Analysis of Significant Incidents Reported in 2015 Andrea & Stephen Worley March 2016

All incidents

Analysis of Significant rowing incidents by cause – 2015 Significant accidents = all except simple capsizes (most result in collisions or near collisions) 2015 Sample size = 1017

Analysis of Significant rowing incidents by cause – 2014 Sample size = 993 Significant accidents = all except simple capsizes (most result in collisions or near collisions)

Causes of Incidents 2014 % 2015 δ% Poor lookout 241 24 289 28 + 4 Non-adherence to local code 173 17 178 Poor lookout and non-adherence to local code 131 13 101 10 - 3 Failure to check equipment 49 5 75 7 + 2 Falls and other injuries on land 79 8 71 - 1 Poor steering 103 65 6 - 4 Health 30 3 47 Launch incidents 29 Going out in bad weather 43 4 26 Poor lookout and poor navigation 9 1 No lights 19 2 + 1 Non-adherence to local code and poor supervision 14 18 Equipment failure 34 - 2 Antisocial behaviour Other 11 Event inspection reports Trailer incident Boats coming off racking/trestles Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord Bike incident Clothing Lack of planning and adherence to plan Para-rower Capsize Total 993 98 1017 99

Red = Cause is Behaviour related Causes of Incidents 2014 % 2015 Poor lookout 241 24 289 28 Non-adherence to local code 173 17 178 Poor lookout and non-adherence to local code 131 13 101 10 Failure to check equipment 49 5 75 7 Falls and other injuries on land 79 8 71 Poor steering 103 65 6 Health 30 3 47 Launch incidents 29 Going out in bad weather 43 4 26 Poor lookout and poor navigation 9 1 No lights 19 2 Non-adherence to local code and poor supervision 14 18 Equipment failure 34 Antisocial behaviour Other 11 Event inspection reports Trailer incident Boats coming off racking/trestles Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord Bike incident Clothing Lack of planning and adherence to plan Para-rower Capsize Total 993 98 1017 99 Red = Cause is Behaviour related

How many Incidents could have been avoided? In both 2014 and 2015 - 55% of incidents could have been avoided by: Keeping a good lookout and Following the circulation plan 90% could have been avoided by safer behaviour, for example:- Keeping a good lookout on land as well as on the water Keeping to the circulation plan Checking equipment Tying boats down Putting the lights on their boat Taking the weather and water conditions into account

Is it getting better? It is impossible to normalise the data as there is no measure of the level of activity in each year. Significant incidents reported - up 2.6% Total BR membership – up 1.4% Gold BR membership – up 3.7% The increase in the number of incidents reported may be due to an increase in the :- number of incidents that occurred awareness of the Incident Reporting system willingness to report incidents number of competitive rowers in training

Incidents causing serious harm

Harm caused to People and Property Harm caused to people – Incidents resulting in:- 2014 % 2015 No harm 821 83 823 81 Minor injuries such as cuts and bruises 75 8 82 Significant injuries - few days off rowing 64 6 60 Serious injuries - week or more off rowing inc. concussion, broken bones 33 3 51 5 Fatalities 1 Total 993 100 1017 Damage caused to property – Incidents resulting in:- 2014 % 2015 No damage 691 69 754 74 Repairs costing less than £100 119 13 89 8 Repairs costing between £100 and £1000 114 11 124 12 Repairs costing over £1000 63 6 42 4 Loss of boat 1 7 Loss of Car (£15,000) Total 993 100 1017 99 Cost - in the region of £230,000 (£290,000 in 2014)

Or to put it another way… On average, every week there is: One significant injury requiring a few days off rowing One serious injury requiring more than one week off rowing £4,500 worth of damage

Causes of Incidents resulting in any time off rowing 2015 Number of Incidents = 112

Causes of Incidents resulting in a week or more off rowing 2015 Number of Incidents = 51

Causes of Incidents resulting in more than £1000 damage 2015 Number of Incidents = 50

Some analysis

Analysis of All Incidents Over 90 of all incidents (9%) occurred at Events 13 incidents mentioned heel restraints or shoes 7 were Event inspections 4 heel restraints not working 2 difficulty undoing shoes 36 incidents were health related 13 Head injuries, some resulting in concussion 9 incidents where a rower fainted (mostly after a race) 8 Respiratory incidents (mostly at Events) 4 Cardiac incidents 2 Asthma attacks 42 incidents involved non-rowing boats 5 sailing dinghies 13 canoes 24 motor vessels (including launches)

Analysis of Simple Capsizes 430 capsizes due to simple technique mistakes or competence issues were reported in 2015 (610 in 2014). Of these:- 42 occurred because a sculler let go of the blades 18 occurred when getting into or out of the boat, or arriving at or leaving the landing area 33 involved drills 10 occurred at events

Analysis by Region

Resulting Actions

How are the Incidents Reports used? All reports except those for simple capsizes are reviewed by the HRSA. Every month a note of thanks is sent to the people who produce the “best” one or two Incident Reports. best = detailed, constructive, useful, promoting improvements Information obtained from Incident Reports is used to identify common factors and the prevalence of types of incidents. These become the subject of Safety Alerts or Rowing & Regatta articles to create awareness of hazards and ways to avoid similar incidents.

Rowing & Regatta Articles

Safety Alerts

What next? Most clubs have a risk assessment and reasonable club and event safety plans Over 90% of incidents were caused by at-risk behaviour Behaving safely will have more impact on safety than more effort to address hazards Who can help? Club Officials Coaches Event Organisers Everyone

Who can help? – Club Officials Use the Risk Assessment to define the Club’s key safety rules Display the local code/circulation plan prominently in the club and circulate to all members Ensure all members understand the Club Safety Plan Implement a system to quarantine and repair damaged equipment Ensure that safety equipment (includes lifejackets and kill-cords) is available, properly stored and in good working order Reward “safe” behaviour Provide corrective feedback for “at-risk” behaviour

Who can help? - Coaches Coaches are in a good position to influence rowers. They can: Set a good example by behaving safely Wear the right clothes Use a lifejacket and kill-cord properly when appropriate Drive a launch carefully and considerately Check everyone is fit to row Don’t go out in bad weather Include safety in coaching e.g. train rowers to: Keep a good lookout in all directions Follow the circulation plan Check equipment before going afloat Take care on land as well as afloat Develop peripheral vision or use a “spotter” to help keep a good lookout

Who can help? – Event Organisers Use the Risk Assessment to define the Event’s key safety rules Distribute local code/circulation plan to clubs involved in the Event Provide safety briefings for all involved in the Event Provide sufficient well-briefed marshalls Ensure that contravention of the safety rules results in serious consequences e.g. disqualification Ensure that safety equipment (includes lifejackets and kill-cords) is available and in good working order

Who can help? – Everyone Take care of your and everyone else’s safety Make sure you understand the Club’s safety rules and follow them Understand and follow the local code/circulation plan Check equipment before use, report defects Act if you see unsafe behaviour – don’t tolerate it by ignoring it Report incidents and near misses to the Club and British Rowing

Please e-mail safety@britishrowing.org Thank you Any Questions? Please e-mail safety@britishrowing.org or phone 07775 897084.