Health & Safety

Jersey Spartan Athletic Club (JSAC) is strongly committed to encouraging our members to take part, but the health, well-being and safety of each individual is always our paramount concern.

The Club recommends levels of training dependent on age and ability, and expect our athletes to participate within these boundaries.

Health and Safety Policy

It is the policy of the JSAC to ensure, so far as reasonably possible, the health and safety of all athletes, coaches and officials engaged in training and competition with the Club.

To support the Health & Safety policy statement, the Club is committed to the following duties:

  • Undertake regular, recorded risk assessment of all sporting activities organised by the Club
  • Create a safe environment by putting health & safety measures in place as identified by the assessment
  • Ensure that all members are given the appropriate level of training and competition by regularly assessing individual ability
  • Ensure that all members are aware of, understand and follow the Club’s health & safety policy
  • Ensure that normal operating procedures and emergency operating procedures are in place and known by all members
  • Provide access to adequate first aid facilities at all times, including qualified first aider whenever possible
  • Report any injuries or accidents sustained during any Club activity – see accident reporting form
  • Ensure that the implementation of the policy is reviewed regularly and monitored for effectiveness
  • During Club sessions, all junior athletes (under 18) will be supervised by a qualified coach

Members’ Health and Safety Duties 

  • Take reasonable care for your own health & safety and that of others who may be training in your vicinity
  • Dress appropriately for the weather conditions
  • All runners should dress with appropriate light, reflective and /or high visibility kit when running in the dark or poor visibility conditions.
  • Assess your own fitness levels and maturity as an athlete & competitor when deciding what training to undertake and what competitions to enter
  • Athletes should report to their coach on arrival
  • Junior athletes should never leave training sessions without informing their coach
  • Individuals should to bring to the attention to their coach before a session any illness, injury, or other factor that may affect their health and safety, or that of others, during a session
  • Co-operate with the Club on health & safety issues
  • Correctly use all equipment provided by the Club and advised by Coaches and Officials
  • Do not interfere with or misuse anything provided for your health, safety or welfare
  • If you become aware of any safety issues, you should bring them to the attention of the Club Chairman, or another Committee Member without delay so that remedial action can be taken. Details of all Committee Members are available on the Club website

Track Safety

  • Do not use lane one or two for warming up
  • When doing laps, whether warming up, cooling down or training – always run in an anti-clockwise direction
  • If you hear someone shouting “track” you need to get out of the way quickly
  • Be aware at all times of other people using the facilities and show consideration to other coaching groups.
  • Be especially cautious when there are throwing groups/athletes in operation – NEVER CROSS THE IN-FIELD WHEN THROWS ARE IN PROGRESS
  • Coaches of training groups should inform other training groups of their session and agree which areas they will work in

Road Running Safety

  • Young athletes under the age of 16 years should be supervised during road running sessions, e.g., responsible persons at the front and back of the group
  • Athletes should always wear reflective bibs/clothing after dark
  • Athletes should be informed of the route they will follow and the approximate distance to be covered
  • Never become separated from the running group – inform the person in charge of
    the group if you need to stop
  • Coaches should always know how many athletes are in the group

Jumps Safely

  • Only jump when instructed to do so by the coach in charge
  • Never cross the runway in front of another athlete
  • Sandpit should be dug over before use and raked between jumps
  • Cone (or person) to be placed in front of take-off boards when the pit is being raked
  • Boards need to be flush with the runway
  • Keep clear of the runway when athletes are preparing to jump
  • Use only undamaged poles of the correct specification for the athlete

Throws Safely

  • Ensure athletes are made aware of the dangers and safety procedures involved in throwing events
  • Athletes must listen to the Health and Safety advice provided by the coach
  • Inform other training groups of the throwing areas in use
  • Boundaries/sectors should always be appropriately identified during club sessions
  • Only throw and retrieve when instructed to do so by the coach in charge
  • Only throw within the designated throwing area
  • THROWING IMPLEMENTS ARE DANGEROUS WHEN IMPROPERLY USED

Accident and Incident Reporting

UKA uses the following definitions for the purpose of reporting:

  • Accident: An event that results in injury or ill health
  • Incident: an event not causing harm, but has the potential to cause injury or ill health
  • Fatality – An event that results in death

As part of UK Athletics’ ongoing commitment to provide a safe sport, anyone who has witnessed or been involved in either an accident or incident is asked to complete a short online report.

Note: If an accident has resulted in serious injury, or a hazard is so serious that it could result in an accident in the immediate future, it is important that these facts are reported immediately to the relevant Facility Operator, Race Director or Local Authority Health & Safety Manager.

Please complete the appropriate form here