Risk Assessment

This risk assessment covers all activities operated by Hackney Anaconda across all venues. It must be read and understood by all coaches, session leaders, and volunteers before leading or assisting any club session. It should be read alongside each venue's Normal Operating Plan (NOP) and Emergency Action Plan (EAP).

This document is maintained electronically and distributed via the club's Key Documents page.

Document Control

Version

3.0

Assessment Date

1 June 2026

Next Review

June 2027

Assessor

Harry Grubb (SSHSA)

Referenced guidance

Swim England Health & Wellbeing Hub

HSE HSG179

Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register Requirements

UK Anti-Doping Code

RLSS NOP/EAP guidelines

Swim England Concussion Guidance

Swim England Safe Supervision (Aug 2024)

PWTAG Code of Practice

(Jul 2025)

Safeguarding & Welfare protocols

Incident Reporting

All injuries, accidents, or near-misses must be immediately logged in the facility accident book AND submitted to the club via the Health & Safety Incident Report Form available on the Key Documents page.

Facility Alignment

The club's risk assessments automatically defer to the operating venue's Normal Operating Plan (NOP) and Emergency Action Plan (EAP). If an evacuation occurs (e.g. fire/bomb threat), registers must be taken at the designated assembly point.

Allergic Reactions

Where medical declarations identify severe allergies (e.g. anaphylaxis), specific Allergy Action Plans provided by parents/guardians must be held poolside. Coaches must be briefed on the location of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) and trained in their use.

Swimmer Wellbeing & Emotional Welfare

Coaches and session leaders must be alert to signs of emotional distress â€” including withdrawal, persistent anxiety, sudden behavioural changes, disordered eating, or indicators of bullying. Performance pressure must be managed age-appropriately, particularly in high-performance squads where selection, body composition, and competition results can affect mental health. Coaches must not use language or methods that shame, humiliate, or isolate a swimmer. Any concern about a swimmer's emotional welfare must be raised with the club Welfare Officer.

Safeguarding Ratios & Policies

Supervision ratios and child welfare standards must strictly adhere to the latest version of Swim England's Wavepower policy. Specific pool supervision limits must adhere to the latest Safe Supervision guidelines. Hardcoded numerical ratios are superseded by these living policies.

Mid-session ratio failure: if a coach or supervisor becomes unavailable during a session (illness, injury, emergency), ratios must be immediately reassessed. If Safe Supervision ratios are breached, swimmers must be removed from the water in a controlled manner until compliant ratios are restored, or the session must be cancelled. If more swimmers arrive than ratios permit, excess swimmers must not enter the water. A backup contact list of qualified coaches must be maintained for emergency cover.

Medical Declarations

Up-to-date medical requirements and emergency plans (e.g., epilepsy/seizure protocols, asthma) are submitted and housed within the club's SportsEngine Motion system. This ensures that accurate medical declarations are directly available to club personnel and coaches leading the sessions at all times. For specific guidance on managing medical conditions in a swimming environment including epilepsy, asthma, and diabetes coaches should refer to the Swim England Health & Wellbeing Hub.

Dynamic Risk Assessment

All coaches and session leaders must conduct a brief on-the-spot dynamic risk assessment at the start of every session, checking for changed conditions (e.g. broken equipment, unusual pool conditions, unexpected staffing shortages) before swimmers enter the water.

Operational protocols

Lone Working

No coach or volunteer should operate a poolside session alone without a second responsible adult or venue lifeguard present. Where unavoidable, a formal lone working protocol (check-in calls, panic alarm access) must be in place.

Changing Room Supervision

âNo Lone Adult: No lone adult is permitted to enter or remain in a changing room occupied by children or young people at any time. Changing rooms are supervised to ensure children cannot leave unnoticed. Where a coach must check on a swimmer, a second adult must be informed and ideally present.

Electrical Equipment Near Water

All poolside electrical equipment (PA systems, music speakers, timing devices, scoreboards) must be connected via RCD-protected sockets and positioned well away from the pool edge and wet zones. Equipment must hold a valid PAT certificate. Only authorised personnel may set up or adjust electrical equipment.

Anti-Doping

The club supports UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and World Aquatics anti-doping rules. Coaches must not recommend, condone, or facilitate the use of any prohibited substance or method. Swimmers competing at county level and above should be made aware of their obligations under the UKAD Clean Sport programme and the risk of inadvertent doping through medications or supplements.

Mobile Phones & Recording Devices in Changing Rooms

Swim England Wavepower (updated January 2024) imposes a total prohibition on all mobile phones and mobile devices in changing areas during any Swim England regulated activity. Club policy mirrors Wavepower in full:

All devices must be stored in a bag or locker before entering any changing area.
Prominent "Keep it in Your Locker" signage displayed at every changing room entrance.
Any concern that an image or video may have been captured must be recorded as a safeguarding incident and referred to Swim England via the club Welfare Officer.
Non-recording device use (e.g. an emergency call) is addressed via the Code of Conduct.

Exceptions: Genuine emergency calls; essential medical use (e.g. continuous glucose monitor) in a private cubicle.

Covert recording may constitute criminal offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019, and the Protection of Children Act 1978. The club's Code of Conduct, signed annually by all adult members, must reference this prohibition.

Poolside Photography & Video

The Wavepower device ban applies to changing rooms; poolside and spectator gallery photography is managed separately under the club's Photography Policy.

During training sessions and lessons, photography or video recording from poolside or the viewing gallery is not permitted without prior approval from the session coach.
At competitions and galas, the club may appoint an official photographer and/or operate a consent-based registration system; unregistered photography requires the event organiser's permission.
Images or video must not be shared on social media or any public platform without the consent of the subjects' parents/guardians.
Any concern about inappropriate or unauthorised photography must be reported immediately to the club Welfare Officer as a safeguarding concern.

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