Overview
Near Misses and First Aid Treatments can be due to causes which have the potential to result in much more serious incidents or injuries. It is therefore important to record and review all such occurrences so that control measures can be devised and publicised to avoid repeat occurrences.
An illustrative example:
1 Several members note near misses between themselves and the boom of their Enterprise whilst rigging; two others report injury in the same circumstances
2 All incidents involved stronger winds and the mainsail hoisted on shore (with the kicking strap tensioned, the end of the boom of an Enterprise will oscillate violently and unpredictably at face level).
3 A change in practice (mounting the rudder and tiller before hoisting the mainsail, delaying hoisting until immediately before launching, thereafter keeping clear of the stern of the boat and only tensioning the kicking strap once afloat) is recommended to minimise the potential for injury.
Procedure
ALL near misses, first aid treatments, incidents and accidents should be recorded in the blue hardback book situated just inside the clubhouse inner door. First Aid treatments should also be recorded in the Accident Book kept in the First Aid Cupboard.
The record should detail
• Date
• Time
• Place
• Weather (if relevant)
• Wind strength (if relevant)
• Tide and Sea State (if relevant)
• What happened
• Any resulting Injury or Damage
• What might have happened (realistic worst case)
• Injuries or Damage which might have resulted (ditto)
• What could have been done or could be done in future to prevent reoccurrence
The entry should be signed by the person making it; with name also printed
If other people involved directly or as witnesses are happy to be identified in the text this is permissible provided they also sign the record as a true statement. Otherwise the text must be anonymised.
Review
The Training Principal and Onboard SI will review all accidents when they are aware of them and will review the accident book every three months during the sailing season. They will bring significant accidents to the notice of the General Committee and agree appropriate control and publicity measures.