Pinkston’s First Centre User Safety Bulletin

Welcome to Pinkston’s first ever safety bulletin! From the staff members and Directors at Pinkston, we would like to share some information with you around the health and safety decisions that are made.

Accident reporting :
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. We work very hard behind the scenes to ensure our site, facilities and activities are as safe as possible for site users and the general public. To make this easier for us, we ask that any and all incidents at Pinkston are reported to us as well as your own company/organisation. This allows us to respond quickly to significant incidents and identify any patterns or trends of smaller incidents. This would include any slips and trips around the centre and allows us to keep on top of our site maintenance.

Incident report forms are available in the office. When filling out an incident report form, the more information the better. Some background information on the context of the person/group, where they were exactly (sometimes it might be easier to take a photo, especially on the white-water course), any injuries and or first aid received. The more information that we receive, the easier it is for us to respond appropriately.

Why SSI?
Our new system for site users booking the water was introduced last summer (2023). This was to replace our previous ‘ESO’ training. The old ESO system didn’t work well with the new layout and business model of Pinkston.

SSI – ‘Session Supervisor Induction’ is a more secure and robust system for both parties. We ask that site users are familiar with this going forward and understand the information and cooperation that is required:

• All clubs/organisations are required to send us a copy of their liability insurance
• They must sign and return their activity specific waiver form
• They must nominate anyone within their club/organisation that would be appropriate to work in their chosen environment (standards/qualifications are stated in the waiver form)
• Attend a short induction delivered by Pinkston staff

Signage :

Have you noticed the new signage around the Centre? We have tried to streamline the various signs around the site. If anything is not clear, please ask – or if you see anything of note – we’d love to hear it.

Pumps :

After a long time with only two working pumps, we are now in a very positive position with all three pumps working well and a fourth critical spare pump on site. This allows us to change the pumps over if there are any problems in the future and prevent long periods of time without a third pump.

Artificial Whitewater Course :
Short course – The short course has been getting used by the emergency services regularly now. We have built a weir like recirculating feature that allows them to do specific training. This is not exclusive to emergency services, if you or your club are interested in using the course, please get in touch.

Pitch divider :
You may have noticed that our pitch divider is now across the basin permanently. This is to prevent any novice paddlers drifting towards the pump inlet when the white-water course is running. If the pitch divider is causing any issues for you and your session, please let us know and a member of staff can help you out. Please don’t move the pitch divider yourself or encourage anyone to go on top of it.

If you have any safety related questions/suggestions or anything you would like to be discussed in the next safety bulletin, please contact niamh@pinkston.co.uk