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Health & Safety

Policy
The National Prep Schools Athletics Committee acknowledges its responsibility in the field of Health & Safety, endorses the Code of Conduct approved by UK Athletics, and has carried out appropriate risk assessments for the conduct of the Championships. Its policy is that as far as possible all accidents and injuries requiring medical assistance should be recorded and investigated with a view to the continued improvement of the conduct of the meeting.

Responsibility for Young People
The National Prep Schools Athletics Committee requires that every young person present at the Championships be accompanied by a responsible adult who will:
• have the young person’s legal guardian’s authority to be responsible for the young person
• be aware of all relevant medical information regarding the young person
• be responsible for any medication (such as inhalers) needed by the young person
• be able to authorise (on behalf of the young person’s legal guardian) any procedure (such as transport to a hospital or emergency medical treatment) which requires such authorisation.

Child Safety
Every child in the stadium is considered to be under the direct supervision of a responsible adult (see above). Nevertheless, the Committee is aware of areas of possible concern, and keeps them under consideration:
• Abuse and abduction. Young people should be made aware of the possible risk of being alone with an unfamiliar adult, such as in changing rooms, toilets, or isolated areas of the stadium, and instructed to avoid such situations, going about with a friend, for example, or warming-up in full view of the grandstands.
• Photography. The ubiquity of mobile phone cameras, among others, now means that photography at an event of this type cannot be reasonably monitored, nor can either NPSA or the stadium control the use to which such photography may be put. If anybody really doesn't want to be photographed then their only option is not to attend the meeting. Nevertheless, if anybody feels uncomfortable about a particular circumstance at the meeting, then they should report the situation to the control box immediately, and a careful investigation will be made.
• Reporting. Any person, adult or child, unhappy or suspicious about the behaviour of anybody who might constitute a risk to any young person should feel free to report to the control box, requesting a confidential meeting. Every such request will be taken seriously, the details heard and recorded, and appropriate action taken.

Procedure in the Event of an Accident during an Athletic Event
1) The chief official will call a temporary halt to the event.
2) The person responsible for the young person will be called.
3) If necessary, First Aid assistance will be called.
4) Details of the accident will be recorded immediately.
These may include:
Time, event and name of the young person.
How the accident occurred.
What measures were taken.
A diagram of the accident.
The name of the person making the report.

Risk Assessments
Some athletics events may appear intrinsically dangerous, such as javelin throwing, while others have less obvious risks associated with them, such as tripping over a raised track border. Nevertheless, if appropriate measures are taken, everything that takes place during the Championships can be reduced to a low risk activity. The following list considers as many hazards as possible, and outlines the measures that can be taken to reduce associated activities to low risk.
1) Weather. Particularly poor weather can render the track and other surfaces slippery, reduce visibility and concentration, and make people cold, unhappy and impatient. Particularly hot and sunny weather can produce heat stroke, sun burn, eyestrain and irritability and impatience. If weather conditions are unpleasant:
a) all officials are instructed to take proper cognisance of the fact, both on their own behalf and on behalf of the athletes, and to take particular care over the conduct of their events.
b) general public address announcements are made to try to keep participants and spectators under cover and appropriately treated to cope with the conditions, such as to wear warm clothing or keep out of the rain, or to wear a hat or suncream, or to keep out of the sun.

2) Interference with events. Athletes and officials concentrating on events may not be fully aware of extraneous people getting in the way or wandering into throwing areas, with concomitant risks of collision with athletes or implements. To prevent this, all non-participants are instructed in programmes, orders of events, team managers instructions and by public address during the course of the meeting to keep off the track and the long jump pit area, and out of the grass area infield.

3) Stress and strain injuries to athletes. Intense effort may produce unusual strain on athletes, who may suffer muscle strain, tension, breathlessness and other ill effects brought on by the enormity of the occasion. Fortunately all athletes taking part have qualified by means of their achievements at a meeting of some standing, and it is assumed that they know how to warm up and prepare for their events, and are managed by responsible adults. St John Ambulance are in attendance throughout the meeting.

4) Collisions on the track. Interference by one athlete to another during a race renders them liable to disqualification. When races are not run in lanes, it is assumed that coaches have advised athletes to be wary of spikes, to overtake responsibly on the outside, and not to change lane on the home straight unless overtaking.

5) Collisions with hurdles. Falling against or over hurdles can cause injury to legs, arms or head, and may be unavoidable. To lessen the risk track marshals must check, whenever they are set up or adjusted, that all hurdles are at the correct height for the event, and that the weights on the legs are correctly positioned. It is assumed that all athletes are familiar with their event (after all they have qualified at Area meetings).

6) Collisions with the raised curb. These can result in twisted ankles and falling injuries, and athletes may not have encountered curbs before. Coaches should make their charges aware of the dangers, and instruct them in appropriate track discipline.

7) The dangers of high jump. Slippery conditions can make athletes crash into the apparatus before jumping, and there is some inherent risk of injury to the head or back in landing if it is not done correctly. Officials must ensure that the take-off area is kept as dry as possible (by using brooms to sweep off the water if necessary), and keep a wary eye open for improper jumping technique. Athletes and their coaches should be warned that their technique might lead to injury if officials consider it likely. Athletes in danger of hitting the supports because of their take-off position should be warned to adjust it. Officials should stand well clear of the supports.

8) The dangers of distance jumps. Slipping on wet surfaces, treading on rakes or other equipment, or falling awkwardly after jumping can lead to injury. Officials should take appropriate action to sweep water from run-ups, ensure that take-off boards and blanks are flush with the run-up, ensure that equipment (such as rakes - tines downwards - and tape-measures) is laid away from return routes, and that the sand is kept as even (both in level and texture) as possible. Officials should be aware that lifting and laying take-off boards and blanks could lead to back-strain, and conduct themselves accordingly.

9) The dangers of throwing events. All throwing implements are inherently dangerous and can cause injury to athletes and officials before, during and after any particular trial. Only officials may stand forward of the throwing arc. Officials must ensure proper instrument discipline throughout the event. In particular, the official calling an athlete to throw must ensure that the run-up or circles and landing area are clear of people and apparatus, and that everybody close by knows that a throw is about to occur. They should instruct athletes not to throw until called, check that officials forward of the throwing arc are clear of the sector and ready for the throw, and then call the athlete to the run-up or circle and blow a warning horn. Instruments must never be thrown or rolled, but carried.
Shot are heavy and their momentum can crush toes or cause bruising even at slow speeds. Officials must instruct athletes not to toss them up and down or from one to another.
Discoi are the safest implement to carry but the most dangerous to throw. Officials must ensure that the cage is adequately netted and that the wings are as close as they can be; they must call attention to any fault which could lead to a loose discus escaping, and position athletes and spectators so that they cannot be hit.
Javelins have two sharp ends. They should be approached from the side, at a walk, and held vertically whenever carried.

10) Miscellaneous accidents. Apart from accidents that could occur as a result of athletics events, there are some risks associated simply with congregations of people in a single place. They include crushing and tripping, accidents caused by collision (especially with athletes wearing spikes) or playing on equipment, minor burns (due to reckless use of cigarettes or lighters), and overheating. Most of these can be avoided by proper crowd control, which will be effected by the use of stewards and public address announcements. Stadium First Aiders are available at all times.

11) Fire. This is considered a very low risk hazard during our meeting, but the stadium is well equipped with appropriate equipment, trained staff and clear signage should such an emergency arise.

12) Major unspecified emergency. The Stadium has a major emergency plan, with which NPSA staff and officials will fully co-operate should such an occasion occur.

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