Last reviewed June 2025
| What is the hazard? | How is the risk controlled? | What further action is necessary? |
| Equipment not fit for purpose (size, type, condition) | Prior review of booking forms (eg medical info, age, gender) to ensure a range of suitable equipment is available for the planned activity. Have available a range of different sized equipment to fit different sized paddlers Check by Duty Officer or supervising coach / leader prior to going afloat. Regular equipment checks and replacement / repair when showing signs of wear / damage. | Participants briefed on the correct sizing of equipment. Participants encouraged to report faults. Duty Officer or supervising coach / leader to remove damaged equipment from use, label, segregate and inform the Clubhouse and Equipment Officer. Annual check of helmets, buoyancy aids, first aid kits |
| Lifting and carrying heavy or large/long craft or heavy equipment Longer transit carrying boats from containers to water Awkward lift to get boats out of the stream | Adopt good practice when lifting and carrying, particularly maintaining spine in line and sharing the load. Double up when lifting/moving heavy equipment or any craft which is awkward to move around in confined spaces or too heavy for the person trying to move it. Bend knees not backs | Instruction on safe lifting and carrying techniques to be provided to all participants and incorporated within safety briefs. Additional care advised if loading boats onto vehicles for movement. Use trolleys or 2-person lift between the boat storage and put-in. |
| Injury / damage to equipment or environment when entering and exiting craft | Participants to be shown how and where to safely enter and exit craft. Point out potential hazards when deciding best points of exit and entry. (Note. Depending on conditions, this may mean different positions of entry/exit are judged to be safest on the same piece of water) | Perform further risk assessments to identify suitable alternative launch / landing sites as needed during sessions. Provide additional assistance if required. |
| Cuts and abrasions to feet from sharp objects in clubhouse, riverbed and bankside. | Appropriate closed-toe footwear to be worn at all times – eg river shoes or trainers, not sandals or flip-flops. First aid kit provided in clubhouse and carried on trips away from the club | Provide participants with information on suitable paddling kit, including for moving round the site |
| Head injury | Helmets must be worn whenever there is a risk of head injury. This includes, but is not limited to, moving water, rescue practice, or running weirs and rapids. Signs in the club house to warn about the low roof beams | |
| Other river users | Be aware of other river traffic and include in safety briefs, eg rowers, pleasure cruisers, fishermen, wildlife, and swimmers. Be considerate to others and ensure that they can see you – in particular call out and give anglers a wide berth where it is safe to do so. Observe river ‘highway code’ – generally keep to the right. Scheduled events on the river and along the river banks such as charity walks, marathon swims, triathlons may require us to alter our normal practices during club sessions. | Raise awareness during safety briefings and perform ongoing assessments whilst on the water. In a large group, nominate a lookout at the back of the group to check for possible collisions from the rear. |
| River features eg moored craft, overhanging trees, weirs, obstructions in the water. Shallow stream means some craft will ground when the upstream Marlow gauge is below 0.1m. Fallen trees may block the stream | Identify clear boundaries for the activity, avoiding hazards such as Marlow weir unless appropriately qualified / experienced coaches / leaders are present. Always be vigilant whilst on the water. Hazards may be below the surface or overhead. Coach / leader to carry suitable rescue equipment. | Include the boundaries and what to do in the event of a capsize within the safety briefing at the start of session. Include any session specific potential risks such as fallen trees, trees at river level, fast flow, and submerged items SUPs should not be used on the stream in low water There is a saw in the containers |
| Wildlife | Ensure that participants are kept away from and do not disturb wildlife, particularly during breeding season, by setting clear boundaries and behavioural expectations. | Include as part of the safety briefing and perform continuous assessments throughout the session. |
| Capsize / uncontrolled entry into water and risk of drowning | All participants must wear a buoyancy aid Supervision by appropriately qualified coach / leader. All members trained to Discover award level and capsizing is practised during club sessions | Participants given a safety briefing at the start of the session dealing with capsize. Perform equipment check at start of sessions plus annual check of buoyancy aids Briefing should cover potential optional safety measures based on prevailing conditions such as paddle leashes in open water. |
| Hypothermia / hyperthermia | Participants to be appropriately dressed for the conditions noting, in particular, water temperatures and the time a capsized paddler is likely to spend in the water. This may necessitate having extra clothing, such as hats, and long sleeved tops. Participants advised to have warm / cold drinks available according to forecast weather conditions. Ensure that activities are appropriate to weather conditions. | Checks made of paddlers clothing and nutrition / hydration. Coach / leader to remain observant for signs or symptoms developing, particularly after capsize. If water is extremely cold, Duty Officer or leader(s) may consider taking emergency shelter. |
| Adverse Weather Conditions including lightning and paddling in the dark | All Duty Officers, coaches or leaders to check recent weather forecasts and current conditions before a club event to assess any risk and curtail or cancel the event if appropriate. If lightning occurs or threatens to occur then leave the water at the next appropriate exit point and take safe refuge. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last observation of thunder and/or lightning before continuing with the activity. You must have a light on your or your craft when paddling at | Monitor the weather forecast and take appropriate action. |
| night. A torch should be carried for emergencies. | ||
| Water-borne disease and pollutants | Raise awareness through briefings. Practise good hygiene principles, ie covering cuts, washing hands before eating and showering after sessions.Avoid capsize drills when water quality gets worse.Consider use of a nose clip for capsize drills. | Check water quality using senses and ahead of sessions using online data ( |
| Adverse condition of Water, River, Lake or Sea | Coaches and leaders are responsible for further risk assessment specific to the activity, venue, participants, and environment. Ensure appropriate safety equipment for the number of participants is available and in a fit state for use by trained people. | Keep abreast of best sources of up to date information, eg river gauges and EA updates on Thames condition. |
| Clubhouse becomes unfit for use during a session | All safety exits and exit points from the clubhouse are to remain clear of obstructions at all times. Duty Officer to check exits before the start of each session. In an evacuation, the Duty Officer is responsible for checking everyone has left the clubhouse | Participants should be made aware of all exit routes from the clubhouse and that the muster point is the green by the war memorial. |
| A participant in club group activity loses contact with group and fails to inform leader | The group lead should make it clear to all participants that if, for whatever reason, they want to leave the group then they need to ask permission first. To minimise the risk of participants unintentionally leaving the group, the group lead should on a regular basis make sure that all participants are at least in line of sight. | Before going on the water make sure people are aware of how to attract attention if in difficulties or who to talk to if wishing to leave the group |
| Activities beyond routine club paddles | Activities with higher risk or outside sheltered water will undergo specific risk assessment for that activity, performed by the activity leader or another suitable experienced individual. | Additional hazards identified to be included in the safety briefing before the start. Where necessary, paddlers may be called together during the event for a reminder briefing. |
| MSC new site – security in isolated location | Initially, activities will be daylight only, in the summer | Investigate lighting options |
| Get-in platform height above water | Provide assistance where needed and allow time | Investigate other get-in options |
| Storage Containers – trip hazard when loading / unloading and heavy doors | Brief and supervise boat removal – returns | Investigate hold-open system for heavy doors Add ramps at entrance to the boat containers |
| Duty officer cannot supervise at containers and get-in The narrow stream only allows ‘single file’ so difficult to supervise | Duty Officer needs to nominate deputies |
Marlow Canoe Club 