New safety rules

[Wheeze]

A pretty good summary of all the foregoing 68 pages Keith.

[Mark G]

I am grateful to Margaret for this clarification. I would also like to emphasise that in SHR's role as independent reviewers of all the evidence, both before and during the inquest, we expressed the view (as 4 competitors/ organisers with over 100 years total experience of competing and race organisation) that the Sailbeck Race was better organised than most we had experience of. As with all races in our experience, there were human errors. NONE of these errors had any bearing on the tragic outcome. This simple point seems to have been lost during this extended debate on issues peripheral to the tragedy. We now face the risk of over-reaction with more prescriptive safety requirements which could lead to unintended consequences which could actually jeopardise safety culture in fell racing. Let us hope that the collective wisdom of the FRA Committee will save us all from such an outcome, even at such a late stage.

Race Organisers have very good reason to be alarmed.

KB

KB - I think that says it all. I was asked to submit something to the inquest which wasn't eventually used (but you may have seen it). Like Wheeze I agree entirely with your comments. I'm now waiting to see what develops.

[alwaysinjured]

Race Organisers have very good reason to be alarmed.
KB

Thanks for the input Keith - I find it hard to understand why RO are not more concerned than they are.

I think part of that is that the reality of what just happened, the implications of it, the documents surrounding it, have not been given sufficient air time, and somewhat swept under the carpet.

The real issues on the significance of what happens in event of fatality,
have been somewhat shrouded behind obsessive prescriptive detail, which has no place in safety documents anyway - such as a lot of paragraphs on the pinning of numbers, which would for the most part be covered in bad weather when it really matters so what was the point in all that detail?

None of it would have actually made a difference in the recent fatalities except make it easier for someone to point the blame, and point fingers at non compliance, and possibly void the insurance in the process (the rules state that!!) which really WOULD be ALARMING for any RO. The cost of defending themselves could bankrupt them if not paid by insurance, let alone the cost of losing so it is high stakes game.

If the Rule Drafter really wanted races with "no hazards in compulsory parts of the route" and only run in weather which is not "dangerous" as was their original rule change as enacted and hotly defended by the same proposers, fell racing is seemingly not for them.

We can only wait with hope to see whether sense has prevailed...glad I did not hold my breath waiting!

[Lefty]

Race organisers will have received the latest ( final ) draft tonight along with details of events to be held in various regions to explain/discuss the implications. No doubt everyone will need time to read and digest what has been produced and I eagerly await the usual discussion here on this forum.

[Lecky]

I've had a quick read and the new document looks pretty good to me, as I expected. I'll have a closer look soon.

Well done to all those that worked on it, it is much appreciated, especially as I am RO for my first ever race next year.

[MargC]

I assume that this http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/pdf/com..._Equipment.pdf is the latest draft.

[ME.DOUBLE]

Does/will the FRA Committee look to audit RO against its new procedures? Spots checks on compliance etc like road races which are granted permits have?

[Lefty]

For those who are not race organisers and may not see the letter sent out to RO here it is for your information

Dear Race organiser,

Welcome to all new race organisers for 2014.

I very pleased that you have responded so positively this year despite the uncertainty over the rules as the FRA committee recognises that in many ways the ROs are the FRA for, without us, there would be no races which are at the heart of, although not everything, that is fell running.

1. Registration and Handbook.
The handbook that is going to print has a record number of almost 460 races registered by the 300 of us who organise races through the FRA plus just over a hundred more registered with other bodies or not registered. It looks as though it will be another great year on the fells in 2014 and I, for one, am looking forward to returning to old favourite races and trying out some new ones.

2. 2014 FRA safety requirements for fell races and rules for competition.
I promised that I would write to you once the FRA rules and safety guidance had been agreed.

The Committee met on 7 Nov. to finalise the new document with the decision being necessarily delayed so that we could consider the Coroner’s letter following the inquest into the death of Brian Belfield at the Buttermere Sailbeck race in 2012. (The coroner’s letter is on the website.)

A big thank you to all of you who inputted into the consultation process. We have been able to take many suggestions on board.

Having adopted the revised rules for 2014 they become mandatory in relation to all races organised under the aegis of the FRA.

3. Events for race organisers.
I have previously written about the events for ROs being organised for ROs and members in:

Greater Manchester and Cheshire – 25 November

and

S Lakes and N Lancashire – 4 December

If you are a new RO and would like to attend one of these events please let me know and I will send you the invitation letter. If you have not responded to the earlier letter and now want to attend please also let me know. (I have yet to cross reference the changes across the two mailing lists!)

I am in the process of agreeing a number of other events for ROs and members.

These will be open to all ROs but I am presuming that most of you will want to attend the one most local to you.

They will be held as follows with all meetings being held at the dates shown in January; starting at 7 and being scheduled to last for two hours:

- Location to be agreed in W Yorkshire – 6th
- Location to be agreed in S Yorkshire and also covering Derbyshire – 8th
- Venue in Todmorden – 13th
- Telford Golf and Country Club, Great Hay Drive, Sutton Heights, TF7 4DT. This is the venue for the 2014 FRA Dinner and is 10 mins from J4 and J5 of the M54. - 15th
- Location to be agreed in N Lakes – 20th
- Newcastle/Morpeth Scout HQ on Waldridge Road, Chester le Street. DH2 3AA – 29th
I will be writing out again in a couple of weeks with further details but if you would like to attend I would be obliged if you could let me know which event you are likely to be attending.

Can I remind you that I am looking for examples of RO good practice documents to post on the website. 2 examples attached of a matrix, as mentioned in the new rules and also an example of a Marshal’s document are attached.

Best wishes,

[Fudge the Elf]

I'm almost reluctant to say this but if you follow the instruction given on the home page to find the new Safety Requirements you will be disappointed (as of now). The version under FRA - Organisers is still the old version. To find the new version you must follow FRA - Committee (this version has the year 2014 on it).

I feel as though I'm carping after all that has gone before but on a matter as important as this it's of the utmost importance that there is no room for doubt as to which version is current.

I'd like to place on record my appreciation of the work done and being done by all those involved, but as always it's about continuous improvement.

[Witton Park]

In order not to make this a long post, I welcome the work that has gone in to the new Safety Requirements. There are clearly some improvements in the wording within the document.

However, there is an RO's Race Pack of paperwork that includes several other documents that we have to sign up to and I've been probably more concerned about some of the matters in the Guidelines document.
Some part of the Guidelines document echo parts of the Safety requirements, so it's impossible to review one without the other.

What isn't clear from the letter is whether the committee have anything in place to review the pack fully for 2015 and if so, how will that review be handled.