Health and Safety Policy

County Antrim Harriers is strongly committed to encouraging our members to take part, but the health, well-being and safety of each individual is always our paramount concern. 

We recommend levels of training dependent on age and ability and expect our athletes to participate within these boundaries.

This document was adapted from the HSE Health and Safety Template.

To support our Health & Safety policy we are committed to the following duties:

• Undertake regular, recorded risk assessment of all sporting activities organised by the club.
• Create a safe environment by putting health & safety measures in place as identified by the assessment.
• Ensure that all members are receiving the appropriate level of training at club improvement sessions. If required sessions will be tailored to individuals at the start of the session if the member approaches the Coaches in Run Fitness (CIRF) and Leaders in Run Fitness (LIRF) facilitating the session.
• Ensure that all members are aware of, understand and follow the club’s health & safety policy,
• Appoint a competent club member to assist with health and safety responsibilities.
• Ensure that normal operating procedures and emergency operating procedures are in place and known by all members.
• Provide access to adequate first aid facilities at all times including qualified first aider whenever possible. Defibs are available for all improvement sessions. All CIRF and LIRF have received up to date first aid training (this is reviewed on an ongoing basis).
• Report any injuries or accidents sustained during any club activity via the club incident book. Physical accident book held by club chairperson.
• Adopt the UK Athletics Codes of Conduct for Coaches/Run Leaders and Club members and develop these into a locally applicable. The club will endeavour to inform all existing and new members/volunteers of any updates to these codes.
• Ensure that the implementation of the policy is reviewed regularly and monitored for effectiveness.

Members’ Health and Safety Duties

• Take reasonable care for your own health & safety and that of others who may be training alongside you.
• Assess your own fitness levels and maturity as a competitor when deciding what training to undertake and what competitions to enter.
• Co-operate with the club on health & safety issues.
• Do not interfere with or misuse anything provided for your health, safety or welfare. 
• Follow County Antrim Harriers Code of Conduct for Members

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Overall and final responsibility for health and safety:

• Chairperson

Sessional responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice:

• Club appointed CIRF/LIRF facilitating sessions.

To ensure health and safety standards are maintain/improved, the follow people/groups have responsibility in the following areas:

• Club Committee – review of documents and final sign off of all documents.
• CIRF – Risk assessments for club summer and winter running routes and for club improvement sessions. Route development and planning.
• Chairperson – Accident Recording and follow up with members involved.

All members should:

• co-operate with supervisors and managers on health and safety matters.
• take reasonable care of their own health and safety; and
• report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate person (as detailed above).

Risk Assessment

• We will complete relevant risk assessments for the summer and winter running routes and improvement sessions.
• Risk assessments will also be completed for additional sessions outside of the normal training schedule.
• Routes will only be devised by CIRF’s as per UK Athletics/Athletics NI guidance.
• LIRF’s will complete a local risk assessment for each session they are facilitating. These assessments are not recorded. Any risks are mediated, and members are informed at the start of each session.

Training

• All club appointed CIRFs and LIRFs will complete UK Athletics/Athletics NI training and certification prior to commencement of duties on behalf of the club.
• Shadow training sessions should be offered for new CIRFs and LIRFs to build confidence and demonstrate club policy.
• CIRFs and LIRFs will receive regular first aid/CPR training from an approved and registered trainer.

Consultation

• The committee will endeavour to consult members routinely on health and safety matters as they arise and formally when policies are reviewed.