Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Safety Principles

Organisers of any Dragon Boat event (including training sessions) activities need to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of participants. The following covers some basic principles and gives advice on general safety and water safety issues. More on water safety and drowning...

Where obvious hazards exist, the organisers should identify and take such precautions as seem appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to provide for the safety of event organizers, volunteers and participants. These could include:

1. Conduct a risk assessment of the event or activity to establish that;

• the activity is indeed safe and reasonable,
• any identified hazard can be controlled,
• monitoring activities for the event or activity are in place and
• a 'cut off procedure' is in place.

2. Inform all participants of any hazards that may exist. For example, provide access to the ADBA Water Safety Policy and this Statement.

3. Ensuring that each participant has signed a disclaimer as shown in the Water Safety Policy. This does not absolve the organiser from responsibility to undertake reasonable precautions. It does, however, affirm that the attention of the person has been drawn to the potential risks associated with the activity, if such is involved.

4. Where 'open water' is involved in a competitive event or training, provide sufficient safety craft for any situation which could develop in the conditions in which the event, held in part or in whole on open water, is to be run.

5. Where training in winter and racing in adverse conditions is involved, the ADBA recommends wearing of buoyancy aids (such as PFDs). See also cold water immersion and hypothermia.

6. Participation in competitive events should be limited to those who declare themselves to be water confident and able to handle the physical demands of the sport, taking into account the amount of safety and medical cover available.

Other Areas:

Where electrical or mechanical apparatus is used in the running of an event, care should be taken to ensure that it is operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and instructions.

Specific rules are in use for training and racing on the Avon River (Click here for more...) and Lake Pegasus.