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Dear all

Well Covid continues to affect business not least with the running of this year’s AGM which will now be postponed until sometime in the New Year. The Club is still very active with diving taking place most weeks (albeit not using the Clubs boats) and Committee Meetings are still being run via zoom, and so if anyone has any particular points to raise to the Committee do please get in touch.

Looking ahead to the AGM, the Club is always on the lookout for willing volunteers to take on Committee positions and generally assist with the day to day running so if you would like to get involved in this way do say.

All the best

Guy Balmer (Chair)

Dear all

A very quick update on where we are as a Club in relation to the easing of the Covid restrictions as no doubt you’re all aware that swimming pools have now re-opened and some sub-aqua clubs around the country are starting to get back to diving, albeit with a number of restrictions still in place.

As a Club one of our greatest assets is the Encroachment we have with the Naval Base for the sole use of the Boathouse as a base for diving and access to the swimming pool for diver training. This gives us a secure space for keeping and maintaining our boats, Club and personal kit; the compressor; lecture facilities; very easy access to the water and dive sites in Plymouth Sound; a very good pool close by for training; and all this for, effectively, free. Clearly, as with everything in life, there are downsides and the big one is we are entirely beholden on the Naval Base to allow us to use these facilities and we have to comply with any restrictions they place on us, which is what happened when Covid kicked off. Since March ALL Encroachments (so all sports / social clubs, not just us) have been suspended as the Naval Base have limited access and focussed purely on military activities. I’ve been in contact with the Naval Base a number of times over the last few months and the latest update earlier this week is that these suspensions are likely to continue until September, possibly longer. There is another impact in that our compressor went out of date for its service a few weeks back but with Covid restrictions we haven’t been able to get maintainers in so this is out of action at present.

Not great, but then again these are fairly unique times. That said the Club does still exist and we can, restrictions permitting, still operate as such. The dull bits like Committee meetings have still been going ahead on Zoom and Steve Cox, The Diving Officer, has been continuing with the Ocean Diver course remotely for those that signed up after the Try Dives back in February. What the Committee is now working through is how we can get back to Open Water diving as soon as possible whilst also staying within the restrictions imposed on us by the Encroachment being suspended. Please rest assured that we are doing all we can to explore all possibilities for diving and whilst this is, of course, very frustrating we are sort of constrained with the art of the possible.

All the very best

Guy Balmer, Chair PDCSAC

As we move to the new normal we need to take additional steps to protect ourselves and those around us. Please familiarise yourself with the following and when in the boathouse please follow the guidance and any additional measures that maybe applied to suit a specific activity or to comply with updated information.

Take care

Doug

PDCSAC

Boathouse M015(B)

General Risk Assessment

COVID -19  Boathouse Activities

Issue 1 11/7/2020

Hazard – Corona virus

Risk – Infection resulting in Covid-19

Risk rating without controls HIGH Formal Briefing required

Monitoring required

This risk assessment is based on the current knowledge and current advice from HM Government and BSAC (the National Governing body for Sub- Aqua .  It is recognised that scientific knowledge is continually and rapidly evolving and guidance will be

 reviewed regularly and updated as appropriate.

Up to date guidance can be found at;

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance

https://bsac.com/advice-and-support/covid-19-adviceand-support/official-statements-and-guidance

Hazzard and Risk

Covid -19 remains a significant risk to the health of the population and in line with government guidance steps must be put in place to reduce the potential for transmission.  

Virus

Covid -19 is caused by a Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).  The coronavirus is an encapsulated virus which can be inactivated by soap and household cleaning products such as bleach.

Coronavirus is stable for several hours in aerosol and on surfaces.  Infection is understood to spread from direct inhalation or from touching an infected surface and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.  The actions detailed below are to reduce the probability of transmission by these routes.  

Symptoms

Symptoms vary widely as does their severity.  Those generally accepted include:

High temperature / fever

Sore throat

Persistent cough 

Loss of taste or smell

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

In line with government guidelines anyone with any pf these symptoms should self-isolate for 14 days and only go out to get medically tested.

NB. Anyone who has tested positive or believes they have had this infection should not return to the boathouse until cleared by a medical professional.

Guidance

Overview

The PDCSAC Boathouse is not occupied on a full time basis and does not have professional cleaning services or waste disposal facilities.  The club relies on individual members, under the direction of the Committee, for housekeeping activities.

