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Carmarthenshire Land Sailing Club COVID-19 Compliance Policy & Risk Assessment
June 4th 2021

Headline Changes

Wales.

The latest regulations in Wales come into effect on the 7^th June 2021. The relevant changes that effect CLSC are :-

• All of Wales is at alert level 2
• Travel within the UK is permitted.
• Organised outdoor activities and outdoor are permitted for up to 50 people
• Extended households can be formed between 3 house holds
• Camping is permitted. All unites must have self-contained facilities.

For Welsh Assembly guidance please visit:- https://gov.wales/coronavirus

Club Rules Affecting Land Sailing In Wales

• Residents within the UK may travel to any Welsh beach for the purpose of land sailing that CLSC has permission to sail upon.
• For non organised sailing you may sail as an individual only or in a group of no more than 6 from no more than 6 households.
• For general beach use outside no more than 30 Club Members may sail on the Beach, at all times ensuring that the requirements of the Club Handbook and general beach risk assessments are adhered too;
• The CLSC 2021 published weekend meets are running, however no organised camping by the CLSC is currently not permitted by the Carmarthenshire County Council. Members wishing to camp overnight should make their own arrangements in the facilities open around the area.
• For the CLSC 2021 published weekend events no more than 50 Club Members may sail on the Beach, at all times ensuring that the requirements of the Club Handbook and the specific risk assessment for the event are adhered too;
• All social contact and distancing rules must be observed

England 

The latest regulations in England come into effect on the 17^th May 2021. The relevant changes that effect CLSC are :-

• Travel within the UK is permitted.
• Where sport is not formally organised, it can only take place within the rules on social contact above – in groups of up to 6 people, or 2 households.
• Organised outdoor sport for adults and children is permitted with any number of participants, where it is formally organised and follows COVID-secure guidance.

For English government guidance please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Club Rules Affecting Land Sailing In England 

• Residents within the UK may travel to any English beach for the purpose of land sailing that CLSC has permission to sail upon.
• You may sail as an individual only or in a group of no more than 6 or from no more than 2 households.
• The CLSC have no organised events planed in England

Track & Trace

Both the administrations of Wales and England have introduced legislation for track and tracing of visitors etc. CLSC already fulfils the requirements of this track and trace via all members being required to complete the online daily sailing equipment check list for each visit. This data is then retained for 21 days.

For further guidance on the requirements of track and trace in Wales :- https://gov.wales/keeping-records-staff-customers-and-visitors-test-trace-protect

Overview

Health Safety & Welfare Statement

Carmarthenshire Land Sailing Club (CLSC) places the health, safety and welfare of its members and the general public above all other considerations. This document sets out how CLSC will manage any foreseeable risk associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some actions arising from this document will limit the club’s normal activities. However, these actions are required in order that the club may safely function during the pandemic.

Introduction

• The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has caused a global lockdown resulting in restrictions in movement from our homes, temporary closure of the area’s we used for our sport and social distance measures that has prevented large gatherings and how we interact with each other.
• As we navigate the reopening of land sailing it is clear that for now, we cannot go back to how it was and must follow government guide lines at all times.
• In this document we are specifically addressing the risk associated with the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) within our own social group and into the public domain.
• COVID-19 is spread in minute water droplets that are expelled from the body through sneezing, coughing, talking and breathing (droplet and aerosolized transmission). The virus can also be transferred to the hands and from there, to other surfaces, where it can survive for a period after transfer (surface transmission). The virus can be spread from person to person.
• The symptoms and diagnosis of Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been well publicised over the recent months, so everyone should have clear understanding of the main symptoms i.e. a new continuous cough, high temperature and a loss of small & taste. Although numerous other symptoms have been identified that potentially could be experienced.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) can be asymptomatic (no symptoms), mild or severe/critical, and whilst many people survive the infection, some may die from the virus, so this is a significant hazard that we have to protect against.

Legislative Structure

CLSC is the largest land sailing club in the UK and is based in Wales. However, it has a membership that is drawn from all of the UK. This document is specifically written ONLY for beaches in Wales. The reason for this is that legislative structure within the UK devolves all responsibility for the management of COVID-19 legislation to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) with the exception of boarder control.

Any member sailing on a Welsh beach must appreciate that they must comply to the guidance and rules as prescribed WAG and not those from the UK Parliament at Westminster

Who is at risk?

• Club member and their families
• Kindred club members and their families
• General Public

Those at specific risk.

Every person irrespective of age, sex and ethnic origin is at risk from COVID-19. However, it is known that some sections of the community have proven extremely vulnerable. Those clinically extremely vulnerable groups (who have received a letter from the Chief Medical Officer) are deemed to be at high risk.

These may include:

• Solid organ transplant recipients.
• People with specific cancers:
• People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
• People with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
• People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment.
• People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
• People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
• People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
• People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).
• People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
• Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
• Other people have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions.
• Those above 70 years of age.

We would therefore recommend any of the above people continue to shield for as long as they are advised by the government and do not attend our social events to maintain protection for themselves. 

How we can prevent/reduce the spread of COVID-19?

• CLSC can have no effect on the severity of COVID-19. The only actions that the club can take are to reduce the likelihood of transmission.
• Eliminating the hazard in totality is the best way to prevent the spreading of COVID-19, but this is may not be possible until, for example, a suitable vaccine is developed on a global scale, so that we all are immune to it. Therefore, it is imperative that we consider other approaches and controls to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
• CLSC are adopting control measures in line with the recognized hierarchy of controls for any risk ie we will adopt control measures that benefit the group prior to the use of PPE to protect the individual.

