There are lessons to be learned by every coach, leader and deployer following a Health; Safety
Investigation into the tragic death of a boy at a friend’s ski party.
The accident: Twelve-year-old Louis Watkiss had been at a tobogganing birthday party at the
Snowdome in Tamworth on 24 September 2021. He was descending the main ski slope on a
toboggan when it slid into the back of a member of staff who was conducting a slope walk. He fell
backwards onto Louis who sadly died at the scene from head injuries
The investigation: An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Snowdome
Limited failed to ensure the safety of its customers, including Louis, while they were undertaking
tobogganing at the venue.
The HSE investigation also found that Snowdome Limited did not have a suitable and sufficient risk
assessment for tobogganing activities and had not fully considered all persons likely to be on the
slope during tobogganing. As a result, there was no safe system of work, information, instruction,
training or supervision to manage the risk of collisions between toboggans and pedestrians.
“Tragically, due to the failings of Snowdome Limited, Louis’s death could have been prevented if the
company had adequately assessed and controlled the risks associated with tobogganing activities.
“This should act as a reminder that venues and employers must ensure suitable and sufficient risk
assessments are in place and employees are provided with sufficient safe systems of work,
information, instructions, training, and supervision”
On the 26 February, Snowdome Limited were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,534.
The lessons for Paddlesport
The incident and prosecution highlight the importance of providers ensuring they have:
1. Adequately assessed and controlled the risks associated with the activities they provide, in the
locations at which they operate by: –
- Ensuring comprehensive risk assessments are caried out for the paddlesport activities you are
providing - Consider the activities, people, and locations being used
- Involve members, instructors, coaches, and leaders in the development of risk assessments
- Review risk assessments regularly
2. Deployed instructors, coach and leaders have and understand safe systems of work, relevant
information, instructions, training, and supervision.
- Having a risk assessment is not enough, and as part of those being deployed an induction and
training process will better support and equip those in understanding safe systems of work and
risk management. - A written induction process can help ensure adequate areas are covered and that those being
deployed understand the safe systems of work - Consider ‘shadowing’ a more experienced person, as part of an induction process, enabling them
to ask questions, gain clarity as well as confidence during ‘on the job’ training - Changes to safe systems of work need to be communicated to instructors, coaches and leaders
- Ongoing training of instructors, coaches and leader will provide opportunities for updates as well
as reminders of the safe systems of work and risk management
Training and Support
At Paddle UK, we provide guidance and training on risk management and risk assessments:
Risk Management; Risk Assessment eLearning –
https://britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/product/risk-management-and-risk-assessment/
FREE AI Risk Assessment Checker – https://resourcelibrary.paddleuk.org.uk/risk-assessment-ai-advisor/
Note: The Risk Management; Risk Assessment eLearning is FREE to all voluntary communities,
including affiliated clubs and disciplines, contact your Community Team or Discipline Manager for
access codes.