Risk Management

RESOURCES:

Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC).  Website: http://www.sirc.ca/

Sport Law & Strategy Group.  Website: http://www.sportlaw.ca

NCCP ICC Reference Material.  Section 6, pages 143-174

NCCP L2T (Dryland) Reference Material.  Section 8, pages 193-213
 

KEY RISK MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FOR CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Risk Management - Cycling Activities

• CCBC second and third party liability coverage is extended to "road cycling" training activities as prescribed by a coach regardless of the type of bike used in that activity.
• Full coverage under the Policy does not extend to off the road "mountain biking" training activities, regardless of the type of bike used in the activity. Only third party liability coverage applies. This means that there is insurance coverage if the athlete runs into and is sued by a hiker on the trail (third party coverage). There is no coverage when the athlete gets injured and sues the coach for negligence in suggesting that the athlete train on that trail (second party coverage).
• Recreational cycling (road bikes only) of athletes/members, is covered when done as a supervised training activity in a group.
• In no case does the Policy cover "competitive biking" (any type of bike) for events or time trials.

Risk Management - Roller Skiing Activities

• Coverage is provided for roller-skiing as a training activity. This includes coach-organized and directed individual time trials.
• Roller-skiing is to be conducted in accordance with approved policies governing this activity at the level (national, division or club) at which it takes place.
• The CCC/CCBC Roller Skiing Policy must be adhered to as a minimum requirement: Link here, unless otherwise defined.

        Please contact your club Board of Directors if you require additional information on risk management and cycling or roller sking.

Risk Management: Cold Weather and Hypothermia

Click here.

Risk Management: Cold Weather and Competitions

In most regions of Canada severe cold weather can occur when a competition is being held.  Because of the potential risk involved, coaches should (1) prepare their athletes for this possibility in advance, and (2) take certain precautions when dealing with such situations.

Developing athletes don’t usually have access to the high tech clothing that can provide them with the best protection from the cold.  Most individuals cannot afford clothing of this kind if they are going to outgrow it in a year, and as a result this age group may often be more vulnerable to severe weather conditions than adults.

To help you educate your athletes the following list has been developed for a handout.

Cold Weather Tips for Your Athletes

The following guidelines will help your athletes deal with conditions of extreme cold weather:

• Don’t be afraid to wear extra clothing during a competition.  In cold weather conditions, vests can be an important addition and it may also be reasonable to wear two layers of synthetic (polyester) underclothing.  Balaclavas, neckwarmers and windproof briefs may be warranted as well.  Wear a warm hat and substitute racing gloves for warmer mitts.  Even older athletes at high level events may choose to compete with warm ups on, especially if there are long fast down hills and windy sections along the course.
• Male athletes should always consider wearing windproof underwear if they are wearing a lycra racing suit.
• Creams, lotions and jellies can reduce the direct exposure of the skin to the air. However, to be effective they must not have a water base.  Many athletes have had success with petroleum jelly and Dermatone.
• Ski glasses/goggles can keep the wind out of your eyes, but they can also cause a "wind tunnel" effect on other parts of your face.  For eye comfort, blink more often than usual. This is particularly true if you wear contact lenses.
• Individuals have a different tolerance to cold weather.  Consider this when you make your decision on what to wear, or whether to enter the competition or not.  For more information on cold weather and exercise induced asthma, refer to section 8.1.5 of the NCCP ICC Reference Material.
• If you are 10 years of age or younger and the temperature is going to be colder than -15C at start time, you should seriously consider not entering the race.
• Take extra care that your nutritional needs are met before the morning of the race.
• Bring extra foods and fluids to the race site in case there is a delay.
• Ensure that your warm up is done correctly.  If you are following a proper warm up routine you should be physically prepared for your race and able to ski at the appropriate pace right from the start.  Regardless of the temperature, the "feeling" should be the same. What changes as the temperature drops is how the warm-up is done to get and maintain this "feeling".  Typically a good warm up increases the core temperature, uses muscles and techniques at the intensity level required during the race, and sets the appropriate arousal level without your being fatigued at the start. On a cold day you may wish to cut the warm-up short because you are afraid of becoming cold. However, your warm up should be long enough and intense enough for you to break into a sweat. To maintain this warmed-up state, you need to minimize the amount of time you are in damp or wet clothing.  In these conditions a well-prepared athlete will put on dry gloves/mitts, underwear, hat (and perhaps socks) after the warm up and before the start.
• Due to the conditions, you should change at least your gloves and hat, and other wet clothing as well if you possibly can, as soon as you have completed your race and before you do your warm down.
• Keep in mind that cross-country skiers are at risk in cold weather situations because exhaustion and dehydration are both influencing factors with respect to hypothermia. In such conditions, it is especially important to do your warm down with another skier.  It is possible to be in the early stages of hypothermia, to be unaware of your condition, and to ski onto an unused part of the course.
• Take responsibility for your own safety.

