Key considerations for return to work:
- A thorough and rigorous risk assessment to ensure that the risks, to yourself, any member of your group, or third parties (members of the public, other riders etc.), of contracting or spreading COVID 19 is minimised. This might entail physical and behavioural changes to past working practices. Specific thought might need to be given to risk assessing the administration of first aid and the items packed in your first aid kit (e.g. plenty of gloves, hand sanitiser, face masks and bags for placing potentially contaminated PPE). Procedures in the event of an emergency also need to be considered, bearing in mind that rescue teams will have limited capacity and will take longer to respond to a call out.
- Access to riding venues, considering potential travel restrictions, rural community sensibilities and landowner permissions.
- Upholding the professional ethos of the award schemes and keeping the image of instructed and led riding activities positive.
- Additional measures that your insurance provider may require or any limitations that they may have set. Check to confirm.
Sensible precautions may include:
Choice of venue
- ‘Honeypot’ sites where multiple other groups may congregate, are best avoided.
- Large areas, offer a low risk factor where participants are able to progress without close contact, observe an effective social distancing regime and potential communication problems are eased.
- Assume that the virus is resilient outdoors and treat any shared contact i.e. gates as a potentially infected surface until we have a good understanding of how long the virus survives on various surfaces.
- Limit group size to enable clear communication without compromising social distancing.
- Choose ‘low risk’ venues to lessen the risk of rescue being necessary. Activity should be well within the ability of all group members.
- Consider travel arrangements. Where possible arrange to meet clients at the venue. Take into account distances travelled and potential parking restrictions.
Client Care
- Award holders must be free of Covid 19 symptoms themselves and should communicate with clients in advance, to ensure that all group members are also symptom free and are not categorised as ‘vulnerable’.
- Maintain social distancing.
- When briefing, choose a spacious outdoor area and consider standing adjacent to group members rather than facing them.
- Hygiene is crucial, yet effective hand washing is impractical on the trail environment, thus carrying and using hand sanitiser is useful.
- Limit sharing and loaning of equipment. Where loaned equipment is issued, a rigorous cleaning schedule should be in place both before and after use. Refer to manufacturer’s guidelines for Cleaning PPE
- Wash clothing regularly and ensure that any items loaned to clients are laundered, post use, at the highest possible temperature.
STAY SAFE. BE CONSIDERATE.