Risk Assessment

All risks are assessed by trainers with many years experience of the ocean and local dangers, and the safety of all customers is our primary concern.

Normal Operating Procedure

During normal lesson instructors will reduce the likelihood of harm or distress by using the following procedures:
Presence of qualified surfing instructor in the water.
A customer/instructor ration of no more than 8:1
Include safety talk outlined in the ABC surf lesson.
Follow health and safety guidelines outlined by the I.S.A

Emergency Action Plan

In case of emergency instructors will deal effectively using the following procedures:

Communication between lifeguards on the beach and in the water, when appropriate. Use of the lifeguard service to treat customers whenever appropriate.
Use of first aid facilities in St.Agnes Surf Life Saving Club, if no lifeguards are on duty.
Use of lifeguards and trainers expertise and equipment to return members to safety.
Use of telephone in car park to contact emergency services.
Ensure the customer/instructor ratio remains 8:1 when the patient is assisted from the water. Ensure all customers leave the water, if too few instructors are on the waters edge.

Hazard	Risk	Likelihood	Control Measures	Remedial Action
Rocks	Lacerations Broken Bones Concussion	Unlikely Very unlikely Very unlikely	Advise customers of location of rocks, action on wipe out and a controlled stop. The lesson is carried out away from rocks.	Follow E.A.P. Return casualty to shore, treat and call ambulance,
Other surfers	Collision resulting in: Concussion, Bruising, Reducing confidence	Very unlikely Unlikely Unlikely	The lesson is delivered in areas with the least water users Advise customers of the possible danger. Advise customers of preventative and reactive measures (See A B C lesson content).	In the result of concussion follow E.A.P. Other outcomes provide encouragement and or assistance to the shore if required.
Strong currents	Carried into unsafe waters by currents.	Possible	Educate customers on location of currents and how to spot them. The lessons is carried out away from currents. Educate on how to safely swim out from a current and signal for help and signals used by instructors to give directional instructions. Rescue board always present on the beach durig lessons incase required to asisst surfer back to shore	Assist customer to shore, provide further care if needed.
Sea Temperature	Mild Hypothermia	Possible	Ensure awareness of risk and use of suitable wetsuits. Instructors aware of signs and symptoms.	Return customer to shore, apply warm clothing. If severity increases then follow E.A.P
Physical strain of Surfing	Sprained Muscle and joints	Very Unlikely	Ensure all customers have warmed up sufficiently and are not pushed too hard. Informed on safe dismounting from the surfboard	Provide assistance and first aid.
Sun Exposure	Sun Burn Sun stroke Dehydration	Likely Very unlikely Possible	Drinking water and sunscreen available Educate customers of symptoms and risk	Remove from lesson and treat if required