As per the Rowing SA Safety Training Policy, Rowing SA is responsible for fostering a culture of safe practice in rowing, and its responsibility is to address the key risk factors, rules and compliance requirements that apply through South Australia.

To manage this, Rowing SA must maintain a register of Incidents & Near Misses and create a yearly report to assist in identifying and rectifying high risk areas or practices. Clubs must ensure that all members have access to and are educated and aware of their individual responsibilities to report incidents using the relevant incident reporting procedures.

If you are involved in an Incident or Near Miss, note a Hazard or an Off-Water Incident, you must complete and submit an Incident Report Form. This is best practice to ensure a safer and more enjoyable rowing environment.

Reporting Procedure

Immediate Response

• If someone is injured, provide first aid immediately and seek medical assistance if required.
• If a hazard poses an immediate danger (e.g., damaged equipment, unsafe weather conditions, obstruction on course), take reasonable steps to control the hazard if safe to do so and notify others in the area.

Notify Appropriate Personnel

• Report the incident or hazard to your Club Captain, Coach, Safety Officer, and Rowing SA, as soon as possible.
• For significant incidents (serious injury, major equipment failure, or environmental hazard), notify the Rowing SA Chief Executive Officer as soon as practicable.

Complete an Incident Report Form

• Complete the Rowing SA Incident Report Form within 24 hours of the incident occurring.
• Forms are available through via the Rowing SA website. https://rowingsa.asn.au/incident-reporting
• If you require assistance to complete the form, ask your Club Safety Officer or contact a Rowing SA staff member.

Investigation and Corrective Action

• All reported incidents and hazards will be reviewed by the Rowing SA.
• Where appropriate, an investigation will be conducted to identify the root cause(s) and determine what action is needed to prevent recurrence.
• Corrective actions may include changes to procedures, equipment checks, training updates, or communication to members.

Record Keeping and Compliance

• All incident reports and investigation outcomes will be documented and securely stored in accordance with Rowing SA’s record-keeping requirements.
• Where required, serious incidents will be reported to Rowing Australia and/or relevant regulatory authorities in line with legal obligations.

Continuous Improvement

• Trends and learnings from incident reports will be reviewed regularly by Rowing SA’s Board of Management in conjunction with the Rowing SA CEO.
• This policy and its procedures will be reviewed annually, or sooner if significant incidents occur, to ensure they remain current and effective.

Responsibilities: