Important Safety Announcement (Updated)

IMPORTANT SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT (UPDATED)

Following on from the note sent earlier this week, Rowing Victoria is reiterating that all coaches, club administrators and Heads of Rowing heed, monitor and acknowledge the conditions of their waterways before venturing out to train.

Many waterways are in flood to various degrees or under watch and act warnings. Water catchments are full with planned releases of additional water scheduled over the coming weeks which will increase the flow of water.

If in doubt to the risks faced, or feeling that “you’ll be fine”, please think twice about the risks of entering fast flowing water.

As highlighted, we were very lucky to avoid tragedy.

Rowing Victoria encourages all Clubs and Schools to monitor the BOM Rainfall and River data to support their individual decision making when it comes to accessing the relevant water way. The link is here:  http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/rain_river.shtml

Rowing Victoria also strongly encourages and advocates that ALL coaching tinnies be fitted with Prop Guards as a matter of priority.  

Rowing Victoria also reminds you that it is the responsibility of all clubs and schools to create and maintain safe work environments for its employees. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, volunteers are also treated as employees.

The employer must follow general OHS duties which require the employer to protect the health and safety of employees, so far as is reasonably practicable. The employer must:

• eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable
• reduce risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable, if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risks  

Placing a coach in a tinnie in fast flowing, (likely including visible and unseen debris), let alone athletes is not protecting their health or safety.

• The National Championships are 16 weeks away.
• The Head of the River is 16 weeks away.
• The Head of the Schoolgirls regatta is 15 weeks away.
• The AMRC is 24 weeks away.

What Covid did teach us was how to pivot and develop new strategies to train, improve fitness, teamwork and resilience. A few sessions off the water wont kill us. At the very least, it will also ensure boats are not damaged / fins are not ripped off by unseen debris as has been the case to numerous boats this week.    

Rowing Victoria will continue to work with the community and Maritime Safety Victoria to develop policies and practical applications ensuring the safety of our community is highlighted and measures are implemented.

If not closed, Rowing Victoria encourages all clubs and schools to monitor the water flow where planning to train and to ensure that training only takes place if the crews are deemed competent to manage the conditions. Err on the side of caution; be careful.

If there are any questions, please reach out.

Stay safe, stay rowing.

Rowing Victoria