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. If you require help putting together a risk assesment contact the office for some examples that can be used as a starting point for all activities and events within Pony Club.
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
- COVID - 19 - Know the Facts - Click here
- COVID-19 - Information
- Commonwealth COVID-19 Health Alerts
- COVID-19 and Sporting Events
- COVID-19 and Sporting Organisations - Sport NSW
- COVID-19 - Businesses and Community - NSW Government
UPDATE: 16th March 2020
Given the change in advice from State and Federal Authorities over the weekend the Executive of PCA NSW is actively looking at options in regard to the holding of the State Meetings next week and what will happen with the State Sporting, Campdraft and Team Penning Championship in April.
As you would all appreciate no single person on the Executive Committee or from the Office can unilaterally make a decision on how the meetings/events should or should not proceed. Added to that all of the Executive Committee are volunteers and have their own jobs and responsibilities that they have to attend to as well. They are all separated geographically throughout the state and not able to just pop into the board room and vote on the matter at a minutes notice.
While this may be frustrating for you at the moment we do ask for your patience and we promise that the situation is being taken seriously and being acted upon. Further information will be available to members, delegates and ZCI's at the earliest opportunity it is available.
Clubs and Zones should closely monitor the relevant State and Federal Authorities and incorporate information from them in their usual risk assessments for normal pony club activities and events, Equestrian activities have a greater social distance involved than most other sports and need to incorporate authorities advice for their area.
More information on COVID-19 and the risk management process can be found above.
Kerren Britton
On behalf of the PCA NSW Executive
