Health and Safety Policy
Safety at Itchenor Sailing Club
Itchenor Sailing Club exists to provide the opportunity for members to sail competitively, to enjoy other on-the-water activities and going down to the sea, and to fully use the Club facilities ashore. By its nature our sport depends on weather, wind and water which can be unpredictable and dangerous. In providing the support structure for members to take part in these activities the Club is clear about its commitment to Health, Safety and Environmental performance (HSE).
Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety and security of the people who work for us, our members, and the community in which we operate. Our environment is shared, and we must be vigilant, disciplined and always be looking out for one another.
We are committed to complying with applicable laws, Club procedures, managing our operating activities and risks, reporting HSE performance and learning from internal and external HSE events. Everyone in the Club has a part to play.
Individual accountabilities are of utmost importance. While our senior employees, Flag Officers and Principal Race Officers will make clear and direct specific safety actions according to prevailing conditions, each person must always assess conditions and decide for themselves whether it is appropriate for them to sail or go out on the water in any boat for any activity.
Each skipper and crew are accountable for assessing the conditions and the relevance of specific safety directives from Officers in relation to the strength, experience, and ability of themselves. They will also consider the seaworthiness of their craft, the adequacy of their clothing and the condition of their personal flotation devices.
No one should feel under pressure to go out on the water, to compete in or support Club activities. The Club exists to support the enjoyment of racing, sailing and other on-the-water activities. The efforts of all of us to maintain safe operations will ensure we continue to be able to enjoy the sport we love.
Implementation of our Health and Safety Policies
Health and Safety is more than compliance with relevant legislation. It is a culture which will help the Club deliver a safe and efficient environment for the Clubs staff, members, and visitors. To deliver this culture, the Club has developed a structure which is designed not only to deliver regulatory compliance, but also to help the Club build an effective Health and Safety culture.
Compliance
The Club has established a formal structure to ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation and to embrace hazard identification and learning from incidents. This is as follows.
- The Club has a designated Safety Officer who is the General Manager. It is their responsibility to ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation, and to bring to the attention of the General Committee where there are deficiencies.
- The Club has a detailed set of Policies covering each area of the Clubs activities. Each of these are formally reviewed every 2 years by the Flag Officer and/or member of staff who has responsibility for its implementation, for final approval by the General Committee.
- The Club has a system of reporting accidents, on-water incidents and near misses and recording the remedial actions taken consequently.
- The Club has established the Health and Safety Subcommittee review Health and Safety issues.
Last updated 14:01 on 12 September 2024