Cannon Events Running Club
Health and Safety (H&S) Policy
Guidelines for Club Members
Club Responsibility – As far as possible, the Club will aim to protect the health and safety (H&S) of all members engaged in Club training and participating in Club events.
To achieve its aim, the Club will:
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Endeavour to provide helpful guidance to members verbally and make the H&S Guidelines available on the Club website.
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Ensure that Club coaches and run leaders are suitably experienced to lead Club training sessions and groups.
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Provide suitable facilities and equipment for Club training sessions and Club events including First Aid and Welfare facilities.
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Ensure that any organised sporting event is subject to a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.
Club Member Responsibility – Members should regularly familiarise themselves and abide by the H&S Guidance which can be found on the Club website. This Guidance includes advice on weather, terrain, personal limitations and protecting fellow Club members. All members have personal responsibility to help prevent harm to themselves, fellow runners or members of the public and owe a duty of care to not wilfully injure themselves or others by being negligent.
Members should to report to a group leader any problems encountered whilst running on training routes. For example, dangerous stiles, damaged pavements, potholes, poor visibility etc.
Guidelines Review – H&S Policy and Guidelines will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that they remain accurate and reflect the Club ethos.
The Guidelines
All members agree to abide by the Clubs H&S Guidelines as follows:
Safety Generally – All Club members must take personal responsibility for their own safety, whilst keeping a watchful eye on others running in the same group, particularly new members. Consideration should be given to others, and common sense used.
In adverse weather conditions, members must take extra care and be vigilant to additional risks such as slippery or uneven surfaces.
Members should exercise common sense for personal safety issues including hydration and the treatment of strains and injuries due to participation in the sport. If additional advice is required, members should seek advice from experts and professional practitioners outside the running Club as appropriate.
Headsets or music players must not be used during any training session or running event in which Club members participate as this can obstruct and hinder any instructions given.
Medical Conditions – All members of the Club declare themselves medically fit to run at their own risk and shall not hold the Club responsible for any incident occurring through a personal medical condition or injury. Members with any medical conditions agree where appropriate to carry with them the relevant details of the condition and their name, address, and emergency phone number contact details. It is the individual members responsibility to ensure they inform a club officer or group leader of any medical condition likely to impact on participation in club activities.
Appropriate Clothing – Members should understand the value of wearing appropriate clothing for the time of the year and appropriate shoes for any variations in terrain. When running in the dark members should make themselves highly visible by wearing bright clothing, preferably with fluorescent or reflective strips, and be aware that drivers may find it difficult to see you.
It is advisable during the autumn and winter months that members consider wearing head or chest torches to improve their own visibility when running and to also make themselves more visible to any drivers, cyclists, and members of the public.
Appropriate footwear should be worn at all times and consideration should be given to the surface being trained on (e.g. shoes with extra traction for running on the grass or trails). It is the responsibility of members to ensure the correct footwear is worn for the planned training.
Staying Together – Run groups will endeavour to stay together as much as possible. Members should take care to listen to the proposed route before setting off. The group leader should ensure that a head count is taken and if possible, a back marker has been assigned to ensure that no one individual gets left behind.
Whenever mixed ability occurs within a group, regrouping should take place at appropriate times along the route to ensure that no one individual gets left behind.
If anyone decides to leave the group whilst out on the run, they must inform at least one other runner in that group who then must ensure that the run leader is made aware.
Upon returning to the start after completion of the session the group leader should check that everyone who started out has returned or can be accounted for.
Road Sense – Routes will be planned to avoid unlit roads at night or during hours of darkness. On roads without footpaths, wherever possible runners must run on the right facing oncoming traffic unless on a bend where visibility is limited. Group leaders will ensure the safety of the group when crossing any main roads and ensure members are across safely before carrying on the session.
First Aid – Members should familiarise themselves with any individuals who have a recognised emergency first aid qualification within the Club.
Club Events – All events shall be staged in accordance with the rules and guidelines stipulated by the event insurers.
Incidents – Whenever possible, one running group member should carry a mobile phone. If a runner is injured the group leader will use common sense in deciding on a course of action. The injured person will not be left alone until help required is assessed and provided. If appropriate emergency services will be contacted. Finally an appropriate committee member will be informed., the incident recorded and relatives informed if necessary.
Endorsement – These guidelines are endorsed and will be annually reviewed by the Club Committee.