Health and Safety

We are committed to ensuring that everyone in the Scottish Croquet Association safeguards their own health safety and welfare, and that of all participants, spectators, volunteers and others who may interact with our sport.

Consistent with this, the Scottish Croquet Association will:

  1. Comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards and ensure that the Health and Safety Policy is reviewed and revised as necessary;
  2. Periodically review operations and methods of operation so that where there are health and safety implications they can, if necessary, be revised in the light of experience and up to date knowledge;
  3. Assess Health and Safety impacts before starting a new activity (eg a new type of croquet);
  4. Ensure that adequate information, instruction and supervision is given to all individuals on aspects of safety pertinent to their involvement and hold individuals accountable for their areas of responsibility;
  5. Communicate openly with individuals on all health and safety issues, including information regarding equipment, processes or materials which are known to be potentially hazardous;
  6. Collect, analyse and explain data on accidents and incidents involving personal injury or illness, where they occur as a result of our operations, investigate them and ensure actions are taken to prevent a recurrence.
  7. Work cooperatively with member clubs to ensure that our relationship with them supports this policy and shares best practice.
  8. Take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that facilities used for SCA activities have appropriate measures in place to ensure safe access and use in line with health and safety law.

All individuals are responsible for:

  1. Conducting themselves responsibly;
  2. Respecting and upholding established rules and procedures, advising the SCA Health and Safety Representative of any issues or potential issues;
  3. Performing their roles in a manner that the SCA has established as the correct and safe way;
  4. Co-operating with investigations and suggesting improvements and changes.
  5. Reporting any health and safety concerns immediately to the SCA Health and Safety Representative.

The SCA Health and Safety Representative has overall responsibility for health and safety and the operation of this policy.

The SCA Executive will appoint a Health and Safety Representative.

Appendix: SCA Guidance for member clubs.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (‘the Act’) and the regulations made under it, apply to club organisers. The law requires clubs to do what is reasonably practicable to ensure people’s health and safety. You should ensure that you have appropriate procedures in place to provide and maintain safe and healthy conditions that meet legal requirements.

Note, however, that Health and Safety laws should not be a barrier to croquet and croquet related activities. Taking a sensible, proportionate approach is the key to making sure that access to, and use of, facilities and equipment is healthy and safe without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Often there is a shared duty between the premises owner, a management committee and users – and the extent of a club’s legal duty will depend on the level of control it has over the premises. For example, if your club owns or manages the premises, then you would be expected to keep the premises and any sports equipment provided in good repair. If your club uses sports equipment then you would be expected to take reasonable steps to check it is safe to use e.g. checking that a mallet won’t come apart and injure a player.

All clubs should:

  1. Check the sports equipment you provide and / or have control over is safe to use (and store equipment safely when not in use).
  2. Provide training and instruction to enable members to use facilities and equipment safely.
  3. Provide suitable guidance to all new members on Health and Safety matters.
  4. Assess the need, availability and supervision of any special safety devices and protective equipment.
  5. Impress a Duty of Care on all members.
  6. Ensure that health and safety is a component of all introductory sessions for the public and new members of the club.
  7. Have appropriate first aid procedures and access to first aid equipment.
  8. Maintain a record of accidents.
  9. Maintain a constant and continuing interest in Health and Safety matters including Accident Prevention and Safe Working Practices.
  10. Review their procedures regularly.

If you own or manage the playing surface and spectator areas, you should:

  1. Ensure the playing surface is in good repair.
  2. Take steps to reduce the risk of competitors being injured accidentally by coming into contact with any benches, fences, walls, etc. that may be located at the edge of the playing surface.
  3. Take steps to reduce the risk of spectators being injured accidentally by any croquet equipment such as croquet balls leaving the playing surface.
  4. Keep pedestrian walkways free from slip and trip hazards.
  5. Depending on the number of spectators, manage entrances and exits to prevent crushing.

If you own or manage associated premises - such as a club-house, castle, or hut - you should carry out an assessment of risk at regularly intervals and take appropriate action. An example checklist can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/voluntary/assets/docs/village-hall.pdf. This should include:

  1. Health and safety around any car parks if relevant.
  2. Movement around buildings
  3. Safety of electrical and gas equipment
  4. Exposure to asbestos
  5. Fire risk assessment and appropriate fire safety measures.
  6. Appropriate safety information signage.

Further user-friendly guidance is provided online by the Health and Safety Executive – www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/leisure/common-issues.htm

A note on croquet related risk

Risk assessments will be specific to each club.  However, the following have been identified by the SCA as potentially common hazards and consideration should be given to each.

CategoryHazardHazard TypePeople AffectedRisk levelPresent Control (Example)Risk evaluation
Use of Lawns Chemical Fertiliser, herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. Players, Public Low-medium Signage  
Use of Lawns Disease Puncture wounds, ingestion, contact. Players, Public Low None  
Use of Lawns Plants Allergies from handling plants, allergies from sap, spines and thorns. Players, Public Low None  
Use of Lawns Plants Wounds from spines and thorns. Players, Public Low None  
Use of Lawns Trip Tripping over hoops, string or boundary walls Players Medium Safety instruction during coaching  
Use of Lawns Fall Falling on moving balls when trying to avoid them Players Low-medium Safety instruction during coaching  
Use of Lawns Fall Slipping while running on wet lawns Players Low-medium Safety instruction during coaching  
Use of Lawns Impact Tree debris. Players, Public Low None  
Use of Lawns Impact Misdirected croquet balls, misdirected croquet mallets. Players, Public Medium Safety instruction during coaching  
Use of Lawns UV Radiation Short and long term damage to the skin. Melanoma. Members Low Safety instruction during coaching  
Setting Out Lawns Impact Heavy hand tools (sledge hammer) Members Medium Supervision and instruction  
Setting Out Lawns Manual Handling Lifting, carrying heavy weights Members Low-medium Supervision and instruction  
Facility maintenance Fire Paint, solvents and fuel. Members Low-medium Fire safety policy. Provision of fire safety measures  
Facility maintenance Falls Maintenance work from ladders. Members Low Appropriate supervision and use of wide base step ladder