In line with advice from government and BSAC the club and its members will be required to take additional precaution at this time to reduce the potential for transmission of this virus.

PPE

PPE is not considered an appropriate method of controlling transmission.  The lack of facilities for disposal of used PPE create an additional hazard.  Anyone using PPE, (masks and or gloves) must ensure that they collect their used items in a sealable plastic bag and remove them for the boathouse on the same day.  Gloves get contaminated the same as hands and face coverings need constant replacement as they are only effective for about 15-30 minutes continuous use.  

Cleaning Agents

Soap is provided for hand washing.

Bleach wipes are provided for wiping multi user surfaces.

Sanitiser are a hazard in the presence of compressed air and are not to be used in the boathouse.  

Waste disposal

All waste must be bagged and sealed and removed from the boathouse at the end of each visit.  

Individuals must place used items of PPE (gloves, masks) in a sealable plastic bag after use and take all used PPE home for disposal. 

Mitigating Actions.

The basis of reducing the risk of transmission revolves around 3 principal actions.

1. Maintaining a safe social distance from others 
2. Personal hygiene through frequent and thorough hand washing
3. Regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

Best endeavours from all club members in following this simple guidance when visiting the boathouse is expected to help protect us all

Guidance

The following guidance is to be strictly adhered to by all club members and visitors to the boathouse.

Opening the boathouse

The individual opening the boathouse must ensure the area is made safe before allowing others enter.  

1. On entry wash hands prior to entering the main boathouse.
2. Switched on the electrics
3. A quick check that there is no un-bagged waste from previous users- if the waste is more than 72 hours it can be considered safe.  Otherwise it must be considered a bio hazard and suitable precautions taken to isolate.
4. Fill out entry in log book, and check interval from previous users
5. Open Slipway door.
6. Allow other to enter, ensuring they ALL wash hands
7. Safety brief, this guidance along with any other information pertinent to specific task. 

On arrival

1. Hands are to be washed on entry to the boathouse.  Gloves are not a substitute for handwashing, any gloves worn outside should be removed and bagged before washing hands.
2. Sign the log book, clearly printing name and contact number.
3. Any items being returned to the boathouse should be taken direct to the slipway and washed in soapy water.

Around the boathouse

1. Every effort should be made to maintain a 2 m social distance from other occupants.  
2. Where this is not possible for extended periods (more than 15 minutes) additional measures must be put in place and these are outlined below.   

Cylinder store

1. Only one person to be in the cylinder store at any time.
2. Avoid touching pillar valves when moving/retrieving cylinders

Compressor operation

1. A single person to be allocated to operation the compressor and filling any/all bottles.
2. That individual to wash hands immediately before starting operations.
3. Where touching pillar valve seal or replacing ‘O’ rings is required, single use gloves are to be used.
4. Compressor PPE ear defenders and goggles) should be wiped before and after use
5. Routinely touched surfaces should be wiped before and after use.

Store

1. Only one person to be in the store at any time.
2. Any borrowed items to be recorded
3. Any returned items to be washed prior to return and not reissued to another user within 72 hours

Heads

1. Sterilising wipes will be available for wiping surfaces before and after use.  These should be disposed of in the bin sacks.
2. The head is not to be used as a changing area.

Classroom

1. The classroom is available as a changing area and users should ensure they wipe down surfaces after use.  Used wipes should be disposed of in the waste bags.
2. Limited teaching can take place with numbers limited to 4 students.  Seating should be arranged to maintain social distancing.  The instructor should maintain a distance greater than 2m and not directly face students.

Teaching

1. Theory classes can take place in the main boathouse.  Consideration to be given to numbers and layout to achieve suitable social distancing.
2. Practical lessons can be undertaken however a specific written RA will be required to ensure compliance with the latest guidance.

Galley

1. Galley area is available, all surfaces should be wiped down after each use.

Maintenance 

1. Maintenance of boats etc must continue but safe practices must be in place.
2. There must be no lone working
3. Social distancing must be maintained or an additional written RA will be required
4. All waste must be bagged and sealed at the end of working
5. All tools must be wiped down and returned to the bench area at the end of any work period

Preparing for/Returning from a dive

1. Collect your own kit 
2. Maintain social distance at all times, including during the dive brief.
3. Do not handle other divers kit unnecessarily.
4. All kit to be washed in soapy water before being returned to the store or cages
5. Boats to be thoroughly washed down before being brought into the boathouse.
6. Winch controls to be wiped after use. 

Diving

Precautions during diving will be determined by the Diving Officer and are outside the scope of this RA.

Closing the boathouse 

1. On completion of activities a single individual should be nominated to wipe down all frequently touched surfaces including benches door handles etc.
2. All waste bags should be closed by tying the top.
3. Log book should be signed for completion of all cleaning.
4. Any safety observations should be noted in the log book
5. Remove all bagged rubbish

Granted not the most exciting email to receive in lockdown, but a subject close to everyone’s hearts – parking outside the boathouse!

I’ve recently exchanged a number of emails with the Torpoint Ferry Manager (ex RN and generally very on-side) and we will be meeting up as soon as current restrictions get lifted but in outline please be aware of the following:

1. The Torpoint Ferry own the land outside the boathouse, which is used as a parking area, and have done for a considerable number of years. Whilst there’s a verbal agreement that we can park in certain areas there never has been, and never will be, anything more formal in place.

2. The Torpoint Ferry are, however, more than happy with us parking so long as we stay in the designated areas (see below and refer to map) and park responsibly (i.e. don’t block Ferry staff in).

a. Parking is allowed in the green areas numbered 1 and 2; 1 is the Ferry staff car park and their staff generally park on the Eastern side (i.e. where the wall is) and 2 are disabled parking bays which can be used as overspill if required.

b. In certain circumstances we can bring vehicles into the yellow area 3 but only after approval from the Ferry Manager (i.e. if we were doing a clear up of the boathouse and wanted to bring a trailer close to the doors to load rubbish). For info this area is bounded by the metal barriers (shown as a dashed purple line on the map)

c. Vehicles are not to encroach on the purple areas 4 and 5; 4 denotes the edge of the road leading to the southern most ferry (denoted by thick white lines painted on the tarmac) and 5 is an access route (not marked on the ground) which allows Ferry vehicles to access their shed / parking area).

There are plans to redevelop the entire holding area for the Torpoint Ferry however at the moment these are running behind schedule and its not entirely clear exactly what it will look like in the future although I will pass these on as soon as I have more details. There’s a possibility, but only a possibility, that parts of the yellow area 3 maybe allocated as parking in future.

I am fully aware that in the past certain members of Ferry staff have been ‘particularly unhelpful’ / rude to Club members, a point accepted by the Ferry Manager, HOWEVER we need to do our bit to not inflame the situation ourselves such as only parking in the designated areas, car sharing where at all possible and adhering to any directions given to us by the Ferry staff in relation to parking (and not getting drawn into any arguments but instead passing on any specific details to me so I can take them up with the Ferry Manager).

As I say, not the most exciting email during lockdown but an important issue that we all need to be aware of and do our bit to adhere to so that we continue to enjoy the privilege of parking at the boathouse.

Dear all

A big thank you to everyone who was able to help with the 2 Try Dives over the last couple of weeks, and in particular Chris Brown for his efforts in getting people along in the first place.

There were certainly lots of very happy faces and considerable interest in signing up to the Ocean Diver course which will start shortly.

Regards

Guy

Dear all

Please find enclosed the Minutes from the last AGM; I would try and convince you that they are a riveting read…some of you might not be convinced, HOWEVER this is ultimately your Club and your views matter so I would encourage you to at least have a scan through (if nothing else to let you know about the offer of free pasties!)

Regards

Guy

20191210-2019 AGM Minutes

A quick reminder that we will be having our first work evening to get on top of jobs in the boathouse and boat on Monday 2nd starting at 16:00.
I encourage  everyone to attend. No special skills are required and an hour of your time will make a difference.
thanks in advance

Doug

Dear all

Released much later than planned but please find enclosed the Minutes from the last Committee Meeting; of particular note the Committee has agreed to award Training Grants to individuals to assist financially with attendance on courses and specifically to encourage more Open Water Instructors.

Regards

Guy

20191105-Cttee Mtg Minutes 24 Sep 19

20191104-Agenda for AGM 5 Nov 19

Dear all

Please find enclosed the Agenda and Officers’ Reports for the Tue’s AGM.

Regards

Guy Balmer (Chair)