Northumberland and Durham Labrador Retriever Club
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      • 1972 Championship Show Catalogue
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      • 1981 Championship Show Catalogue
    • Historic Images & Articles
    • Breed Standards
  • About Us
    • Rules, Regulations, AGM's etc.
  • Contacts
  • **NEWS**
  • Membership
  • Showing your Labrador
    • Enter our next Show/EVENT
    • Show Results & JUDGE CRITIQUE
    • PICTURES: Show
    • Useful Links
    • Club Code of Conduct at Shows
  • Working Tests
    • 2025 Working Tests
    • WORKING TEST RESULTS
    • PICTURES: Working Tests
    • Starting out In Working Tests
    • Health and Safety Policy Working Events
  • Field Trials
    • 2024 FIELD TRIALS
    • Field Trial Results
    • PICTURES: Field Trials
    • FT Links
  • Owning a Labrador
  • Puppy Register
    • Dogs on Register
    • Labrador Register: Breeders Questionnaire
    • Labrador Register: Buyers Questionnaire
  • History of the Breed
  • Health Information
    • General Health Topics
    • Health - useful links
  • Breed Standard
  • Activities
  • Labrador Welfare/Rescue
  • Calendar
  • Club Archives
    • Club History
    • **CENTENARY**
    • Year Books from 1971 to 2002
    • 90th Anniversary
    • WORKING ARCHIVE >
      • Archive Running Cards
      • Club History in Field Trials
      • Club Perpetual Trophies
      • Miscellaneous
    • SHOW ARCHIVE >
      • 1946 Championship Show Catalogue
      • 1961 Championship Show Catalogue
      • 1971 Championship Show Catalogue
      • 1972 Championship Show Catalogue
      • 1980 Championship Show Catalogue
      • 1981 Championship Show Catalogue
    • Historic Images & Articles
    • Breed Standards
Northumberland and Durham Labrador Retriever Club
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WORKING EVENTS HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

General  Policy is to:- 
  • Provide knowledge of the Health and Safety requirements which must be followed in order to ensure the well being of everyone  involved.
  • Provide adequate control of the Health and  Safety risks arising from our  activities.
  • Provide information for those involved with  the event.
  • Ensure that all those involved in a field  trial are competent to undertake shooting activities/tasks. (See Shotgun Safety)
  • Prevent accidents where  possible.
  • Review and revise this policy at regular  intervals.

Responsibilities
Northumberland and Durham Labrador Retriever Club will minimise risk as far as possible at all events.  All those involved with  working tests/field trial and shoot activities have legal responsibilities to take care of the health and safety of themselves and others and to co-operate in order to comply with the law. ALL those involved have  to:-
  • Be co-operative on health and safety  matters
  • Not interfere with anything provided to safeguard health and safety
  • Take reasonable care of their own health  and safety
  • Report all health and safety concerns to a  member of the N. & D.  F.T. committee.  
  • Individual handlers are responsible for the  welfare and conduct of  their dogs and must carry out their own risk  assessment of the tasks asked  of their dogs during the  event.
A copy of this Health and Safety Policy Statement will be available at our events and will be held by the  Chief Steward/Working Test Secretary.  All participants have a responsibility to make themselves aware of the  contents and abide by the guidelines.

Risk Assessment
  • Risk assessments will be undertaken by the  Chief Steward and the Steward of the Beat before commencement of the trial and the Working Test Secretary before working  tests.
  • Any findings of risk assessments will be  reported to  Secretary/Chief Steward. 
  • Assessments will be reviewed  annually.
  • Action required to remove/control risks will be approved by the Secretary/Chief Steward.
 
First Aid
  • A first aid kit will be available. 
  • All accidents to be reported to the chief  steward/secretary who will be responsible for investigating accidents and  act upon such findings  to prevent a  recurrence.

Anti field-sports Lobbyists 
All those involved in the  field trial should be observant at all times of the risk of malevolent action from anti-field sports lobbyists. If anything unusual is observed, circumstances should be immediately reported to the Chief Steward, any committee member or Gamekeeper who will ensure appropriate action is taken i.e. that the Police or other appropriate authority is contacted. 
 
