News
Corona Virus Update 24th July 2020
Posted: 24/07/20
COVID 19 Update Resumption of events
There have been a number of significant developments in the governments stance on the current situation over the recent days causing the committee to review the current BMBO guidelines. Unless there are dramatic changes in the social distancing rules within the next couple of weeks it appears that it is now possible to consider staging events once more.
Therefore, the committee has decided to lift the ban on events from the 1st August. This bring BMBO in line with British Cycling and British Orienteering. However, this move is not without risks and careful consideration must be made by the organisers and participants to ensure the safety of all.
Guidelines have previously been issued and a modified version of these are repeated below.
Organisers will need to be thorough in the preparation of the event Risk Assessment. This message has been reinforced by the insurance company.
Participants will need to be tolerant and arrive in plenty of time to allow for the extra precautions required.
Everyone has a responsibility to themselves, other riders and the wider community with respect to the safety and well-being of all involved with the event.
Organising a BMBO Event.
The Risk assessment for your event should show how you will deal with social distancing, handling of maps and equipment and the impact on the local population. It is not sufficient to simply press the submit button.
Every event will have slightly different circumstances reflected in the type of terrain etc.
Below is a list of considerations that could or should be included:
Course Planning
Many farming communities are still very sensitive to people crossing their land and going through farmyards. Maintaining the goodwill of landowners is an important part of planning. Can you avoid crossing fields or going through farm yards by restricting the event to roads and the more obvious tracks?
Avoid routes with numerous gates.
Choice of venue - Avoid gatherings in small venues. Can registration etc sited outside in carparks using gazebos to provide weather protection?
Pre-Event
Further information about on-the-day procedures and precautions can be provided in the Event details section on the BMBO website.
Remind participants, in the event details, that they must not attend if they or a member of their household has COVID-19 symptoms, or if they have been asked to isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
Consider restricting entries to on-line only to avoid handling cash.
Provide blank maps on the website instead of on tables at the event.
Encourage people to buy their own dibbers. Even better, SIAC dibbers help avoid physical transmission. How will you handle and disinfect hire dibbers? Pre-allocated dibbers could be cleaned and placed in sealed envelopes 72 hours before collection.
Encourage riders to bring their own appropriate PPE. Eg sanitising gels/wipes.
On the Day
Follow all government recommendations on Social distancing.
Ensure that you have contact numbers for the competitors to allow NHS Test and Trace in the event of a competitor showing positive.
Suitable signage should be displayed at the event so that riders know the procedure expected of them.
Consider pre-allocated start times or blocks.
Increased start intervals and starts marked out with 2m tapes.
Impose a limit on the number of riders.
Provide a longer start window to allow longer start intervals.
Consider how to reduce risk at map handout. Minimise handling and use gloves. Lay map on table for rider to pick up rather than handing over. Rider to bag own map or maps prebagged 72 hours before the event.
Clear, Check, Start and Finish boxes should be on stakes not hand held. (All clubs have previously been provided with 3 stakes)
Control descriptions printed on map instead of separate piece of paper.
Try to limit the number of people operating the computer and download equipment to one.
Have cleaning equipment/sanitising gel/gloves available for handling computers/controls/dibbers etc.
SI Cards dropped into bag after download and stored for 72hours or cleaned.
Consider not giving results printouts. All results on-line. Avoid results screens as they encourage gathering.
Riders to bring their own post ride refreshments.
Provision and cleaning of toilets.
Further useful guidance can be found on the British Orienteering website.
Post Event
Ensure all equipment is cleaned and/or left for at least 72 hours before being used by next organiser
Retain the list of contact details for purposes of Track and Trace
This list is by no means exhaustive and some suggestion might be deemed unnecessary when local circumstances are taken into consideration.
Keep Safe, Keep Fit
Tony Brand-Barker
BMBO Chairman