Risk management involves minimising risks facing the Association, affiliated clubs and their members (collectively referred to as the Pony Club), whether appearing in the form of financial loss or physical injury or damage or abuse.
It includes a number of steps summarised as follows:
- Identifying risks which threaten the wellbeing of Pony Club;
- Assessing the importance of those risks and the consequences to Pony Club if they are ignored. The focus generally is on safety issues and minimising potential litigation;
- Designing a process to eliminate or minimise those risks;
- Documenting these steps in a Risk Assessment;
- Taking all possible steps to comply with that process; and
- Constantly reviewing the process so that it can be improved and grow to suit the needs of Pony Club;
Risk managment is an ongoing process to be continually reviewed and updated at all levels. Documentation of this process is an integral part of the process and should be kept on file for future reference at all levels. Clubs must complete a risk assessment for each pony club activity and event, if you require help putting together a risk assesment contact the office for some examples that can be used as a starting point to help clubs develop their own documents and templates.
Below you can download all related forms and further information.
Information Links
- Safe Work Australia - www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
- WorkCover Australia - www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
- Code of Practice: Managing Risks when New or Inexperienced riders or handlers interact with horses in the workplace - see downloads section below
- Incident Notification Fact Sheet - see downloads section below
- Thermal Comfort Observations for NSW and the ACT for use in the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) test for events: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN65179.shtml
National Incident Reporting System
The form captures data on incidents and injuries to both rider and horse, and the circumstances of the incident. The system automatically provides a copy of the incident report to the state office and to the submitter. Data will be handled in accordance with the PCA Privacy Policy. Where it is an insured event (ie affecting a member) it will be provided to our insurer. This form is for use across Australia for all clubs, events, clinics, competitions, camps, rallies and musters from now on. This form has been subject to legal review and is the only form that will be recognised by our insurer.
Please find the National Incident Reportng System here.
COVID-19 Information
- COVID - 19 FAQ's NSW Health - Click here
- COVID-19 - Information
- Commonwealth COVID-19 Health Alerts
- COVID-19 and Sporting Events (Australian Institute of Sport)
- COVID-19 Return to Sport Toolkit - Australian Institute of Sport
- COVID-19 and Sporting Organisations - NSW Office of Sport
- COVID-19 - Businesses and Community - NSW Government
- Presentation on Resumption of Sport for Clubs - Pony Club NSW
- Canberra/ ACT COVID-19 Recovery Plan - ACT Government
- What you can and can't do under the rules - 4 square metre rule - NSW Government
- Covid-19 Awareness for Food Handling course - https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-awareness-food-service-training
- NSW Government latest news and updtaes - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates
Some other links that may support your club to resume activities include:
- COVID-19 Sport and Active Recreation Sector Resources Library - Office of Sport
- Get Your Club Back On Track After Covid-19 - Australian Sports Foundation
- Empower Your Sports Club Volunteers - Sports Community
- Play By The Rules During COVID-19 - Play By The Rules
- Sports NSW Timeout Talks - Sports NSW
- Return to Sport Toolkit - Sport Australia (not endorsed by NSW Government but may provide useful guidance as a planning base)
- Covid - 19 Resource Kit - Safework Australia
Covid - 19 Resumption of Sport: UPDATES
Last updated February 2021
In summary the NSW Government have advised the following key points that relate specifically to PCA NSW to be forwarded to Clubs in your Zone:
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From February 2021, interregional community sporting competitions may recommence without restricting these activities to regions or zones, where there is a COVID-19 Safety Plan for the community sport activity in place.
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More than one parent may now attend community sporting activities if physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres can be maintained between people that are not from the same household.
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Community sporting organisations and participants should continue to avoid shared travel arrangements such as car-pooling, and to minimise gatherings before and after the event.
PCA NSW members:
- May now travel to attend activities and events outside of their LGA where the organising committee allows, organising committees must include their risk mitigation strategies for this activity in their risk assessment documents and may determine that they do not have the resources to allow members from outside their LGA, Club or Zone to occur at this time.
- Overnight stays may commence under strict COVID-19 Safe Practices - PCA NSW recommendat that Clubs/Zones do not use dormitories to ease the burden on volunteers, if dormitories are used beds must be a minimum of 1.5metres apart in line with the maximum number of people allowed in line with the one person per 4 metre squared rule, organising committees must include their risk mitigation strategies for this activity in their risk assessment documents and may determine that they do not have the resources for overnight stays to occur at this time.
- Clubs and zones must complete a risk assessment and Covid Safety plan for all activities including competitions, rally days, multiple day training activities, regional schools, instructor schools and NCAS assessment and submit a copy to the state office prior to the activity for insurance purposes.
- Risk assessments should include details relating to the whole activity not just those relating to reducing the spread of Covid, the example below in the download section can be used to start this process
- Keep a copy of the completed risk assessment and Covid Safety Plan on the grounds to provide to NSW Health authorities (fines may be applied for those clubs who do not have or are not following Covid Safety Plans of $1,000 each) in the event that they conduct a spot check, these plans should be reviewed and updated after each activity to streamline the process
- Exclusion of anyone who seems unwell or has recently travelled to ‘Covid affected areas or hotspots’ as list on NSW Health website
- Clubs and zones must monitor NSW Health website and revise and update these plans accordingly regarding restriction of attendees from Covid hotspots
- Communicate clearly to all members your expectations on their attendance including but not limited to the following:
- Nomination process
- Both parents/caregivers may now attend however restrition of other attendees to apply where possible
- Providing contactless options to nominate, provide Covid self-declarations, canteen orders etc. all Check in's must be contactless under NSW Health orders please see FAQ's about the COVID-Safe check in process here
- Communicate new practice surround gear check (still contactless as per example risk assessment)
- Communicate details of PPE available noting that members should also carry their own personal hand sanitiser and we strongly recommend that attendees wear face masks including riders when they are not riding
- Provide signage at the venue to remind members about social distancing and good hygiene practices
Further information and Q & A from the Office of Sport here
NSW Health have updated the COVID-19 Safety Plan templates
We hope that these guidelines help Organising Committees determine the level of risk for your activity and whether or not the activity/event may go ahead based on the risk mitigation processed in place and the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in your area.
Please note that one of the NSW Health actionable items it for sporting organisations to "Take all reasonable steps to minimise the number of spectators attending community sport events"
Clubs must contact their venue owners (Council, Trusts etc.) to confirm that the grounds are available for use and have completed their own risk assessment document for their venue. Clubs need to sumbit a copt of their resumption of sport risk assessment to the State Office.
Members must comply with the PCA NSW, NSW Health Guidelines and NSW Public Health Orders so that they do not compromise their position in the event of an insurance claim.
We do not want our sport/clubs to be the next COVID-19 cluster so if someone is not well they should stay at home or be sent home.
With the everchanging nature of the situation please keep up to date with the latest Government advice and Public Health orders.
Allow 1 person per 2 square metres for outdoor community sport activities only
The 2 square metre rule for organised outdoor events with a maximum number of people allowed attending an event lifted to 3,000. See here for tips on how to minimise risk at sporting events.
Physical distancing means reducing the close physical contact we have with one another and staying 1.5 metres away from people we don't live with - read more here.
