activity safety policy
Great emphasis is placed on safety during activities. The Centre tries to minimise the risks involved by employing qualified instructors and by using high quality equipment. However, outdoor activities are potentially hazardous in nature and participants must accept a certain amount of risk. Those with parental responsibility must also recognise a degree of risk when signing the consent form.
Safety policies, reviewed and updated January 2010
VENUE
water activities Hamble River
climbing on site indoor climbing walls
archery on site indoor and outdoor archery range
ropes course on site low ropes course
QUALIFICATIONS
Activities will be led by instructors holding the following qualifications or higher
canoeing BCU (UKCC) level 2 coach
improvised rafting BCU (UKCC) level 2 coach
motorboat RYA powerboat level 2
climbing CWA or SPA or in-house trained plus MIA assessed
archery GNAS leaders award
ropes course in house training
RATIO
The usual ratio will be a maximum of eight participants per instructor
EQUIPMENT
Equipment shall be appropriate for the activity and for the ability of the student and in a good state of repair
SESSION
Instructor will make appropriate arrangements for the activity, taking into consideration:
· external conditions (eg weather, tides)
· group abilities and expectations, medical and behavioural issues
· condition of equipment
· Instructor will take care to ensure that activities are run in line with national governing body guidelines and QE2 Activity Centre policies
· Instructor will pay due attention to safe working methods (eg manual handling)
· Students will be encouraged, but not forced, to take part in activities
· QE2 Activity Centre staff are responsible for the safe running of activity sessions.
· Visiting staff retain overall responsibility for control of students’ behaviour and responsibility for health issues
THE INSTRUCTOR HAS FINAL SAY IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A SESSION TAKES PLACE AND IN WHAT MANNER IT IS CARRIED OUT
accreditation
The Centre is licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority for open canoeing and improvised rafting.
Registration number L2222/RO303
(Other activities offered by the Centre do not come within scope of the Adventure Activities Regulations 1996)
The Centre is a British Canoe Union Approved Centre
The following activities are approved for use by Hampshire County Council schools (and by extension Southampton and Portsmouth schools):
archery
climbing (artificial structures)
horseriding
open country
orienteering
low ropes course (including artificial caving system)
initiative course
canoeing (inland)
pontoon boat
raft building
insurance
£10,000,000 public liability insurance (policy number UC PMH3416995) is held with Travelers Insurance Company Ltd, registered office: 60 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0HR
consent and medical forms
Consent and medical forms are issued in order to help us to run activities safely. Please complete the forms accurately. You will not be excluded from an activity because of a disability, informing us of your needs will help us to help you to achieve your aims. Similarly inability to swim will not prevent you from taking part in boating activities.
supervision
During activities supervision of students is shared, but visiting staff must retain overall responsibility for control of students’ behaviour
Visiting staff should provide relevant information concerning health issues and behavioural problems where it may affect the safe running of activities or impact on other Centre users
QE II SJ Activities Centre staff are First Aid trained and will deal with first aid incidents in conjunction with visiting staff. Medical issues, including the dispensation of medication, remain the responsibility of visiting staff
general welfare
The Centre’s general statement of Health & Safety Policy states that:
· Our policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of working for all our employees and to provide such information, training and supervision needed for the purpose. We also accept responsibility for the health and safety of other people who might be affected by our activities
The QE2 Activity Centre operates a no smoking policy