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The club rowing safety adviser role: duties and checklist

Just been asked to be your club's safety adviser? Here is what the role involves and where to start.

By Civil Digital, the team building BoatLog · Last updated

BoatLog is independent software from Civil Digital. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by British Rowing or any organisation named in this guide. Always check the current official guidance and follow your club's own procedures.

What the role covers

  • Keeping the club's risk assessment and safety plan up to date in line with RowSafe.
  • Making or delegating the daily "can we go out?" decision.
  • Making sure incidents and near misses are reported to British Rowing and that the club learns from them.
  • Leading the annual British Rowing safety audit.
  • Being the club's contact with the Regional Rowing Safety Adviser.

Your first month

  1. Introduce yourself to your Regional Rowing Safety Adviser.
  2. Read the current RowSafe and your club's risk assessment.
  3. Walk the boathouse and landing stage with the captain.
  4. Check the emergency plan and that the phone numbers in it work.
  5. Find out when this year's safety audit is due.

Make it sustainable

The role fails when it all lives in one volunteer's head and inbox. Shared, written records mean decisions are consistent and the next adviser can pick up where you left off.

How BoatLog helps

BoatLog gives the safety adviser one place for the daily flag, the incident log, open repairs, overdue outings and who holds which qualifications. That is most of the role's record-keeping, and it passes to the next adviser intact.

BoatLog screenshot with example club data: Every incident and near miss in one log, ready for review and the annual audit.
Every incident and near miss in one log, ready for review and the annual audit. Example data from a fictional club.

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Questions

FAQ

What does a rowing club safety adviser do?

Keeps the club's risk assessment and safety plan current, oversees go/no-go decisions, makes sure incidents are reported and learned from, and leads the annual safety audit.

Who supports a club safety adviser?

Each region has a Regional Rowing Safety Adviser, and British Rowing publishes RowSafe and safety guidance for clubs.

Does the safety adviser have to make every go/no-go decision?

No. Many clubs nominate competent deputies. What matters is that decisions follow the club's written rules and members can see them.

Related

Guide: British Rowing club safety audit: a quick guide for clubs What the annual British Rowing club safety audit is, when it runs, what evidence helps, and how to keep that evidence ready all year. Guide: Rowing club risk assessment: a simple, RowSafe-aligned method How to write a rowing club risk assessment that people actually use: hazards, controls, who decides, and turning it into daily go/no-go rules. Guide: British Rowing incident reporting: a club's step-by-step guide What counts as reportable, who's responsible, and how to file a report within 24 hours.

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