SAFETY
Twickenham Rowing Club has zero tolerance for anyone being harmed as a result of our members’ participation in the sport. We aim to provide an environment in which the sport can be practiced safely and enjoyably by our members. So, before you row in, cox or steer any TwRC boat we ask you to become familiar with the club’s rules and practices, which are set out in the following documents:
If you have any questions or concerns relating to safety, please ask the Club Rowing Safety Adviser (Tony Alves) or his deputy (Tom Milne). You can email safety@twickenhamrc.co.uk. We also strongly recommend you look at the latest safety briefing presentation.
COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT (“SIGN-OFF”)
The Club is required to ensure that all people in charge of our boats and launches have a good level of skill and safety on the water. We have a tiered scheme for assessment and sign off for all of the club's scullers, steers and coxes. The assessments are carried out separately for various disciplines: sculling (1x/2x), sculling foot steering (4x), sweep foot steering (2-/4-) and coxing (4+/8+). The scheme is described in detail following the link below. To start with, we ask all rowing members and launch drivers to take (and pass) the online test to assure they have the requisite knowledge to undertake their water activities safely.
INCIDENT REPORTING
All incidents and near misses must be reported without delay – in any case within 24 hours – to the Club Rowing Safety Advisor, the Captain or Director of Rowing. This applies whether it’s a full-on crash, a simple capsize, getting washed down by a launch or just tripping over an object left on the floor of the gym. You should also report poor or dangerous navigation by others even if it didn’t result in an incident – this is part of the Thames Regional Rowing Council agreement with the Port of London Authority. This is important to ensure that we are able to improve our practice and learn lessons from incidents and near misses.
Please use the online incident report form, providing as much full and accurate detail as possible. The Safety Advisor will submit the final report to the British Rowing incident reporting system after reviewing it.