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

2. All incidents

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. How many Incidents could have been avoided?
In both 2014 and
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

8. 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

9. Incidents causing serious harm

10. 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)

11. 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

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

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

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

15. Some analysis

16. 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)

17. 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

18. Analysis by Region

22. Resulting Actions

23. 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.

24. Rowing & Regatta Articles

25. Safety Alerts

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Please e-mail safety@britishrowing.org
Thank you
Any Questions?
Please
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