Inverness Risk Assessment
Route Description & General Hazards
The route follows the Canal North East, in the Inverness direction for 2.5 km and returns.
Registration/Brief area
Once you have parked in the car park, the Registration and Briefing are is a grassy area with picnic benches just East of the lock.
What3Words Link
https://w3w.co/lends.toys.flamed
Route description
Staring adjacent to the end of the 1st pontoon head East along the canal toward Inverness. At the flag 2.5k along turn round and head back. Simple as that!
Stay to the right of the canal each direction (opposite to driving).
General Hazards
In addition to the usual hazards associated with paddling in Scotland (Wind/Rain/Nessie)
The Caledonian Canal is a popular and active environment for both commercial and leisure craft. Give plenty of space to the other canal users.
If craft are entering or exiting the lock it may be necessary to delay the start of the event. Please follow all instruction provided by AquaPaddle Crew (marshals) and Canal staff.
Under no circumstances should you enter the Lock!
Risk Assessment
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| What are the hazards | Who might be harme | Likelihood | Consequences | Score 3 X 4 | Is the risk adequately | What further action is | Review comments | |||
| Traffic/Car park/Mem | Particapants and othe | 2 | 2 | 4 | Remind participants to take care crossing road/parking area. Share carrying when operating in windy conditions | |||||
| Slips, trips and collisi | Particapants and othe | 3 | 2 | 6 | Qualified First Aider at race control available by phone and have a phone to call for emergency response if required. | |||||
| Capsised Craft | Particapants | 3 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Boats and PWC | Particapants | 2 | 2 | 4 | Paddlers advised to abide by the waterways laws, keeping river right and allowing river cruisers to pass by. | |||||
| Environment Wet Wind Cold heat Tiredness Hypothermia Hyperthermia Consciousness Sunburn/dehydration |
Particapants | 2 | 2 | 4 | Forecast shared prior to event and suitable clothing / kit recommended Reviewed and briefed on the day |
|||||
| Injury during the Event. • Drowning • Collision • Weather conditions change |
Participants and other | 3 | 3 | 9 | Planned course in line with considerations for safety. All particapants required to wear buoyancy aids. particapants briefed on how to signal for help particapants briefed to help others Marshals and experienced particapants trained in rescue techniques Line of sight cover of racecourse and radio communication between key race marshals. Event Captain contactable at all times. Event Captain and race marshals have mobile phones to contact emergency response if required. |
Change course as required based on the conditions, Confine to bay if necessary. Captain has authority to call for cancellation of race during lead up to the race and call abandonment if risk levels raise to unacceptable levels. |
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LIKELIHOOD – SCORE 1–5 – the more likely it is that the hazard occurs the higher the score
CONSEQUENCES – SCORE 1–5 – the level of harm that will arise – the more harm the greater the score
Multiply the Likelihood score by the Consequences score to assess whether the risk is acceptable and the level of action required to control the risk.
Total Score = 1-6 low risk activity can take place, 8-15 medium risk put extra measures in place for activity to continue, 16-25 high risk activity should not take place as planned.
Risk Assessor – Tom Wakeford
Date 05/10/2023