Cold Weather Considerations for Race Officials That Coaches Should Know

• The basic considerations for determining postponement, alteration or cancellation of a competition are:
  • temperature;
  • wind;
  • the duration of exposure;
  • shelter, clothing and other protection against the cold; and
  • the ability of the organizers to meet the extra demands required to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
• Always take into consideration the age and experience level of the field of skiers when determining whether to alter or cancel a competition.  The rules that govern “races” were established for experienced, healthy elite athletes at high level competitions.  -20C is the coldest temperature at which you can hold the event. Under some circumstances, modifications or cancellation should occur at temperatures warmer than -20C.
• Adequate controls must be established to insure the recommendations are being followed and the health and safety of competitors are protected.
• It is possible to have a situation where it is best to cancel the events for athletes ten years of age and younger, shorten the distances for remaining athletes 18 years of age and younger, and retain the events originally scheduled for older athletes.  For example, if the temperature is between -15C and -20C, whether other factors such as wind chill are involved or not, you may wish to shorten some distances (i.e. a 5  km event for Juveniles could be shortened to 3.5 km), while retaining the original distances for the adult categories.  Or, you may choose to shorten the distances for all age groups.
• The Jury has the option of delaying the start time if it appears that the temperature will rise to an acceptable level later in the day. This decision can create new problems, however, and should be carefully thought through.  It is possible that skiers will be at greater risk skiing at -19C after an extended period of repeated delays, (i.e. 2-3 hours) than they were at -21C two or three hours earlier.
• Some additional factors to consider before delaying the start time would be:
  • Is there adequate shelter for all the competitors close by the staging area, or will they be cramped into crowded, humid vehicles for an extended period of time with no place to change their clothes before they compete?
  • Will there be food and fluids available at the race site that all the competitors can access? For example, athletes may have traveled two or three hours to get to the race site that morning and they may not have the extra refreshments they will require for a lengthy delay.  They may never have been to this race site before and they may not have been aware that refreshments were not available at the site.

           Each of the above could influence how well the athlete handles the cold temperature when the race finally does get
           underway.

• If there is any possibility of a delayed start, enough advance warning must be given to the coaches and athletes to allow them to make appropriate decisions regarding warm up routines.
• Ensure an adequate supply of wool blankets and refreshments (drinks prepared at the correct temperature!) at the finish line.
• Station someone trained in First Aid at the finish line.  Have them (1) check each athlete for frostbite, and (2) ask each athlete a few questions to check out their responses.
• One of your greatest frustrations will be the variations in the temperature readings between one thermometer and another.  Long before you host your event select a reliable model and purchase enough of them to cover all the bases.
• Don’t hold the competition unless you are prepared for the conditions!

___________________________________________________________________________

Did You Know??? (For Canadian Competitions)

Races
315.9:  With air temperatures below -20C (temperature measured at the coldest point of the course and without wind factor) and competition distances less than or equal to 15 km, the Jury must postpone or cancel the competition. With competition distances greater than 15 km and temperatures less than -18C without wind factor, the Jury must postpone or cancel the competition.

For Atom and Pee Wee age groups, with air temperatures below -15C (temperature measured at the coldest part of the course and without a wind factor), the Jury must postpone or cancel the competition.

With any difficult weather conditions (eg. strong winds, high air humidity, heavy snow, icy track conditions), at any air temperature, the Jury may, on consultation with the Team Leaders of the participating teams and the doctor responsible for the competition, postpone, cancel or shorten the competition.

Loppets

388.2:  Between -15 and -25C,

If the temperature level is forecast to be between minus 15°and minus 25° C at any point on the course, recommendations regarding cold weather protection should be made available to the participants. Under such conditions it is the responsibility of the participants to seek the information and to follow the recommendations given by the organizer

388.3: Minus 25° C and below

If the temperature in a major portion of the course is -25C or below, the competition shall be delayed or cancelled.

Excerpts from CCC Rules & Regulations (2006)

Risk Management: Safety Considerations When Waxing

Ventilation Protection

The fumes generated from heating wax, especially fluorocarbon powders, are harmful to the lungs if inhaled - especially if the exposure is repeated and prolonged. Unfortunately this level of exposure to wax fumes is part of a coach’s job description.

An effective way to mitigate this risk is to place a mechanical barrier between the fumes and the lungs. When working with heated waxes, a coach should at all times wear a ventilator mask that filters the organic vapors and dusts. (Note: the filter cartages should be replaced every year).

Waxing should occur in a well-ventilated area. If appropriate ventilation is not available, then it is recommended that the waxing takes place outdoors.

It is also importan to educate athletes on the potential risks associated with wax rooms.

Skin Protection

Wax removers are often a mixed concoction of aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum distillates, neither of which are particularly beneficial to human health. To minimize exposure to this substance the user should wear protective latex gloves (or a non-allergenic equivalent). This step is also recommended when handling fluoro powders.

Fire and Heat

Wax remover is also a flammable substance, and it is often applied to shop towels that are near to heat sources such as irons, heat guns and propane heating elements.  Shop towels have been known to catch on fire, so it is important to be vigilant and ensure that wax remover and shop towels are kept separate from heat sources.  In addition a clean and tidy workspace with only those tools and waxes that are necessary will help prevent unwanted accidents.

Water and Electricity

Waxing inherently occurs in the presence of snow and ice which will often form pools of water around wax benches. At the same time waxing requires the use of electrical sources to power tools and irons, and extension cords frequently run through both snow and water.  It is therefore important to use cords that are heavy duty and durable, with a thick rubber coating, in order to prevent electrical shocks or shorts. Frayed cords are simply not safe in a wax room environment and should not be used. Power bars, if used should be kept off the ground and attached to the bench. Always check the powerbar sockets for snow and debris first, before plugging in a cord.