Club Health & Safety Policy and Statement

Statement of General Health and Safety Policy

The Crewe Flyers Swimming Club recognises and accepts its responsibilities for providing a safe and healthy swimming club environment for all its members, staff and visitors who may have legitimate access to the Club.

It is the policy of the Club to adopt all health and safety guidelines issued by the ASA.

The Club will take all reasonable steps, within its power, to meet its health and safety responsibilities, paying particular attention to:

• the condition of pool side equipment;
• information, supervision and the necessary instruction and training to enable all members, staff and club officers to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety;
• a safe place to swim and learn;
• a healthy environment with adequate welfare and child protection support;
• the management of safe transport to and from club activities eg galas and at the designated meeting place and drop off point.

The Club will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that effective mechanisms are in place to support the reporting, review and management of health and safety matters.

The Club will promote appropriate positive attitudes towards health and safety as an essential and integral part of its education and training of swimmers.

Everyone who is a member of the Club is required to support the Club health and safety policy and co-operate in its implementation.

Everyone who is affected by Club health and safety policy should understand that the responsibility for health and safety lies ultimately with each and every individual to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

This health and safety policy will be implemented by the Club Committee and reviewed from time to time and any changes communicated to members, staff and visitors.

The policy will be displayed on the notice board for the information of the membership and copies issued to all Officers of the Club, Coaches, Pool Assistants and helpers.

This policy statement on health and safety is additional to the related specific policy statements on Child Protection Policy, Equity Policy and Code of Conduct. These are available separately to this statement.

Organisation and Arrangements

The Club Committee is responsible for ensuring the implementation of procedures for the management of health and safety.

The Club Committee is responsible for the monitoring and review of all health and safety matters.

The day to day implementation of safety policy, procedures and guidance is the responsibility of the staff in supervision of a training session or gala. This will be a shared responsibility between the coach, swimming teacher, helper and the relevant pool management.

Swimmers have a responsibility to discharge their personal duty of care in ensuring that they do not endanger themselves through their actions and follow the instructions of the supervising staff.

General Procedures and Guidance

1 Physical Fitness of Pool Users

1.1 On joining the club all members are required to complete a declaration relating to any medical condition or medical disorders, such as asthma, diabetes, heart problems and epilepsy, using a disclosure form to be returned to the Membership Secretary.

Having regard for the requirements of the Data Protection Act, such information will be held on record and may be shared with appropriate officers and pool side staff to ensure the safe conduct of swimming sessions during training and galas. Any such information shared must be treated confidentially by those in receipt of safety/medical information.

All members are responsible for informing the Membership Secretary and Coach of any change or new medical condition, which may affect the individual taking part in club activities, every time they swim. This is to ensure that the safety of all members is ensured at all times. A record must be made on the membership file.

1.2 All new members must complete a swim evaluation in their first session to assess level of competence and performance.

1.3 The above requirements are additional to the individual swimmers responsibility to complete an annual medical declaration form and return it directly to the ASA. This should disclose for example asthma treatment and any other medicine having due regard for regulations relating to doping control. Further information on this subject is available on the ASA web site.

2 Supervision

2.1 No club member shall attempt to enter the water of any pool, whether training or competing, without the presence of a qualified lifeguard, pool attendant and coach pool side.

2.2 All members are required to agree to and observe the Club 'Code of Conduct'.

2.3 Parents/Guardians should accompany ALL members into the pool being used to ensure that the session is manned and is running.

3 General Safety Rules

3.1 Any accident, injury or non-injury incident involving individuals, and or, equipment must be reported immediately to the Coach or staff in supervision. For insurance purposes, an accident report must be completed in the accident report book.

3.2 All members should comply with those conditions and instructions of the pool manager, employees or coaches.

3.3 Smoking is strictly forbidden in the changing rooms or on poolside as are alcohol and drugs (unless the latter has been medically prescribed and details have been disclosed to the Club through the procedure above).

3.4 All members should ensure that the premises, and or equipment are left in a tidy and safe condition.

4 Pools and their Operating Procedures

4.1 The Crewe Flyers Swimming Club uses four different pools and members must comply with the Operating Procedures in place at each pool.

4.2 The Pools include Sandbach School ; Nantwich Pool; Needham Pool MMU Alsager ; Crewe Pool.

4.3 Details of the operating procedures are contained in Appendix 1 to 4.

5 Transport

5.1 From time to time it is necessary to organise transport to and from Galas. This will normally be via a Coach and should be of a suitable standard and have seat belts for all seats.

5.2 An attendance register must be taken and a copy left with a responsible contact in Crewe . A file containing details of emergency contacts and any specific medical condition/requirements must be carried on the visit by a responsible person.

5.3 The register must be checked after any stop where swimmers leave the coach (or minibus) and before commencement of the journey.

5.4 If it is necessary to hire a minibus to travel to and from competitions, the driver must have suitable driver insurance, satisfy the criteria set out by the insurance or hire company, fulfil the licence conditions and be competent to drive the vehicle. The use of minibuses must be restricted to a PSV driver or holder of a MiDAS qualification. A driver must not consume any alcohol during or in the 8-hour period before any journey. A driver must not agree to drive unless they are fit: free from illness, medication, and alcohol. The maximum number of hours that a driver may drive in any 24-hour period is 8 hours. The maximum continuous period of driving should not exceed one and a half hours and should be followed by a minimum break of no less10 minutes out of the vehicle. Before taking over responsibility of a vehicle, all drivers must carry out a pre-journey check. The number of people and weight of luggage must not exceed the maximum limits specified by the manufacturer of the vehicle. No alcohol is to be consumed by passengers whilst the vehicle is in transit.

APPENDIX 1- 4 (Operating procedures for each pool used) (see attached)

Approved: 23 March 2005