Mersea Risk Assessment

Route Description & General Hazards

The AquaPaddle route starts at the Lake House and follows the edge of the lake. The finish line is about 30 metres passed the Lake House, just before the first turn. Please view the video above to understand the full route.

Risk Assessment for all Paddle Sports including Paddle Boarding (SUP) and Kayaking.

All paddle sports are supervised by qualified instructors who hold an appropriate award and are conducted in accordance with the operating procedures listed below

Risk                                                                            Control Measure

Drowning, following capsize or entrapment Participants wear a correctly fitted buoyancy aid at all times. Buoyancy aids are subject to an annual inspection and a visual check prior to each person starting an activity Equipment are of an appropriate size and type for participants. Equipment is subject to an annual, monthly and weekly maintenance schedule, and are visually checked before and after each use. Participants are given a full safety briefing before going out on an activity, including the capsize procedure. Sessions are conducted as per the procedures below. Appropriate supervision is provided for participants with declared special needs or medical conditions that place them at additional risk.
Physical injuries resulting from equipment misuse, manual handling, slips trips or falls Participants are briefed as per procedures below. Instructors ensure that all participants wear appropriate clothing and footwear if required. Sessions are managed in ways that reduce these risks Designated launching areas where water is deep enough for launching to avoid injuries and damage to craft. Where games are played that they are appropriate, location is suitable and the right equipment is deployed.
Collisions with swimmers, other craft and other water users Operations of other users are identified and assessed. If additional risks are identified, the session is modified accordingly. Areas are separated with safety rope and barriers. Leashes are used when SUPs are in use.
Hyperthermia, hypothermia, sunburn, cuts and grazes Staff are first aid trained and know how to spot any signs Instructors remind participants that all open cuts, grazes or wounds are suitably covered.

Risk Assessment for Aqua Park

All Aqua Park sessions are supervised by qualified lifeguards who hold an appropriate award and are conducted in accordance with the operating procedures.

Risk                                                                            Control Measure

Drowning Participants wear a correctly fitted buoyancy aid at all times. Buoyancy aids are subject to an annual inspection and a visual check prior to each person starting an activity Routine maintenance and daily checks. Thorough safety briefing, making clear to not go under any of the equipment. Visual checks prior and during each session. Age and height restrictions in place. Participants must show competency of swimming Appropriate supervision is provided for participants with declared special needs or medical conditions that place them at additional risk.
Entrapment Equipment is subject to an annual, monthly and weekly maintenance schedule, and are visually checked before and after each use. Participants are given a full safety briefing before going out on an activity, including clear instructions to not swim under any pieces of equipment. Visual checks carried out prior and during the session.
Ratios Ratio’s are set as 1:25 Lifeguard positions are checked and there is always a clear line of sight.
Collisions with other users Ratio’s in place to prevent over crowding. Aqua park area is separated with clear barriers, to stop other craft entering.
Hyperthermia, hypothermia, sunburn, cuts and grazes Staff are first aid trained and know how to spot any signs Instructors remind participants that all open cuts, grazes or wounds are suitably covered.
Damage to Equipment This should be from high winds or vandalism, equipment checked daily prior to sessions beginning. Daily weather forecast checked and logged. When the park is closed CCTV and signage is in place to prevent any unauthorised access.

Fire

  1. If fire is found inside Lakehouse/shop/reception, evacuate the building, calmly and close doors behind you. Members of staff to direct public to muster points.
    DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE

When evacuating reception please bring ipads so we can check that all customers are accounted for at muster points

  1. Raise the alarm via radios stating where the fire is
  2. Reception to call 999/112

Our details to be given :
Mersea Boating Lake
Rewsalls Lane
East Mersea
CO5 8SX

What3words
https://w3w.co/glove.mammoths.responded

  1. Life guards to evacuate lake. Use one long blast on whistle or air horn to gain attention of lake users, use hand signals to call them back to lake entry points and direct them to muster points.
  2. One team member to go to Lane to direct Fire services to lake and stop members of the public coming onto the premises
  3. Only if it’s safe to do so should senior members of staff make checks on all the buildings to ensure no-one is left inside:
    Changing rooms x 2
    Lakehouse
    Shop
    Reception
    Storage locker
  4. When the emergency services arrive tell them which areas have not been checked
  5. Put message on social media / website to update customers further if lake needs to close

Lightning procedures

Weather should be checked daily. If storms are forecast, check hourly.

  1. Upon visual sighting of lightning, lake must be evacuated immediately. Lifeguards to use air horn or one long blow on whistles to gain lake users attention, they must leave the lake at the closest safest point.
  2. Take lake users indoors, swimmers to get dressed
  3. Do not let anyone back onto/into the lake for 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder clap
  4. Customers to email to rebook their session.

Fog Procedures

  1. Staff members to check if the whole lake is visible if fog is present when opening, send staff members to various points on lake to see if all areas of the lake are visible.
  2. If lake is not fully visible close lake until fog has lifted.
  3. If possible place a message on social media and website to stop customers making unnecessary journeys .
  4. If it becomes foggy whilst the lake is open, check visibility form all sides of the lake. If the lake is not fully visible then evacuate the lake using one long whistle blow or air horn to attract the lake users attention
  5. Lake users to evacuate the lake at the safest point nearest to them.
  6. Check lake area is clear before leaving area.

Mersea Boating Lake Missing Child Policy

Safeguarding Children

Please note that Parents/carers attending any activity within the Mersea Boating Lake organisation are responsible for their own children at ALL times. However, In the unlikely event of a child going missing, our missing child procedure is followed.

Procedures:

As soon as it is noticed that a child is missing the team member alerts the senior member of staff. (if over the radio please use the words clearly MISSING CHILD)

The senior member of staff will carry out a thorough search of the boating lake premises. Sending one member of staff to the exit not allowing any cars to leave until the child is found.

If not found the senior member of staff calls the police and coastguard.

Members of staff form a human chain across the lake and search the bed of the lake.

The senior staff member writes an incident report detailing:

  1. The date and time of the report.
    1. Description of the child that has gone missing
    1. When and where the child was last seen.
    1. Who else was in the area at that time.
    1. The time it is estimated that the child went missing.

If the incident warrants a police investigation, all staff co-operate fully. In this case, the police will handle all aspects of the investigation including interviewing staff.

Missing child incidents are very worrying for all concerned. Part of managing the incident is to try to keep everyone as calm as possible.

Other members of the public may also be sensitive to what is going on around them. They too may be worried. The remaining staff caring for them need to be focused on their needs and must not discuss the incident in front of them. They should answer peoples questions honestly but also reassure them.

Staff may feel vulnerable during this process and will need support.

In accordance with the severity of the final outcome, staff may need counselling and support. If a child is not found, or is injured, or worse, this will be a very difficult time. The chairperson and centre manager will use their discretion to decide what action to take.

Members of staff, volunteers and Trustees must not discuss any missing child incident with the press without permission from the Chief Executive Officer or Chair Person who will have taken appropriate advice before appointing a spokesperson for the organisation.

Please note that Parents/carers attending any activity within the Mersea Boating Lake organisation are responsible for their own children at ALL times.