Health and Safety  Protocols
Car Parking and  Transport

Where necessary, access to  the meet of a field trial will be clearly marked with a sign. At all trials there will be a certain amount of off road driving. At some trials there may  only be access by 4x4 vehicles and some competitors with their dogs and  spectators may be asked to share vehicles or walk.  All competitors and spectators must make their own  transport arrangements.
 
Pre Field Trial or Working  Test Briefing
The   Chief Steward/Secretary will be identified at the beginning of the event and  will outline safety measures at the briefing. All persons attending must  consider themselves under the control of the Secretary, Chief Steward, Stewards  and Officials of the Club. Any member of the committee or attendee must inform  the chief steward/secretary if they see anything dangerous or potentially dangerous, during the course of the event. Anyone present who perceives a  potential risk should report this to the officials. 
 
At each Field Trial the following will have specific responsibilities:- 
Chief Steward: Make announcements before the trial commences, including any particular risks or safety issues. During the trial, oversee the organisation and any  relevant safety matters with regard to the guns, helpers, competitors and  spectators.          
Steward of the Beat (Gamekeeper or Host): To assist in conducting the trial, and  make all present aware of any particular hazards. Jointly with the Shoot Captain he will ensure the guns are aware of good safety practices and will oversee the  placing of the guns.         
Judges:    To be aware of any hazards and conduct the trial with regard to safe practices for handlers, their dogs, and any helpers or spectators.         
Flagman:  To carry a red flag  indicating the safe location of spectators/competitors not in line. Guns should  be aware of the location of the flag and spectators should stay close to the  flag.
ONCE  THE EVENT HAS STARTED NO ONE IS TO LEAVE WITHOUT FIRST NOTIFYING THE CHIEF  STEWARD/SECRETARY. 
 
Everyone present is expected  to comply with the highest standards of safety and sportsmanship with respect to  their dogs, quarry, wildlife and the countryside in general. Any unsafe or inappropriate behaviour will result in instant dismissal from the event. Any person under the age of sixteen must be accompanied by an  adult.

Weather
In cases of extreme weather conditions, the event may have to be cancelled. In hot, dry conditions to minimise the risk of fire; dependant on the ground, there may be a request for no-smoking.
 
Topography
The ground used for our  events is diverse and challenging countryside where walking may be difficult.  A good level of fitness  is required for participants, dogs and spectators and it is recommended that  suitable footwear is worn and appropriate clothing according to the sports custom.  
  
Shotgun  Safety
All  participants carrying guns must have an up to date licence as well as current  insurance cover (with weapons  to be used on the day entered on the Certificate) and this must be made available to a Northumberland and Durham LRC Official for  inspection prior to commencement on the day of the  event.  All participants carrying guns at trials should have  experience in shooting game and be fully conversant with the shotgun safety set out by officiall bodies such BASC and National Gamekeepers etc. before  accepting an invitation from the Society to shoot at a trial.  Each gun must in addition be a competent shot and fully aware of shooting safety  protocol. Shotgun safety and security i s the sole responsibility of the person carrying the gun and Northumberland and Durham LRC can accept no liability for any incident arising from  misuse.

Catering
There are no outside  caterers at any of our working events. Competitors and spectators must make their own arrangements for themselves and their  dogs.
 
Emergencies 
In the event of an emergency, the Chief Steward/secretary will  have a mobile phone with the numbers of the local emergency services. Please be  aware that sometimes there can be no service and the Secretary will elect  persons to leave the venue to seek help. Veterinary support will also be available for canine emergencies (please see running card). Any accidents will  be recorded.

Please  note that by accepting a run, or invitation to participate/spectate at any  working event organised by the Northumberland and Durham LRC, you are deemed to  have read, understood and to abide by the aforementioned Health & Safety  Rules & Regulations set out in this policy statement by the  Society.


Reviewed April 2019                                                                                                                                              


Changes or alterations to the above policy will be made if required and the policy reviewed annually.
Our grateful thanks to the talented photographers who have provided the images for this website.