Risks Assessment
All members, officials and visiting anglers should make themselves aware of the risks they face in the surroundings they find themselves and carry out their own risk assessment which generally amounts to common sense and take appropriate action to ensure their own safety and that of others. However, it is a requirement that all anglers read, understand and accept this Safety & Risk Assessment Statement.
General risks associated with Angling:
| Paths | Only use obvious paths along the bank, some paths may be closed due to storm damage. |
| Banks | Beware of undercuts in banks especially near deep water. |
| Wading | Take particular care when wading in deep or fast water and on rocky bottoms. Be vigilant for in water hazards such as storm debris and weirs. The use of a wading staff and wading belt and buoyancy aid is recommended at all times. |
| Power Lines | Beware of fishing under power lines and remember electricity can arc over considerable distances. You are ideally earthed in water to conduct electricity. Remember that graphite is an excellent conductor of electricity. |
| Lightning | Again you are ideally earthed when in water and if using a graphite rod, you have a good lightning conductor. If you are on a boat you and your rod may well be the highest point around and a prime target for a strike. |
| Casting | Always show consideration to other users on a riverbank by avoiding contacting anyone with your back-cast. If you are on a boat take extra care if you have other occupants, as you can easily contact them whilst casting. It is recommended that protective glasses are worn when fishing to protect your eyes from hooks and flies. |
| Hooks/Flies | Hooks by their design are sharp and easily penetrate the skin. Their use brings them into contact with germs etc, that can be injurious to health. Caution should be used when handling hooks, tying on or removing hooks. Rusty hooks should be avoided at all times. |
| Weighted Flies | Weighted flies cause unpredictable movement of cast when casting. Extreme caution should be exercised when casting weighted flies to ensure they do not come in contact with yourself, fellow anglers or the public. |
| Trees | Fishing under trees can be unsafe in windy conditions. Beware of falling branches. Be vigilant for storm damaged areas where trees and their surroundings may be unsafe. |
| Animals & Insects | Do note that Bulls can be troublesome! As can Cows with Calves. Approach the river with caution. Be aware of ticks and other stinging/biting insects with special relation to Lyme’s disease. |
| Weils Disease | This is transmitted in rat’s urine. Never put wet lines in your mouth or any other items of tackle that has been in the water. Wear waterproof plasters on any cuts or abrasions. There may also be a risk in some waters from treated sewage effluent. |
| Fishing Platforms | If platforms are floating then treat as Boat Pontoons below. Fishing platforms are constructed to gain access to deeper water. Hence take extra care not to fall in. They are inherently slippery, so care is needed at all times |
| Boat Pontoons | Beware that pontoons constantly move, and hence unstable, invariably wet and slippery. This makes walking on them difficult and possibly unsafe. Maximum caution is needed. |
| Getting on, off & moving around on boats | Like pontoons, boats also constantly move and are unstable when their balance is disturbed. The motion of the boat and getting on, off and moving around on boats disturbs the balance, hence Maximum caution is needed when getting on, off and moving around on boats. |
| Other Boats | Beware other boats can approach you from all angles and may be unpredictable in their direction, when “on the motor” you should always give way to those drifting or under sail. |
| Falling in the water | Falling in the water may cause drowning. It is recommended that a buoyancy aid is worn at all times when on, in or near water. |
| Weather Conditions | When boat fishing, the weather may change suddenly and cause unforeseen dangerous water conditions. Be constantly aware of changing weather and its consequences. |
| Stile/gates Bridges | Please use the aforementioned if possible. The maintenance is often out of the control of KAA so use your own judgement before using take extra care. |
SPECIFIC RISKS ALL INCLUSIVE
For the specific risks associated with Keswick Anglers Associations waters read the additional information:
Type of fishing (River Bank — Greta and Derwent)
Specific Risks see Paths, Banks, Power Lines, Wading, Lightning, Casting, Hooks/Flies, Weighted Flies. Trees, Animals, Weils Disease and Falling in the Water.
Type of fishing (Boat — Derwentwater )
Specific Risks see Paths, Banks, Lightning, Casting, Hooks/Flies, Weighted Flies, Weils Disease, Boat Pontoons, Getting on, off & moving around on boats, Other Boats, Weather Conditions and Falling in the water.
