The Risk Assessment for the 2021 event can be downloaded here: CRA Town Bumps Risk Assessment 2021
Risk Assessment for the CRA Town Bumps 2021
The Organisation has a Duty of Care for the competitors, officials, and the general public at large, whilst the event is being held. This risk assessment was carried out by the 2021 Bumps Committee
Severity of outcome
Probability of accidents |
Slightly harmful |
Harmful |
Extremely harmful |
Highly unlikely |
Trivial risk |
Tolerable risk |
Moderate risk |
Unlikely |
Tolerable risk |
Moderate risk |
Substantial risk |
Likely |
Moderate risk |
Substantial risk |
Intolerable risk |
Those events that remain classed as "moderate risk" are those that involve the possible immersion of more than one person or those that involve contracting COVID-19 with worst case symptoms.
Those that involve possible immersion of more than one person, following the British Rowing guidelines, should be classed as potentially "extremely harmful". The likelihood of all of such events has been assessed in light of our risk reduction measures, as Highly unlikely so further reduction to "Tolerable Risk" is impossible under this scheme.
Those that involve becoming infected with COVID-19 have been categorised as “Extremely Harmful” due to the worst case scenario of the infection. The likelihood of all of such events has been assessed in light of our risk reduction measures, as Highly unlikely so further reduction to "Tolerable Risk" is impossible. For the majority of cases the severity of outcome would be “slightly harmful” or “harmful”, which would result in a “Trivial Risk” or “Tolerable Risk”
Hazard |
Potential outcome |
Likelihood |
Severity of outcome |
Measure to reduce risk |
Likelihood after measures |
Severity of outcome |
On land |
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Fall hazard while unloading/moving boats |
Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment |
Highly unlikely |
Harmful |
● Reliance on competency of crews. British Rowing provides guidelines on the use of trailers/towing. |
Highly unlikely |
Tolerable risk |
● Most competitors will be boating from their own boathouses. |
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Collision hazard between cycling spectators/coaches and members of the public. |
Injury to coaches/spectators/members of the public. Possibility of falling into the river |
Unlikely |
Harmful |
● Signs placed on the towpath at the start and finish of the course and marshalling area warning the public an event is in progress. |
Highly unlikely |
Tolerable risk |
● Marshals to intervene if they observe unsafe behaviour |
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● Marshals to cycle ahead of division to warn of oncoming race |
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● St Johns Ambulance will be in attendance on the tow path and contactable by radio |
Prior to race start |
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Collision with other boats on the way to the start or in marshalling area |
Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment, possibility of capsize. |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Marshals in position 1/2 hour before event starts. |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Reliance on competency of crews and compliance with Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing |
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● Spot checks on boat safety will be carried out prior to crews boating. |
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● Requests from non-competing crews for row-through not granted. |
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● Divisions contain maximum of 18 crews |
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Long wait in marshalling area prior to start |
Potential for hypothermia. |
Unlikely |
Harmful |
● Competitors advised in advance of likelihood of inclement weather and the need to wear adequate clothing. |
Highly Unlikely |
Tolerable risk |
● Marshals to advise crews thought to have inadequate protection for conditions on the day. |
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● Control will have thermal blankets and be extra vigilant if weather is cold. |
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● Reliance on competence of crews and coaches to be properly equipped and arrive in timely fashion |
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● Spot checks on boat safety will be carried out prior to crews boating. |
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Capsize whilst waiting at the start |
Potential for hypothermia |
Highly Unlikely |
Harmful |
● Start crew will carry throw-lines and thermal blankets |
Highly unlikely |
Tolerable risk |
● St Johns Ambulance in attendance on tow-path and can be contacted by radio |
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During race |
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Normal Racing |
Where no bump is involved the risk is no greater than for a normal outing |
Highly Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● All boats must be fitted with bow ball |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● All coxes must wear life jacket (or equivalent) |
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● Club responsibility to ensure all equipment in accordance with BR Water Safety requirements |
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● St Johns Ambulance in attendance on tow-path and can be contacted by radio |
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Straight forward bump: Collision between racing crews (2 crews) |
Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment, possibility of capsize. |
Likely |
Extremely Harmful |
● All coxes to have attended coxes meeting. |
Highly Unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Bumps to be acknowledged per the rules to avoid contact. |
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● Each crew has bank party to assist |
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● Marshals cycle with crews to provide additional advice |
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● Spot checks on boat safety will be carried out prior to crews boating. |
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Multiple Crew Bumps: Collision between racing crews (3 or more crews) |
Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment, possibility of capsize. |
Likely |
Extremely Harmful |
● All coxes to have attended coxes meeting. |
Unlikely |
Substantial risk |
● Bumps to be acknowledged per the rules to avoid contact. |
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● Each crew has bank party to assist |
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● Marshals cycle with crews to provide additional advice |
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● Senior umpires available by radio to be summoned to potiental mulitple crew situations |
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● Spot checks on boat safety will be carried out prior to crews boating. |
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Collision between racing crew and static object, I.e. bank or moored powerboat |
Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment, possibility of capsize. |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● All coxes to have attended coxes meeting. |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Coxes aware of tight bends. |
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● Marshal on tight bends warned of potential dangers. |
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● Spot checks on boat safety will be carried out prior to crews boating. |
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River becomes blocked resulting in a collision |
Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment, possibility of capsize. |
Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● If, in the opinion of a marshal, the river is blocked, ie it is impossible to row or paddle past, then they must stop the race immediately |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
Inclement weather |
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Thunderstorms |
Severe injury, death or damage to equipment. |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Race committee/ safety advisor to apply 10 second rule. Before a division starts, when gap between repeated visible lightning and thunder is 10 seconds or less, river should be cleared of crews as fast as is safely possible. |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● It should be noted that the fastest way to clear the water for crews at the start is for crews to complete the course at race pace and to return to boat houses, ie for that division to be completed. |
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Squalls, heavy rain, sleet, snow, fog, severe crosswind etc. |
Severe injury, death or damage to equipment. |
Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Race committee checks forecast via Met Office website and inspects river 24 hours prior to the race. |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Race committee after assessing the conditions has the authority to impose any one or more of: time delay(s), course shortening, cancellation of all racing or cancellation of crew classes deemed to be at particular risk from the predicted conditions. Participants to be advised by marshals and at race control. |
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Floods |
Strong stream making coxing difficult and increasing the chances of a collision. Possibility of swamping/ capsize. |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Race committee to cancel all racing if they consider conditions dangerous or if the Conservators of the River Cam so advise. |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● River levels to be monitored via the Environment Agency website and local contacts. |
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General events |
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Worsening of existing condition in competitor or spectator: e.g. asthma attack |
Severe illness or death of patient. |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Reliance on crews to know of existing conditions and required treatment. Marshall to summon emergency services by mobile phone. St Johns Ambulance will be on the tow path and contactable by marshals using the radio |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Marshals hold GPS/Postcode lists for all access points to the river to guide emergency services. |
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Transgression of powered craft onto course |
Collision leading to Injury to rowers and/or damage to equipment, possibility of capsize. |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Event advertised in advance to local boating community and with the Conservators of the River Cam. |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Marshal at lock will warn boats arriving at the lock that the river is closed for racing. |
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● Marshal at Green Dragon will warn boats moving downstream well before the finish. If boats should fail to stop marshals will be informed by radio and the racing will be stopped. |
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Infection contracted from contact with river water |
Weils Disease (Leptospirosis), or unspecified gastro enteric infections causing diarrhoea and/or vomiting. |
Unlikely |
Harmful |
● Instructions issued in advance to competitors highlight these risks. Competitors are advised to cover open cuts prior to boating, wash any cuts sustained during the race immediately afterwards, and to keep water bottles in waterproof plastic bags. |
Highly unlikely |
Tolerable risk |
COVID-19 |
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Exposure to COVID-19 while numbers are collected |
Event participants are infected with COVID-19 |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Numbers to be delivered to each club and to prepare numbers wearing a mask |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
Exposure to COVID-19 from rowing equipment |
Event participants are infected with COVID-19 |
Highly unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Participants to boat from their normal boathouse |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Participants encouraged to complete a lateral flow test prior to the event, with a negative result |
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● Participants to follow their normal procedures for cleaning boats |
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Exposure to COVID-19 while boating/landing |
Event participants are infected with COVID-19 |
Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Participants to boat from their normal boathouse or with permission from host club |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Participants encouraged to complete a lateral flow test prior to the event, with a negative result |
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● Participants to follow their normal procedures for boating |
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Marshals coaches etc are exposed to COVID-19 on the riverbank |
Marshals coaches etc are infected with COVID-19 |
Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Spectators encouraged to follow government guidelines |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Signs on towpath informing public of the event |
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● Crews to stay in boats and not get out while marshalling unless for emergency reasons |
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● Marshals to all have face masks and hand sanitiser on their person |
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● Gloves & Masks available at A14 bridge and control |
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Marshals, first aiders or participants are exposed to COVID-19 in the event of an accident |
Marshals coaches etc are infected with COVID-19 |
Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● Equipment checks to be made by clubs as a condition of boating. Self-sufficiency emphasised in competitor instructions |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Marshals to all have face masks and hand sanitiser on their person |
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● Marshals encouraged to complete a lateral flow test prior to the event, with a negative result |
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● Gloves & Masks available at A14 bridge and control |
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Participants unaware of exposure to COVID-19 |
Event participants of need to self-isolate and could infect others |
Unlikely |
Extremely Harmful |
● All marshals and race officials register at control |
Highly unlikely |
Moderate risk |
● Club COVID-19 Officers to record details of all participants, coaches and bank parties boating from each location ● Club agree to notify the Bumps Committee of all COVID-19 cases/suspected cases involving participants, marshals, bank parties. |
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Participants show symptoms of COVID-19 |
Participants shows symptoms or becomes aware of COVID-19 infection during the week of the event |
Likely |
Extremely Harmful |
● In the event of even a mild illness until COVID is excluded by the absence of symptoms or a negative test the affected crew member will not attend the event |
Unlikely |
Substantial risk |
● Club agree to abide by the general government guidance and restrictions |
30 June 2021 © Cambridgeshire Rowing Association.