Health & Safety

Marlborough Boys’ College Rowing is committed to health and safety and has both the moral and legal responsibility to ensure we use all reasonable endeavours to keep our members and the public safe.

Club Requirements:

MBC Rowing will act within the Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) Safety Policy requirements, and as stated in the policy, we will:

• Appoint a Safety Officer each season who shall be registered with Rowing NZ, The Safety Officer shall advise the club on the requirements of the Water Safety Code and oversee its implementation and operation. If the Safety Officer does not attend camps or regattas, then the club should also appoint a Travelling Safety Officer.

• Ensure the following has been developed and prominently displayed in the club building:

• Detailed address of the rowing club so that this can be given to emergency services

• The contact details of the clubs’ Safety Officer

• Plan of local waterway showing the navigation rules and traffic plan for the area

• Risk Management Plan

• List of hazards for both on and off the water

• Ensure that a first aid kit is available on shore, which is kept complete and regularly checked

• Ensure a boat maintenance log is kept for the support vessels showing the maintenance and repairs of the boat and equipment, and the date it was carried out.

• Ensure all incidents and accidents are reported to the Safety Officer at the first reasonable opportunity and detailed records are kept (time, place, nature, injuries/damage, and contact details).

• Ensure that the rowing and coaching equipment of the club is in good and safe order. Rowing skiffs must meet Rules 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Rowing NZ Rules of Racing 2013 (relating to flotation, bow balls, quick release foot stretchers and the coxswain’s seat).

• Conduct and document a Safety Induction with all members which covers the club’s waterway plan, hazards, emergency procedures and considers a person’s swimming ability (All team members must complete a clothed 50m swim test prior to the first regatta). The Club Safety Officer should be notified of anyone unable to swim adequately to mitigate this issue.

Preparation To Go Rowing:

Type of Rowing:

• Supported – skiffs, which are accompanied by a support vessel and remain under their supervision (all boats remain within 500m of each other).

• Observed – skiffs which are in sheltered waters (where flow is stagnant, and the sides of the waterway are less than 200 meters apart) and are under the observation of an individual who is not in a vessel but can summon additional help if required.

• Unsupported – skiffs which are not accompanied by a support vessel in unsheltered waters, and each person is carrying an easily accessible approved flotation belt on their skiff.

Responsibility to be assigned:

• The Stroke is responsible for the rowing crew and is considered the skipper of the skiff.

• The driver of the support vessel is considered the skipper of that vessel. Supervision of Crews

• The Coach or person in a support vessel is always responsible for the safety of all crews under their observation. Making allowance for weather, water, ability of crews and other conditions, it is incumbent upon the coach or support person, to assess the number of crews they can safely be responsible and supervise. All crews and support vessel need to remain within 500m of each other otherwise they are no longer under supervision and required to carry an easily accessible approved flotation belt on their skiff.

• It is recommended that one support vessel observe no more than three crews. Checks to complete

The Coach/Support Person and Stroke will ensure that:

• All members of the crew are suitably attired for the rowing conditions

• The crew is familiar with the local waterway rules and hazards

• The weather forecast has been checked and is suitable for rowing crew intentions are lodged (e.g., on a whiteboard or logbook)

• The rowing skiff is compliant with Rule 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Rowing NZ Rules of Racing 2013 (relating to floatation requirements, bow balls, quick release foot stretchers and coxswain’s seat) and any support vessel is fit for purpose and carrying the required safety equipment. 

The other crew members will ensure that:

• They are suitably attired for the rowing conditions

• If they are rowing in unsheltered waters without the supervision of a support vessel, each person must carry on board an easily accessible approved flotation belt on their skiff.

Equipment For Safety

• Personal flotation devices: 

• Certified personal flotation device (PFD), lifejackets or buoyancy aids are those certified under the Maritime Rule 91.4(1)

• Certified PFD’s must always be worn by coaches, persons in support vessels, coxswains, and open water rowers (rowers more than 1500m from shore or bank)

•Any rower who is training in unsheltered waters without a support vessel supervising them must carry on board an easily accessible approved floatation belt

Support Vessel

The following is the necessary equipment for a support vessel:

• Bailer, and for inflatable rubber dinghies, a suitable pump, and a spare inflation valve

• Sound signalling warning device

• Grab line or 'throw bag'

• Sufficient approved floatation belts for the largest skiff being supervised (8 max)

• Basic first aid kit including a survival blanket and a fire extinguisher

• Sharp knife in carrying sheath

• Paddle

• Engine cut-out lanyard device which should be always worn

• When operating more than 500m from the shore a flare should also be carried