EV003 Taster Sails & Discover Sailing (Open) days

RISK ASSESSMENT EV003

1 Dec 2025

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

1.1 Falling in the water

Potential risk of drowning

Panic attacks

Cold water shock

Any person by the water's edge or on the Jetties

All persons on the jetties are required to wear personal flotation devices.

Children should wear personal flotation devices whenever near water and not only on the jetties.

Groups escorted from the bank to the boats. Taster hosts to check personal flotation devices.

1.2 Falling on the jetties

The jetties are abrasive potential for serious injury if falling on them from abrasions or cuts to broken limbs.

Any person on the jetties

No running on the jetties.

Any non-members accompanied onto the jetties.

1.3 Falling on slipways - ice in winter, algae in summer, Excrement from wildfowl at any time of year. Greater potential at the water line and below.

Potential for serious injury if falling on them from abrasions or cuts to broken limbs.

Any person on the slipways

Care taken when launching.

Non-members accompanied and risk pointed out.

1.4 Capsize

Same as falling in water.

Potential to be trapped under the sail.

Potential to be trapped under the hull.

Transfer from water to rescue boat

Any person in sailing dinghy

Mast head flotation used to mitigate risk of inversion.

Sails reefed to lower the risk of capsize or session cancelled if necessary.

Experienced helms only will take taster sails.

Safety boat will be always on the water.

Safety boats have equipment to minimise risk during transfer (ladder)

1.5 Being hit by the boom

Potential for serious head injury

All people in dinghies

Experienced helms to explain what is happening in manoeuvres.

Head protection is available if needed

1.6 Having hands outside the boat when close to Power boat or Jetty

Potential for crush injuries or broken bones in hands.

All people in dinghies

Helms to advise and monitor that participants have their hands in the dinghy when they are alongside PB or jetty.

1.7 Younger children

Isolated child

The child

All children must be accompanied by parent/guardian on taster sails

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

2.1 Proximity to hull of Power Boat

Potential for crush injuries to hands and arms

Anyone in the dinghy or power boat

PB helms and dinghy helms to advise participants to keep arms in the boat when coming alongside.

2.2 Persons in the water

Potential injuries from props lacerations to amputations

Anyone in the water approached by safety boat

PB helms always approach with engines away from person in the water.

Suitably experienced helms to take out power boats

2.3 Collision

Potential injuries from drowning to broken limbs and lacerations

Anyone on the water at the same time as power boats

PB helms keep speed low and maintain awareness of the dinghies around them.

Suitably qualified helms to take out power boats

2.4 Out of control power boat

Potential injuries from drowning to broken limbs and lacerations/amputations

Anyone on the water at the same time as power boats

Kill cords to be always worn

2.5 Capsized Dinghy

Potential injuries from drowning to broken limbs and lacerations/amputations

Anyone near a capsized dinghy

PB helms to approach capsized dinghies at low speed with engine away from the capsized boat

PB helm to maintain communication with crew in water.

2.6 High speed

Potential injuries from drowning to broken limbs and lacerations

Anyone on the water.

PB helms to maintain appropriate speeds when other craft are on the water.

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

3.1 Vehicle parking or manoeuvring

Potential to be hit by vehicle

Anyone walking in the carpark

Volunteers on hand to guide people to the clubhouse all day and to manage the parking.

3.2 Visitors driving into the dinghy park.

Potential to be hit by a vehicle.

Anyone walking in the dinghy park.

Meet and Greet volunteers able to guide and direct visitors to the appropriate parking place.

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

5.1 Visitors not signing in.

No record of attending the site.

Anyone

Meet & Greet volunteers give clear instructions to the Welcome Desk.

All volunteers are aware of where the desk is in case of being asked

5.2 Welcome Desk not manned.

Visitors unable to sign into the event.

Anyone

If any of the other desks (Training, Membership or Y&J) in the clubhouse notice the Welcome Desk unattended volunteers need to take over.

5.3 Trips and falls from positioning of the desk.

Injuries including sprains, breaks or concussion

Anyone near the info desks in the clubhouse

Ensure the tables used for the desk are clear of each other and do not present an obstacle to any walkways.

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

5.1 Unsuitable clothing

Possible hyperthermia

Anyone

Taster sail hosts to ensure visitors are suitably attired before issuing personal flotation devices.

5.2 Faulty/ill-fitting equipment

Drowning

Anyone

Taster sail hosts to check the fitting of personal flotation devices before the visitors set off on their sail.

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

6.1 Lake Bank

Falling in the water

Possible drowning

Tour Guides to be mindful of taking tours too close to the bank

6.2 Trip Hazards in Boat Park

Possible trips and falls

leading to sprains, breaks, cuts and head injuries

Tour Guides to point out potential trip hazards. Including ties down stakes and ropes

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

7.1 Hit by the boom

Potential for head injury

Anyone looking at the dinghies in the display

Dinghy Display Guides to position dinghies head to wind and to warn visitors of the proximity of the boom

Hazard

Hazard Effect

Who might be harmed

Existing Controls

8.1 Falling in the water

Potential drowning

Anyone having an RC yacht taster

Make sure the RC yacht guide warns of the proximity of the bank.

RC yacht guide to launch boat