This section aims to give everyone involved in the sport the information and guidance needed to paddle safely and to help ensure the safety of others. 

Download our comprehensive guidance document Paddlesafer below.  Safety Officers: sign up to our regular safety newsletter on this page and ensure you are linked as the Event Safety Officer of your club in Go Membership portal.

You can also access links to Safety Alerts, Incident Reporting, and Event Safety below.



Download Paddlesafer Guidance

Paddlesafer is British Canoeing's safety guidance. It is a directory of safety information and guidance for use by all organisations, paddlers, volunteers and coaches within the sport. 



It contains guidance on best practise, templates, checklists, information sheets on specific subjects, and specialist guidance.

Each year the directory will be reviewed and updated in line with the latest information and developments within the sport.

Safety Alerts, Incident Reporting

The reporting system (operated by all four National Associations) is for all paddling incidents, whether you are a member of Scottish Canoe Association / British Canoeing / Canoe Wales or Canoe Association of Northern Ireland or not.

Incidents reported should also include near misses, as this information will help us to identify paddling issues and to establish an accurate picture of safety and other concerns across the country.

The information you submit is confidential but can be shared within specialist Departments of the National Associations. This is to ensure that the support and advice you receive is from specialist staff and paddlers who understand the issues or environment you were in.

Please include incidents such as those with other water users, access issues, pollution/environment, canoeing safety etc as well as major incidents or accidents.

By reporting incidents and near misses you can help us to learn more about what is happening in the sport and how to improve safety.  View Incident Reporting (hosted by British Canoeing on behalf of BC, SCA, CW, CANI)

British Canoeing Insurance - Incident Notification

In addition to the above, if the incident occurs in an activity that is covered by BC insurance it is also important that you register the incident through this system as a record of the incident that took place at this time.

If an incident has occurred which resulted in:-

• An injury to a person
• Medical assistance being provided or an ambulance called
• A report under RIDDOR (major incidents in the workplace)
• Damage being caused to property, equipment, vehicles etc
  

Safety Alerts - Ongoing up to date safety information, on current issues or safety concerns.  Case studies of incidents highlighting practise that can benefit others paddlers.  View Safety Alerts

Event Safety - A system of event safety under which all SCA organised events operate. 

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