Bowstrings and cables Bow Assembly and Disassembly Bowstrings and cables may become caught on loose clothing, hair and or jewellery. Bowstring may strike inner forearm on release. Bow is assembled or disassembled incorrectly, may come apart while being assembled/disassembled or in use. Heavy Bows Use of inappropriately heavy draw weight bows may result in muscular strain or lack of bow control Arrow Retrieval Arrows in the target present hazards when approaching the target or being removed from the target. Arrows which may have landed in the ground may cause if walked into or tripped over. Public Archer Archer Anybody in the Severity of Risk Minor to. Minor Minor to Injury Injury Control Measures Regular checks on bows, strings and arrows by competent members. Any equipment deemed unsafe to be taken out of service and repaired or disposed of. Any bows risers, limbs or arrows deemed unfit for use and beyond repair must be completely decomissioned, eg by cutting in half before being disposed of. Bows, risers, limbs or arrows shall not be disposed of in bins at any shooting venues. Ensure that archers tie back long hair. Remove jewellery deemed to be at risk. Remove or secure loose garments which could become caught. Ensure that arm guards are worn. Instruct on proper release technique. Instruct archers in correct assembly and disassembly technique. Inspect bows regularly for signs of excess wear. Check novice archers equipment prior to shooting. Instruct beginners using lightweight club bows. Ensure beginners employ correct draw technique before graduating to heavier bows. Ensure that archers purchasing their own equipment receive appropriate advice. Advise archers who are clearly 'over bowed' to get a lighter poundage bow. Instruct beginners in the correct method of removing arrows from a target and the importance of standing clear when arrows are being removed. Instruct beginners on how to hold arrows correctly while walking with arrows in the hand if they do not have a quiver Instruct beginners that caution is necessary when approaching a target. No open toed footwear allowed on the range. No running allowed on the range. Page 1 of 5 Remaining Risk
Shooting Controls Inadequate control of shooting may result in to participants, spectators and/or passersby. All in. Shooting must always be conducted under the supervision of an experienced archer or club official who will act as Field Captain. All archers must obey all instructions given by the Field Captain. New archers will be given full instruction as to the role of the Field Captain and the rules of shooting. Arrows Risk of drawing arrow off the rest if arrows are too short, which if released could result in uncontrolled trajectory or arrow shot into archers hand. Arrows may be insufficiently spined for the poundage of the bow and could break on release.. Ensure sufficient arrow length for all new archers (at least 1.5-2" longer than distance from chin to fist outstretched to the side). Instruct beginners not to over draw and pull the arrow off the rest. Ensure that arrows are not excessively under spined for the bow. SJT Field SJT field Setting out and packing away the outdoor range Outdoor Range Layout Target boss and or stand may be mishandled and/or incorrectly secured. Trolleys could be used improperly. Injury could be sustained in / around storage container. Incorrect range layout may result in to participants, spectators and/or passersby. Those handling the equipment and/or those in the All in Minor to Instruct all members in the correct manual handling techniques in relation to movement and carriage of Bosses and Stands. Two persons to lift bosses on and off stands / trolleys. Use of gloves recommended to prevent splinters. Instruct all members in the correct method of securing Bosses and Stands to prevent them falling or blowing over. Minimum 2 persons to be present while moving trolleys or bosses in or out of the container. No standing or riding on trolleys at any time. Trolley beds should be free of items whilst being taken in / out of container / secure compound. All equipment to be packed away in a tidy and organised manor. Minimum two persons to move loaded trolleys on / off the field. 1 person at the back to monitor load The range must be secured and laid out in accordance with Archery GB guidelines. Shooting must not commence until the Field Captain is satisfied that this is the case. Targets shall only be positioned in the marked lanes up to a maximum distance of 100yds / 90m. Targets may only be shot from the corresponding marked shooting line peg. All archers must retreat behind the waiting line unless shooting. Spectators must not enter the area between the shooting line and waiting line. Page 2 of 5
SJT field all venues WRUFC Field Competitions Arrows shot outside Encroachment into Outdoor Range Layout Arrows which are shot outside the may result in to persons and/or property. A person or animal straying into the may receive from an arrow in flight. Incorrect range layout may result in to participants, spectators and/or passersby. All in. Anybody within the confines of the shooting field and surrounding Safety Exclusion Zone. All in All participants must have their attention drawn to the Archery GB rules of shooting and Whitchurch Bowmen club rules. All shooting archers must be members of Archery GB. Any new inexperienced members must complete a beginners course, and deemed competent before being eligible to join the club. Any new experienced members must be assessed for competence by a coach before being eligible to join the club. Any visiting archer GB members must be assessed for competence by a coach before being eligible to shoot or join the club. Any archer failing to comply with the rules will be ordered off the range by the Field Captain. Any archer 'High Drawing' must be reminded of the danger. Persistent high drawing will result in dismissal from the range, and may result in dismissal from the club. Ensure that the range is laid out as per Archery GB guidelines and that the safety area is observable at all times. The Field Captain and all participants must remain vigilant and suspend shooting ly should the Safety Zone be violated. People shall not be able to enter the range without crossing over a physical barrier. Archery Range Warning signs shall be displayed. The range must be secured and laid out in accordance with Archery GB guidelines. Shooting must not commence until the Field Captain / judge is satisfied that this is the case. Any ropes used to create temporary ground lines must be securely pegged down so as not to pose a trip hazard Target positions and shooting line pegs to be identified with clearly visible temporary ground markings WRUFC Field Competitions Arrows shot outside Arrows which are shot outside the may result in to persons and/or property. All in. All shooting archers must be members of Archery GB. Any archer failing to comply with the rules will be ordered off the range by the Field Captain / judge. Any archer 'High Drawing' must be reminded of the danger. Persistent high drawing will result in dismissal from the range, and may result in dismissal from the club. all venues Lost Arrows Arrows left on the field could cause or fall into the wrong hands Persons using the field after archery session minor to Archers should know how many arrows are in their quiver, and how many they have shot. Metal detectors and rakes are provided to find buried arrows No arrows to be left on the field. Where an arrow proves difficult to find, all archers present must persist in the search until it is found. Page 3 of 5
, All venues Weather and Light Fog, heavy rain and low light will reduce the visibility on the range and therefore increase the danger to anyone who may encroach onto it. High wind may produce unacceptable levels of arrow drift or archer instability. Electrical storms may produce lightening strikes to archers equipment.. The Field Captain shall make a final and binding decision regarding the safety of shooting in adverse weather conditions or low light. Shooting shall be suspended ly in the event of an electrical storm. Indoors SJT Hall Setting out and packing away the indoor range Target boss / stand / safety net may be mishandled and/or incorrectly secured. Those handling the equipment and/or those in the Minor to Instruct all members in the correct manual handling techniques in relation to movement and carriage of Bosses and Stands. Two persons to lift bosses on and off stands. Use of gloves recommended to prevent splinters. All equipment to be packed away in a tidy and organised manor. The safety net shall only be erected / dismantled by, or under supervision of persons who are familiar with the correct method. All safety nets, ropes, mountings and fittings should be inspected each time it is used. Encroachment into safety area A person enters the range Safety Area may receive from an arrow in flight. Persons entering the sports hall or spectators area while shooting is in progress entry / exit route limited to the door from the corridor directly into the hall. Warning sign stating archery in progress attached to corridor side of hall door. If the shooting line is ahead of hall door, i.e. persons entering the hall do so behind the shooting line, no further action is required. If the shooting line is behind hall door of door, i.e. persons entering do so in front of the shooting line, the hall door must be locked from the inside while shooting is in progress. The hall spectators area is strictly out of bounds while shooting is in progress. Spectators area door locked while shooting in progress. Warning sign advising that archery is in progress and entry is prohibited attached to corridor side of spectator area door. Both external fire escape doors should be checked to ensure they are securely closed before shooting commences. Ricocheting arrows An arrows shot in the hall that miss the target could bounce back off the wall and hit somebody Minor to. Properly erected safety net must always be used Bosses must only be positioned in front of the net Retrieving arrows from behind safety net Shooting could commence while a person is behind the safety net. Archer behind safety net Any person going behind the net should first notify another person to act as a spotter. Any person aware of another person behind the net should remain in a visible position in the target area in order prevent shooting recommencing. Nobody should go behind the net for any longer than necessary. Page 4 of 5
Have a go' sessions All venues Novices 'having a go' should be assumed to have no range safety knowledge or shooting experience With a larger volume of novices 'having a go' at archery, an incident could arise from a novice archer making a mistake through ignorance. Archery GB 'code of practice for have a go events' to be adhered to at all times All novices to be supervised on a 1:1 basis at all times while shooting. Correct draw technique and anchor point shall be demonstrated to all novices. Novices should not be allowed to pull arrows from the target. Novices should not be allowed to assemble / disassemble bows The following fundamental safety requirements shall be explained to every novice. Whistle meaning; no running; only point loaded bow at the target; approach target with caution Bow sights shall not be used Have a go sessions Outdoor venues / public events High volume of general public present at public events While running have a go sessions at outdoor venues a stray arrow could hit a member of the public Archery GB 'code of practice for have a go events' to be adhered to at all times. The safety net shall always be used. (Even with generous overshoot all missed arrows are contained for easy retrieval) The range safety area shall be roped off in accordance with Archery GB rules, with warning signs displayed around the safety barrier. Any seating or recreational facilities within the cordoned off area shall be additionally identified as temporarily unavailable. Access to the range shall be controlled via a single entry / exit point of single pedestrian gate width. Issue issue 1 21.04.2016 Note: New issues must be approved by three senior club officers, at least one of whom must be a qualified coach Updates since previous issue Approval 1 Name: Position: Signature: Approval 2 Name: Position: Signature: Approval 3 Name: Position: Signature: Page 5 of 5