As part of the Associations consultation process the State Office will continue to forward information to all Clubs and Zones, outlining Pony Club’s responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety Act. If you have any queries or ideas that you would like to share please do not hesitate to contact the state office.
Pony Club Association NSW Inc. is already committed to the health and safety of all Members and visitors as demonstrated by various policies and procedures throughout the organisation.
Club and Zone Executive, Zone Chief Instructors, Safety Officers and other adults supervising have always had a duty of care to the young people participating in Pony Club and this law formalises this duty of care. Club and Zone Executive, Zone Chief Instructors and other adults supervising young people who work wholly within the policies and requirements of the Association are already compliant with the requirements under the Act.
As part of Pony Clubs commitment to the development of further policies and procedures to assist Clubs and Zones implement the paperwork required under the Act, the State Office has already added a number of forms, check lists and other information to the Associations website (under the Risk Management tab) to help volunteers with risk management and the documentation process.
All Clubs and Zones must have a Safety Officer who will complete and retain a Safety Officers Check Lists – Quarterly/Yearly for their venue as well as the Safety Officers Check List(s) for each Events/Rally day. A copy of the Quarterly/Yearly venue check list must be forwarded to the State Office each year and may be forwarded to either your landlord or local council if relevant.
Club and Zone Committee's and Safety Officers must also complete risk assessments for all activities within pony club, including but not limited to rally days, inter-club days, competitions, championships, ribbon days, trail rides, ANZAC day marches, fund raising activities and camps. Each activity must be minuted and documented and kept on hand for future reference and included in Zone and Clubs review process.
A Safety Officer will be appointed by host Zones for all State Championships, a risk assessment, Serious Incident Plan and Emergency Accident Plan will also be completed by the State Office in conjuction with the host Zone.
Please note the following
- All electrical leads must be tested and tagged to be used at any pony club event or activity, the Club, Zone or State Safety Officer is responsible for the checking of tags as part of their duties. The Safety Officer will conduct a full safety audit at the event and members are requested to comply with any direction in regard to safety breaches by the Safety Officer.
- Safety Officers need to hold a safety briefing before each Rally day or Event and post this briefing on the notice board. To assist Safety Officers with this process we have included a template on the website under the Risk Management tab.
- Zones Chief Instructors or other Zone officials who sign off on riders attending State Events who are not of a suitable standard, and/or have no outside performance for events like Campdrafting would be held responsible in the event that an accident occurred under the changes to the Work Health and Safety Act.
- The Technical Delegate, Advisory Committee, State Executive and office are not in a position to view individual riders, and Club and Zone officials must be aware that when they sign entry forms that are accepting responsibility for the rider’s capability to attend these events.
- Helmet cameras are not acceptable at Pony Club as they are attached to the rider’s helmet and may void the manufactures warranty and the Safety Standard.
- Riders must adhere to the rules and regulations of Pony Club including the use of Personal Protection Equipment where noted.
For more information about PCBUs, visit workcover.nsw.gov.au and go to ‘New legislation 2012’.
To read the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, draft model WHS Regulations and priority codes of practice, visit safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Horse Code of Conduct
Managing risks when new or inexperienced riders or handlers interact with horses in the workplace - http://www.pcansw.org.au/docs/general/80/horse-code-of-practice-8262-2.pdf