North East Rowing on-line
Safety Report to NRC Executive on 15th March 2006
Introduction
Safety in the region has not caused me to lose sleep at nights, but there are still some lessons to get across.
Rule 43 Letters
Gary Harris, Vice Chairman of the ARA, published his responses to the Rule 43 letters from the Coroner’s Inquests into the deaths of Leo Blockley (2nd inquest) and Sikander Farooq. His response to the letters explained some actions taken by the ARA since 2000 but contained potential inaccuracies, particularly regarding the cox’s swimming and coxing abilities. Unfortunately Gary was not called to give evidence at the second inquest into Leo’s death; if he had, his statements could have been challenged and clarified in court.
There were many problems leading up to both tragedies, as is so often the case, and a few small changes would have prevented the deaths. The main lesson that I would draw from the inquests is that we should follow more closely the Water Safety Code (WSC) except in one area where the code does not agree with current knowledge, the capsize drills.
Boat Buoyancy
Despite the many failings that led up to the swamping of Leo Blockley’s boat, it is very likely that, if the boat had met the new FISA guidelines on buoyancy, Leo would not have drowned. These guidelines suggest that when a boat is swamped, i.e. water is flowing out as fast as it is flowing in (in other words, it is full), the boat should float with the rowers’ seats no more than 50mm below the mean surface of the water. At this level the boat would have some manoeuvrability and most of each crewman’s body would be out of the water. The cox should sit on the stern canvas or bow’s slide-bed to get the same protection from the cold water.
The ARA’s statement in the WSC is not as clear as FISA’s, but is intended to give the same protection. I hope this can be clarified in the near future.
For retro-fitting boats that do not meet the standard, Andy Clark has supplies of 10-litre bags at £10.00 each plus p&p (unfortunately his original, cheaper, supplier is no longer trading). Durham University found that trying to use expanding foam was time-consuming and Andy’s bags were a more suitable solution.
Capsize Drills
The capsize drills have been revised to put more emphasis on getting the torso out of the cold water as quickly as possible. The first draft of the coaching notes for the new drills is on the ARA web-site. The key message, in British water, is get your torso out of the water by getting on to your boat. If you can do it (and have practiced it) get back in; if not, get onto your boat like a surf-boarder. It does not matter which way up your boat is, just get onto it. If you have a buddy nearby, you can get onto the stern canvas of his boat and he can get you to shore more quickly than you will manage it on your own.
Cold Water Immersion
I’ve said it before, and I’ll go on saying it until you’ve all read it, please read Jane Blockley’s excellent document on cold water immersion; it may save your life. http://www.leoblockley.org.uk/cold-water-safety.asp
Safety Audits
The date for the new ARA on-line safety audits has been put back until 1 April (I hope the date is not too significant!). Once the system becomes live, please use it quickly.
Navigation
Collisions are still the biggest cause of injury to rowers and boats. Keep to the correct side of the river and keep a look-out. Any collision is the fault of all involved. If you are a World Champion eight on the correct line and you hit a sculler because he isn’t yet competent or has had an equipment failure, you are at fault because you didn’t see him and make allowances for him.
Boat handling (ejection from boat vs. getting on stake-boats)
A Tees rower was ejected from an eight at Tyne Head. Fortunately the eight was the last boat and was being followed by all three safety boats, so rescue was almost instant. The rower was still shocked and shivering when brought ashore a couple of minutes after immersion. On a normal outing without a safety boat, how quickly could your crew respond? If you can “stop her hard” and back down quickly and competently onto a stake-boat, you will be able to rescue your unfortunate crewmate nearly as quickly as a safety boat. Also, Umpires will thank you for that skill in the summer; and you can be disqualified from a race for not getting onto the stake-boat in time for the start. Lesson; learn to manoeuvre!
Boat numbering
Not strictly a safety issue, but all boats going on the Tideway must have a unique number based on the club ID code (e.g. TYN for Tyne) and a three digit number. The number must be about the same size as on a car number plate and in a contrasting colour – no yellow numbers on Empachers. The club must have a register of all numbered boats so that when the Port of London Authority (PLA) rings up and asks who owns XXX001, XXX Rowing Club can tell them. If you are caught on the Tideway without a number, you will be disqualified from the race and could be fined up to £1,000.