Risk Management

Port Hacking Open Sailing Club Inc

RISK MANAGEMENT and COVID-19 Safety Plan

Port Hacking Open Sailing Club Inc.

INTRODUCTION

Port Hacking Open Sailing Club Inc. is mindful of the risks associated with conducting sailing races and activities at club level with a view to providing a safer sporting environment and experience for club sailors.

The safety record of inshore dinghy sailing indicates it is a relatively safe sport, where incidents in which participants are placed in real danger of serious injury or death are very infrequent. The success of these events and the popularity of sailing & recreational boating generally, has however resulted in a crowded waterway and this itself is relevant to the operation of Race Management Boats.

Capsizing is a normal part of sailing and even the youngest sailing crews are normally required to be able to recover their own vessel from a capsize.

Background – duty of care

Club and race officials owe a duty of care to participants in sailing races and activities where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm or injury to participants as a result of their actions. In exercising this duty of care, the law requires officials to take reasonable steps to reduce the likelihood of injury to participants as a result of those risks which are foreseeable.

This is the rationale which underpins any risk management program – in this case, the process of identifying risks involved in conducting sailing competitions and activities, and then adopting strategies and actions designed to reduce these risks wherever possible.

Objectives

To provide a safe on-water environment for competitors having due regards for both expected and unforseen conditions

To reduce the incidence of injury to participants, officials and other persons associated with club sailing competitions and activities.

To provide a fun, healthy and safe sporting environment for individuals to participate and enjoy the sport of sailing.

To minimise potential club liability as a result of poorly managed sailing competitions and activities.

The Australian Standard

The approach adopted in this Resource is based on the Australian Standard on Risk Management AS/NZS 4360:1999 and the National Risk Management Guideline developed by the Standing Committee on Sport and Recreation (SCORS) risk management working party.

This Resource has sought to simplify the steps set out in the Australian Standard, and includes the following stages: