Welcome to the BSRA Online Safety Audit

The intent of this online safety audit, is to support and encourage BSRA member schools to be proactive in regards to their safety practices. NOTE: This audit aims to complement Local and State Rules and Regulations.

The topics covered include:

1.   Local Safety Code
2.  The Safety Officer
3.  Risk Management and Insurance
4.  Emergency Communication
5.  Swimming and Capsize
6.  Visibility and the Weather
7.   Off-Site Rowing
8.   Safe Equipment
9.   Transport and Trailer
10.  Incident Reporting
11.   Safety Auditing Process

The responsible Rowing Director from each school is tasked with the completion of this audit. There  are 50 questions, it should take about 30 minutes. Your feedback is important and will be submitted to your Principal.
Thank you for participating in this process.

Question Title

* 1. What school are you representing in this audit?

Question Title

* 2. The Rowing Coordinator is considered the Safety Officer at your rowing facility and the audit must be conducted by the Rowing Coordinator

Question Title

* 3. Do you have an induction that ensures new coaches have safety information and processes explained to them?

Question Title

* 4. Rowing Australia provide coaching Level 1 education through their online portal. The BSRA (as at 2018) recommends this as a minimum qualification for coaches at all schools. how many coaches do you employ and how many are compliant? (This is a recommendation only - each school will have a different stance on this. Please review with your Head of Sport and your Principal).

Question Title

* 5. Please select what qualifications your coaches are required to have to participate in your program. (Select as many as required).

Question Title

* 6. Are you aware of the requirement for coach/safety boat operators to have a marine recreational license?

Question Title

* 7. Please select from the following list, the elements your rowing coaching induction process promotes for those employed in your program. (Multiple answers accepted.)

Question Title

* 8. Does your rowing facility impart the Brisbane River Code of Conduct as part of the safety induction to coaches in your program?

Question Title

* 9. Do you have a designated Safety Notice Board in a prominent position?

Question Title

* 10. Do you have a copy of the boat shed rules posted up somewhere in the shed?

Question Title

* 11. Have you communicated visibility issues and risk controls to rowers and coaches to ensure they comply with Maritime Safety recommendations? Available here

Question Title

* 12. Does you rowing facility prominently display visibility/weather rules and weather conditions under which rowers are not to venture on the water? (Please note that this information is available Brisbane River Code of Conduct. In short, 1000m visibility is required.) See the BSRA website for added information here

Question Title

* 13. It is ideal that Year 8 rowers (new and inexperienced rowers)  are scheduled to row within daylight hours. Visibility for this group is a safety advantage. Does your program make this consideration?

Question Title

* 14. Have all your rowers demonstrated they are both competent and confident in and under the water by:
• Swimming at least 50 metres in light clothing (rowing kit)
• Treading water for at least two minutes
• Swimming under water for at least 5 metres"

Question Title

* 15. Have you maintained a record of swimming ability and capsize training for each rower in your program?

Question Title

* 16. Have you ensured that ALL participants are instructed in the actions to be taken in the event of a capsize (for all boat types)? Information here on the BSRA website

Question Title

* 17. Coach to crew Ratios. Please define the coach to crew ratio details in your program. The BSRA recommendation (as at 2018) is 1:1 in crew boats and 1:4 singles. This sometimes differs for more experienced rowers. Please advise.

Question Title

* 18. If you are unsure of the rowers capacity to confidently handle the tidal influences on their craft (particularly inexperienced rowers in the single scull), the BSRA recommendation (as at 2018) is that you increase the coach to rower ratio so that optimum supervision is available in the event of an incident. Please check the box below that you have understood this recommendation.

Question Title

* 19. The BSRA recommendation (as at 2018) is that a coach sits OUTSIDE the rowing craft in a tinnie in a supervisory role at ALL times.  Where a coach deems it appropriate to be in the boat, (coxing or rowing), another coach should accompany in a tinnie. This ensures they can act as the eyes and ears outside the boat. Will you comply with this recommendation?

Question Title

* 20. In the event of an emergency on water, what is your method of communication?

Question Title

* 21. Does your program have an appropriate and suitable risk assessment(s) that covers all its activities both on and off the water, and which also adequately addresses emergency issues?

Question Title

* 22. Does your program review its risk assessments and insurance policies regularly?

Question Title

* 23. Have you provided a list of vital telephone numbers listed on the Safety Notice Board and in every coach/safety boat as per Rowing Australia Safety Guidelines)?

Question Title

* 24. When organising training camps or events off-site and participants could be in an unfamiliar environment, do you establish emergency contact details for coaches?

Question Title

* 25. Viewing the Transdev RiverShare video and the  Transdev Safety Pocket Guide is recommended. When do you schedule this for your rowing community?

Question Title

* 26. The BSRA safety quiz for rowers, coxswains and coaches is a resource that explains safety generally in rowing and the details of the river rules. It is an optional initiative but was requested by the BSRA board that all programs. Who in your program will be completing this quiz (choose ONE answer)?

Question Title

* 27. A Boat Race Official (BRO) will visit your school prior to the racing season to educate the rowers/coaches of racing procedures. This is a BSRA recommendation (as at 2015) and should be scheduled just prior to the competition season in term 3.  Call Mike Partridge 07 3842 1200 to arrange at your cost. ($150 will be invoiced to your school from RQ). Are you planning on scheduling this?

Question Title

* 28. Do you have a specific training program for your coxswains to adequately prepare them for their role in training and in racing?
Please note there is good material available on the BSRA website.

Question Title

* 29. Have you ensured that all life jackets and buoyancy aids (PFDs) conform to the relevant national standards and carry the Australian Standard mark of approval?

Question Title

* 30. Do your rowers and coaches adhere to the MSQ light requirements on rowing craft and tinnie?

Question Title

* 31. The BSRA recommendation (as at 2016) on the use of Day/Night (D/N) High Vis 'safety' caps for ALL schools, aims to address the visibility issues that arise in the term 2 and 3 season where training in the early hours is often in the dark. This initiative has been supported by MSQ and Transdev. Has your school adopted this recommendation? 
Supplier is Shaun Cronan: shaunc@baccorp.com.au or 0412590327

Question Title

* 32. Have you scheduled the CityCat interaction designed for new rowers and coaches? (Not required for SOM, STA, STH)

Question Title

* 33. If relevant to your school, how do you impart the exclusion zone rules to your rowers and coaches? (Excluding St Hilda's, St Aidan's and Somerville House). Available on the Brisbane River Code of Conduct

Question Title

* 34. When there is strong tidal influences, do your rowers understand that they must maintain control of their craft around the exclusion zone? Do you have standard operating procedures (SOP's) or drills to ensure coaches/rowers/coxes can; back a boat and tap a boat etc? (The relevancy is that maintaining position is also important for racing).

Question Title

* 35. Does your fleet of boats comply with heel tie requirements? (In place and not looser than 7cm.)

Question Title

* 36. Random bow ball and heel tie checks will be conducted at regattas. If you are not compliant your relevant crew will not be able to race. Do you regularly check that all boats are fitted with a white bow ball of not less than 4cm diameter as per RA Rules of Racing?

Question Title

* 37. Are all buoyancy compartments watertight to ensure effective operation? (Please note: In the event of a capsize these compartments enable flotation of the craft for rowers to use as a safety device.)

Question Title

* 38. Are your rudder, steering mechanisms and fin secure, in good working order and regularly checked?

Question Title

* 39. Have you ensured that coach/safety boats are equipped with safety equipment in accordance with the local on-water Code of Conduct? Such items as a baler, spare lights (for coach/safety boat and rowing boats), paddle, PFD's (personal floatation devices) and phone?

Question Title

* 40. When do you schedule servicing of coach/safety boat engines to ensure optimal operation? 

Question Title

* 41. Are all the motors equipped with a kill switch?

Question Title

* 42. When you load the trailer do you provide information and diagrams showing the recommended arrangement for loading? 

Question Title

* 43. When do you schedule servicing of the boat trailer and/or vehicle to ensure optimal operation?

Question Title

* 44. Do you have a method to check the nose weight of the trailer?

Question Title

* 45. Do you provide overhang markers/flags and lights?

Question Title

* 46. Do you ensure that ties that are in good condition and are available?

Question Title

* 47. Have you clearly communicated the driver/s of the trailer/s responsibility to check the tyres (including spare), lights, projection markers and the security of the load, jockey wheel and brakes before each trip?

Question Title

* 48. Incident report forms are available here. Rowing Qld Incident Report Forms. Following an incident, this form must be submitted to RQ and to the BSRA EO. The BSRA EO will collate the material, report her findings and submit recommendations to the Coordinators of member schools and the Board in a consultative process. These findings and recommendations will be shared with RQ. RQ may share with MSQ.

Question Title

* 49. Thank you for your time in completing this audit. Do you have any comments/ suggestions that you would like to submit?

( Privacy & Cookie Notice

T