Health & Safety - Progress Report

It has now been 10 months since the Oval Racing Council International (ORCi) commenced a complete review of all aspects of Health and Safety within the sport of Oval Racing in the UK.

From the outset it was realised that this review would take up to 3 years to complete and would need the cooperation of all those that were involved in administering and taking part in our racing. It would also require outside experts to assist us in this vitally important task.

Contributions from the drivers £1 Levy, as well as Promoters and their insurers, have enabled us to make a really good start with certain goals already achieved and clearly defined objectives identified for the coming months and years

CODE OF PRACTICE.
Our first success was the complete re-writing of the 'Health & Safety at Short Oval Motor Racing Circuits in the United Kingdom – A Code of Practice'. This document had not been reviewed since 1996 and much of the legislation and best practice had become out of date. This document now forms the backbone of our new Health and Safety regime and much of the work we are carrying out stems from the recommendations and legislation contained within it.

To view the latest copy of the Code of Practice go to the ORCi Website (orci.co.uk). The Code will be updated as and when required and the latest version will always be the one on the Official website.

NOISE
One vitally important aspect of Health & Safety within motorsport in general, is noise. Because this subject has been highlighted as a problem at certain venues the ORCi has appointed a top Acoustics Consultant to come up with recommendations for the reduction of noise in general. With the cooperation of the drivers committee (BSCDA) the Brisca F1 Stock Car drivers have already achieved considerable success in limiting their noise and this programme will continue over the next couple of years.

The BSCDA are working with the consultant to achieve reductions, not only by improving silencers but also by their positioning and the use of side 'skirts'. A Noise level has now been set for 2009 and this will be implemented from the start of the season. It is hoped to achieve further reductions in 2010/2011.

During February the ORCi organised a Noise Seminar for a number drivers and senior officials from Brisca F1, National Hot Rods, Legends and Rebels where John Grant (ORCi Acoustic Consultant) presented a detailed explanation of how to achieve noise reduction within the sport. He also carried out noise testing on examples of all the cars that were present.

In March all National Hot Rods were measured for noise at Birmingham Wheels and from this, a noise level will be calculated and adopted in the coming weeks. There will be further reductions during 2010.

All other formulas will be issued with a maximum noise limit during the course of this year.

Our Noise Consultant will also be preparing an environmental noise impact criteria as well as a review of the National Society for Clean Air (NSCA) 1996 'Code of Practice for the Control of Noise from Oval Racing Circuits'. We hope then to recommend an up-date for this Code.

OFFICIALS TRAINING
Training of officials has been a top priority and this started in January with a Health & Safety Seminar which was attended by 60 of the country's top officials. This was undoubtedly the largest such gathering ever held in the history of Oval/Stock Car Racing. There were presentations by a leading Local Authority Health & Safety Officer as well as the ORCi H&S Consultant, Sue Sanders. The aim of the days course was to explain the objectives of the H&S Review and explain just how important officials are in its implementation. It was also used for Sue to give a talk on the best way to train others when they got back to their home promotions/tracks. Over the next few months an extensive training exercise will take place for all Officials and Marshals at all ORCi/Brisca tracks. This will culminate in examinations giving all those who are successful an ORCi qualification.

At the seminar Neil Fitton of NFR gave an overview of the present Crash Helmet situation and the very real problem of the identifying of legal and illegal helmets by scrutineers. It was agreed that a system of ORCi Helmet Stickers would be introduced as soon as possible. It is hoped that this will be operational within the next few weeks (see below).

At the end of the day all those present completed a questionnaire and the results were circulated to everyone with the results. One of the important things that came from this was the fact that there is a big difference between the way that officials deal with racing situations. Because of this the ORCi have set up a Working Party to look into the possibility of standardising racing rules for all formulas and promotions. This Working Party has already met on two occasions and will be reporting back to the ORCi in May with it's recommendations. It is hoped that these will become accepted in time for their introduction from the start of the 2010 season.

CRASH HELMETS
Over the last few years Crash Helmets have gone through a transition period which has caused the sports controlling bodies some big problems particularly with identification. Since the introduction of the E2205 standard there has been a steady decline in helmets being marked with the old BS numbers which had served the sport well for many years. Oval racing had always followed the rules published by the Motor Sports Association (MSA). However, they have not yet thought it possible to allow the helmets marked with the E2205 number. Therefore the ORCi changed their rules 3 years ago to allow these helmets in Fibre Glass only. This year this has been extended to allow helmets made of Tri-Composite material.

At the last ORCi meeting it was decided that we should seek expert advice regarding the suitability of Helmets and Head Restraints for Oval racing. Meetings are now taking place and the results will be published on the ORCi website shortly.

POLICIES & RISK ASSESSMENTS.
All tracks are having their Health & Safety Policies and Risk Assessments reviewed and tracks will all now be inspected on an annual basis by ORCi Track Inspectors. A fully comprehensive set of ORCi H&S guidelines is being produced by our Consultant and this should be published by the start of next year.

Much has been achieved so far but there is a great deal more to be done.

Philip Bond - 31st March 2009
Health & Safety Coordinator
Oval Racing Council International