Ice skating

WebPartZone1_1

PublishingPageContent

Guideline review date: 28 October 2021

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template.

Activity scope

This guideline relates to participation in ice skating as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Medium risk
Ice skating activities at an ice skating rink

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

If any other safety recommendation cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and/or identify and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard.

Prior consultation with the facility management is recommended for expert advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

WebPartZone1_2

Collapse all Expand all

Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals make final supervision decisions for the activity. Sufficient adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (including emergency situations).

For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students' medical condition or disability on safety during the activity.

The number of adult supervisors required to fulfil emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be readily identifiable
must closely monitor students with health support needs
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
must suspend the activity if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. overcrowding).

Supervisor qualifications

Principals make final decisions in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and are responsible for encouraging and enabling school-based activity supervisors to raise their qualifications to improve safety standards.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—Blue Cards procedure and be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

For medium risk activities:

A registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching ice skating or

An adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with accreditation as a from Level 0 coach from Ice Skating Australia.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken, including sufficient space, adequate lighting and ventilation to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity (e.g. protective clothing to prevent ice grazes, wrist guards). For speed skating activities, participants must wear properly fitted speed skating helmets.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Biological hazards Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)	Follow appropriate cleaning and hygiene management practices when using shared equipment (departmental staff search 'practical subjects cleaning equipment' in OnePortal).
Environmental conditions Temperature	Monitor participants for cold related illness (e.g. hypothermia). Wear warm clothing on the rink if required. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks.
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Boundary clearance	Establish and implement exclusion zones to maintain a safe activity area for beginners.
Electricity	If the power is required on the ice: use portable safety switches, where there are no residual current devices installed do not use extension leads, electrical equipment and cord. use battery powered or non-powered equipment.
Faculty or dangerous equipment	Use markers made from non-injurious material (e.g. soft plastic, foam). Check equipment (e.g. skates, wrist guards if worn) for damage before and during the activity. Ensure boots fit snugly around the ankle and have toe stops. Lace boots very firmly across the instep and ensure laces do not hang below the ankle.
Playing surface	Check the skating area is well lit. Isolate any shaded or dark areas to be avoided by all participants. Check the skating surface is hard, flat and free of any major cracks. Clear the skating surface from any water, loose items or debris. Continually monitor the ice surface for debris and ice build up. All participants must leave the rink when the surface is being cleaned.
Student considerations	Control measures
Biological material	Manage bodily substances (e.g. blood) and open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult Infection control guidelines and Queensland Health’s Exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster for hygienic practices and first aid.
Physical contact Breaks, Sprains, Cuts, Abrasions, Grazes, Collision	Consider additional protective equipment (elbow, knee, wrist guards and/or helmet) appropriate to participant age and ability. Designate specific fast skating times for participants with the appropriate skills only.
Physical exertion Exhaustion and fatigue	Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities. Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion.
Student issues	Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating. Ensure fingernails and hair clothing (e.g. trouser legs, shoelaces) do not interfere with the activity. Warn students on the injury risk when their hands are on the floor surface.

Additional links

Ice Skating Queensland

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

WebPartZone2_1

WebPartZone2_2

WebPartZone2_3

WebPartZone3_1

WebPartZone3_2

WebPartZone3_3

WebPartZone3_4

WebPartZone4_1

WebPartZone5_1

WebPartZone5_2

WebPartZone6_1

WebPartZone6_2

WebPartZone7_1

WebPartZone7_2

WebPartZone8_1

WebPartZone8_2

CARA guidelines