Covid-19 Pandemic Policy

In order to protect the health of all within our own club and into the public domain the information below provides guidance and direct instruction during the Coronavirus outbreak. This policy must be read and adhered to. If you have any concerns regarding the information within this document or issues if attending a meet, please contact a member of the committee.

General guidelines

• In the first instance always following the rules and guidelines of the government, local authorities, landowners or their representatives in the area you wish to land sail. This may also include traveling to and from the venue.
• Always maintain and respect the advised social distance measures of our club members and families.
• If you are approached by another member of the club, one of their friend or family or an interested member of the public that are ignoring any government advise on social distance measures or club rule and believe they may be placing others at risk politely advise them to step back to an appropriate safe distance.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is displaying symptoms of Coronavirus. The main symptoms include a high temperature or a new and continuous cough.
• If you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19, in line with latest NHS Guidance, you should stay at home. Do not travel, land sail or attend any of the club meets.
• Wash your hands during the day on a regular basis – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, your mouth and nose should be covered with a tissue. The tissue must be disposed of within an enclosed waste bin and your hands must be thoroughly washed immediately afterwards.

Changes to the Club Rules.

The following changes to the club rules are being implemented to minimize the risk of transmission of the COVID19 virus.

Changes to land sailing rules

• To prevent unnecessary handling of the locks, handles, pens, books and arm bands you will no longer be required to sign the logbook in the container. However, you must ensure you complete your online daily sailing equipment check list, display you 2020 helmet sticker and carry your 2020 membership card as proof.
• The use of the club’s equipment has been suspended until further notice unless authorised and controlled by a member of the committee, again to prevent unnecessary handling.
• Do not share or touch anybody else’s equipment, if you have to it must be cleaned and disinfected afterwards.
• Coaching and teaching must not be carried out if the social distance measures cannot observed. Teaching and coaching of novice pilots is not allowed.
• Flying in high winds above 30 knots is curtailed.
• Only sail in low winds if proficient or you have assistance from those in the same social bubble.
• Only receive and give assistance to those in your own social bubble except where a greater risk is perceived.
• Do not assist or allow others to assist you the assembly etc of craft.

Club Organised Camping Events

• All camping must be booked through the CLSC channels.
• An attendance record will be kept of all attendees not just club members.
• If you start displaying any symptoms of Covid-19, in line with latest NHS Guidance, during the camping event you must immediately leave for home and seek a test. Whilst you are not obliged to inform anyone, we would request that you inform a member of the committee who is displaying the symptoms. This could help other individuals to take appropriate action if they need to stop the spread.
• If you are contacted by the “NHS Track & Trace” service and requested to self isolate for 14 days due to a previous contact again you must immediately leave for home even if you do not show any symptoms.
• If camping at Pembrey’s National Parks campsite, ensure you following their Covid-19 guidelines and instructions.
• If camping in the event fields, ensure when you set up you do not encroach on other members areas.
• Do not entre other members camping facilities, such as tents, camper and caravans. The clubs’ communal tents are not to be used.
• The communal BBQ has been suspended until further notice.
• Do not share other members or family’s chairs, tables or implements for cooking, eating and drinking.
• The sharing of food outside the family group is discouraged.
• The provision of toilets on the meets is suspended as the sanitation before and after use cannot be guaranteed. It also attracts members of the public where again the sanitation cannot be controlled. We would recommend members to provide their own facilities rather than use public facilities.
• To prevent the handling of cash we ask that all fees are paid to club via bank transfer to the NatWest account number 30082935 sort code 56-00-42.
• This policy and risk assessment is not exhaustive and as such we ask you all take a common sense approach and protect yourself and others. Please confirm you have read and understood the contents by completing the online form. We will inform all our members as and when this policy changes.

Communication and Review.

Communication to all CLSC members and wider audience.

This document will be communicated to all club members by all of the following methods: –

1. Sent directly to each club member via email.
2. Posted onto the CLSC members only Facebook page.
3. Posted onto the CLSC Facebook page.
4. Posted on a bespoke club notice board at every CLSC meeting. It will be in colour and plasticised.

Due to the ever-evolving nature of WAG guidance and our understanding of the virus CLSC will not be posting this in printed format to club members.

Review of COVID-19 controls and associated rules etc.

CLSC appreciates that the regular updating and review of its risk assessment and control measures is required due to the ever-evolving nature of WAG guidance and our understanding of the virus.

CLSC will formally review the R/A and club rules in the following events:-

• On a monthly basic
• In the event of a significant change to guidance or legislation from WAG.
• In the event of a local lock down.

So as ensure that it remains relevant and correct to the information and guidance known at the time. The R/A will also be reviewed after every CLSC meeting so that the experiences from the meeting can be used to strengthen the R/A and club rules. All individuals including club members, friends and family are encouraged to provide feedback on the R/A and associated rules. The views of any other interested parties such as park staff, Carmarthenshire Council staff, national governing bodies (FISLEY, BKSA) and other similar organisations.( PKA, SWATK, WLYC etc).

Links to legislative  references

The links shown below are used as reference documents for the construction of this document. They will also be monitored to ensure the continued accuracy and relevance of this document

Primary reference

Guidance from WAG: –  https://gov.wales/coronavirus        

Seconday reference

UK Government: –          https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus    

Foreign Office: –          https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors