Health & Safety

General Disclaimer:
Members use the clubs waters, car parks and associated facilities (including fishing
stations and steps) at their own risk. The club will not accept liability for any accidents,
loss, or damage incurred.
The club does not offer refunds on memberships which have been cancelled for any reason.

 

Portsmouth and District Angling Society
Health and Safety Policy Statement

Portsmouth and District Angling Society (from now on will be referred to as PDAS) is committed to ensuring that it will do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent injury and protect property. We will have due regard for protecting all other people who may encounter the PDAS’s activities. It is the society’s objective to provide a safe and healthy environment that fully meets the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated legislation, for all officials, members, volunteers and of the public that may be affected by the PDAS activities.
When dealing with health and safety issues officials, members and volunteers carrying out activities have a clear understanding of the need to operate within the context of this policy and arrangements.

Officials, members and volunteers involved in events or work parties will take all reasonable steps to safeguard all those taking part in activities and those who may be affected by them.

Every member has a legal responsibility, (a duty of care) to look after their own and others health & safety and comply with this policy and PDAS rules and any other health & safety documentation issued by PDAS.

PDAS will co-operate with other organisations (landowners etc.) to ensure risks are properly controlled.

The overall responsibility for Health & Safety within PDAS is the Chairman.

Health and Safety Arrangements
Duty of Care
PDAS requires all members involved in organising events, work parties and day to day management consider the consequences of their acts and omissions and ensure that those acts/or omissions do not give rise to a foreseeable risk of injury to any other person.

Health and Safety Responsibilities
CHAIRMAN
Ensuring this policy is adhered to
Ensure risk assessments have been carried out
Brief other officials on all matters relating to risk management or matters arising about safety.

SECRETARY
Ensure that this policy is corresponded to official’s on activities for PDAS and members of the Society.
Report and log any accident or and occurrences which may happen.

FISHERYS MANAGEMENT TEAM
To supervise members and volunteers to work parties to work into safe manner
To ensure all machinery is used by competence persons
Highlight any dangers in procedures of work as required
To stop any persons who are working in an unsafe manner and advise a safer procedure to be use
To surveys trees on our fishery for unsafe branches as appropriate or advised of.

MATCH SECRETARY
Highlight safety issues at matches on our waters or other fisheries.

MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS
Too fish or work in a safe manner and cooperate on advice or procedures by the person in charge of or an official of the PDAS
Advise the committee if they find items such as broken fishing platforms, collapsed steps, broken handrails
Members and volunteers are responsible for their actions

RISK ASSESSMENT
PDAS will ensure that suitable risk assessments are carried out and the results of the assessments are implemented. The aim of risk assessment is to avoid harm and to promote the health, safety and welfare of all involved or who may be affected by an activity (work or leisure). As members of PDAS, administrators and event organisers have not only a moral but also a legal responsibility to ensure that PDAS activities and any organised events are as safe as practicably possible. Risk assessments will be carried out with a view of minimising risk as well as reducing the likelihood of accidents happening; in the event of an accident it will also reduce the chance of serious injury or ill health.
Risks associated with angling on PDAS waters

Equipment
Be aware of the hazards of using equipment, especially power tools

Animals
Rats, rodents may be encountered. Pleased do not approach animals; try to keep the most distance possible between you and the animals. Do not leave food, ground bait or bait on the bank side.

Birds
Swans and geese are rarely aggressive but best left alone

Diseases
Weil’s disease (Leptospirosis) is a bacterial infection carried in rat’s urine which contaminates water and the banks of lakes, rivers and ponds. It is a serious disease in human beings that requires hospital treatment. The early symptoms are similar to those of flu and normally start 3 to 19 days after exposure to contaminated water.

Power lines
Beware of walking or fishing under or near power lines, rods and poles are excellent conductors of electricity which can jump considerable distances.

Lightening
Rods and poles are good lightening conductors, please do not fish in these conditions, and seek refuge well away from trees

The Sun
Do not under-estimate the suns power Please cover up when fishing or working and take appropriate precautions to stop sunburn, heat stoke etc.

Banks
Beware of undercut banks and take particular care when the banks are wet and slippery.
Wear appropriate footwear.

Paths and Steps
Slips, trips and falls are dangerous, please keep to obvious path and take extra care when wet and slippery

Trees 
Fishing under trees can be unsafe during windy conditions and beware of falling trees and branches. Take care when your tackle is stuck up in a branch. If you pull you may have the branch of the tree coming towards which may cause an injury. Also be aware that terminal tackle may aim towards you when it comes loose from the tree

Casting
Please be aware of people behind you, around you or on opposite bank to you, Weights and tackle can cause injury to others.

Wading
No wading is allowed. With the exception of the fisheries management team

Falling in the Water/ Drowning
Members should take due care when approaching the water edge as the bank can be steep, and deep water is present at the water edge, if you accidently fall into the water take care in getting out. If the bank is too high walk along the bank with care to a more accessible exit if you cannot get out the water call for help. Or if possible, for the emergency services if help is at hand take care not to endanger people trying to pull you out of the water. If the person cannot get out the water with help call the emergency services for help.
There are dan?/lifebuoys at most of the PDAS waters.

First Aid
There are no first aid facilities at PDAS waters. Anglers are encouraged to carry travel first aid kits.

Work Parties
Supervision
Work parties to be supervised by Fisheries manager/team or person/s appointed to be in charge.

Machinery
All machinery will be used by appointed competent person/s or under supervision by fisheries manager/team until he or she has proved their competency with the machinery. All personal protection equipment will be supplied and must be worn at all times.

Access to Fisheries
Access to the water in some cases is by a padlocked gate. Please park in the appropriate place and do not block access. Do not park in front of the gate or in front of the entry to the fishery.

Night Fishing
Members who night fish should make others aware that they are fishing. The occurrence of slips and falls is more likely in the darkness and reduced light.

Coaches and helpers
All coaches participating in activities organised by PDAS must hold an appropriate qualification. During events and activities, the ratio of responsible adults (coaches) to young people depends in the main on the age and ability of participants but is never too little to ensure the safety of participants.

Conclusion
This safety policy & risk assessment will be a work in progress to highlight risks and to make all possible means to reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Portsmouth and District Angling Society accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising from death or bodily injury or loss off or damage to property of any kind.
This document has been signed on behalf of the officials & committee of Portsmouth and District Angling Society by the Chairman & Secretary.

PDAS Committee

To download a copy of our H&S Policy – Click HERE

Portsmouth and District Angling Society Environmental Policy

As a responsible Angling Committee Portsmouth and District Angling Society (PDAS) will manage all our venues to ensure that the Environment is placed at the centre of our considerations and objectives. The PDAS will provide and maintain a healthy environment that fully meets the requirements of Environment Agency law and codes of practice and associated legislation. We will cooperate with all Environmental agencies and will act on their recommendations and advice in consideration of:

• Safeguarding of the natural environment
• Sympathetic management of venues ensuring a natural and visually appealing appearance
• The Disposal of Waste in accordance with local authority regulations and requirements
• Management of venue ecology

When maintenance work is required the PDAS will take all reasonable measure to protect the natural environment and wildlife this will include the protection of water quality – fish stocks – aquatic life – nesting birds – bankside vegetation and bankside mammals. Anglers are not to make any alterations to a venue – such as tree trimming or removal of plants without permission of The Fisheries Management team or Pond Warden, members failing to cooperate with this venue management approach will be reported to the committee for an appropriate penalty.

The control of invasive species and pests shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation and guidance; any sightings of non-native species e.g. signal crayfish in our waters shall be reported. PDAS will also be proactive in providing data and information to relevant agencies to help manage pressure on fish stocks and venue ecology.

Pollution: any sightings or evidence of pollution entering any venue or water course shall be reported immediately to the Environmental Agency (Telephone: 0800 80 70 60 & https://www.gov.uk/report-an-environmental-incident) by any member of the club any such reports shall be reported to the committee as soon as possible for recording and to enable follow up action

Litter on PDAS venues will be discouraged by both anglers and members of the public entering venues, PDAS members proven to have left litter will be subject to penalties from the Committee including removal from PDAS without refund, Anglers are requested to ensure they make adequate provision for long periods on the bank including litter bags and the hygienic removal of human waste failure to do so will result in removal from PDAS without refund. PDAS members finding litter on arrival are requested to dispose of found litter and report to venue Pond Warden or Bailiffs.

Fish Disease Management
The committee will defer to best advice from the Environmental Agency this includes the use of angling equipment that would be considered to risk the spread of fish diseases such as KHV (Koi Herpes). All necessary steps to protect venues and the fish within will be taken at the discretion of the committee such as the closing of access or the banning of specific items of equipment; such decisions would not be considered for wider membership debate.

Fish Stocking
Every effort shall be made to encourage natural recruitment of fish stocks. This will include the releasing of all fish to the water from which they were caught, maintaining and encouragement of natural spawning areas. Where re-stocking is appropriate to supplement wild stocks and enhance sport this shall be carried out in accordance with EA guidelines. All stocked fish will be subject to EA approval and relevant health checks.

Fish care
PDAS rules reflect good practice concerning fish conservation and health care, this will include the need for suitable landing equipment and mats to protect fish. Fish retention will be kept to a minimum and will be by the use of quality equipment to avoid stress and damage to fish. During warm weather due consideration will be given to the effects on fish health and mortality from heat and low oxygen levels, the PDAS committee will take best advice and where possible take its own readings of water quality and if necessary close venues or restrict fishing to protect fish stocks.

PDAS Committee

To download a copy of our Environmental Policy – Click HERE