Health & Safety Update - December 2009

Since our last update in March 2009 we have made excellent progress with our Health and Safety Review of Oval Racing in the UK.

The Review was started in June 2008 and we have already accomplished a lot in 18 months. This year started with the senior officials meeting in Northampton which enabled us to explain at first hand the work that we all have to do to maintain and improve the Health Safety at race events for Drivers, their Mechanics and Families, our Staff & Officials and, of course, the Race Fans.

Code of Practice
As reported in our last update the Code of Practice was completed at the start of the year. However, this is now due for an up date and this will be complete by January of 2010. The up dated version will appear on the orci.co.uk website at that time. It will include a more detailed specification for Safety Fences as well as other improvements in the provision of medical cover at events.

Track Inspections
During the course of 2009 new ORCi Track Inspections have taken place all over the country and as a result many Health and Safety issues have been addressed. These inspections will be carried out annually and will be mandatory for all tracks that wish to feature ORCi/Brisca sanctioned formulas.

Noise
Static Noise Testing Protocols have now been completed for all formulas. The first formula to be completed was Brisca F1. During 2009 their noise limit under the protocol was 111dB. This will reduce to 108dB from 1st January 2010 and it is proposed that a further reduction be achieved by 1st January 2012 to 105dB.
Since the last update we have agreed with the NHRPA that the noise limits for National Hot Rods for 2009 will be 104dB reducing to 100dB from 1st January 2010. A further reduction is proposed (under review) on 1st January 2012 to 98dB.
With the exception of the above formulas all other classes of racing at ORCi tracks will now have to conform to the following General Static Noise Testing Protocol. Up to the end of 2009 the limit is 98dB. From 1st January 2010 this reduces to 96dB. There is a further proposed reduction (under review) to 94dB for 1st January 2012.
Our Acoustics Consultant, John Grant, is currently reviewing the NSCA Code of Practice for the Control of Noise from Oval Racing Circuits which is very much out of date and he will be incorporating environmental noise criteria. He will also be investigating and reviewing the noise testing protocol adopted by the Dutch oval racing promoters to see if there is any common ground.
On behalf of the ORCi, during 2010, John will be carrying out noise testing 'spot checks' around the country to ensure that the new noise testing protocols are working. He also provides us with up to date information regarding test cases that relate motor racing and noise.

Officials Training
As mentioned earlier, the officials seminar in January proved very successful. However, this was only attended by senior officials who then had to go back to their local tracks to train others. This proved more successful in some places than others. For this reason we have decided that next January and February (2010) we will be holding a series of Training Seminars which will be open to all officials including Stewards, Clerks, Scrutineers, and Marshals. These will be held in all regions of England and Scotland which should give the opportunity for everyone to attend. As well as training and talks there will be examinations for all officials which will culminate in an ORCi qualification. Any official that doesn't attend will need to take the exam at another time before being permitted to officiate at future meetings.

Standardisation of General Racing Rules
Following a large number of meetings and teleconferences the Working Party has now completed the standardisation of General Racing Rules for Oval Racing. This will now mean that whatever track a driver races at, the rules will be the same. These new rules will be circulated to all drivers with their new construction rules for 2010 and will be outlined to all officials at their seminars in the early part of next year.

Safety Video
When drivers take out their racing licenses for 2010 they will receive a new Safety Video that we have produced in conjunction with our H&S Consultants with other experts. The DVD can be played on a normal DVD player or on a computer. It features all aspect of safety at a race meeting from the time a driver arrives until the end of the day. We feel that this is probably the most affective way of getting the message across and puts us ahead of any other section of British motorsport when it comes to H&S information.

SFI Foundation of America
Last month the ORCi became affiliated to the SFI Foundation of America. As members, the ORCi will have access to a large amount of safety related information from this top organisation. We are already talking to them about how they can assist us in standards particularly in relation to Head Restraints. A visit to their website (sfifoundation.com) will allow you to see just how relevant they are to our type of racing - just look at who the other members are!

H&S Documentation
Our Health & Safety Consultants are producing a common set of Documents and Principles which will be applied at all ORCi tracks in future. This will ensure that the very latest H&S legislation will be complied with at all venues. This comprehensive folder is now nearing completion and will be supplied to all promoters before the start of next season.

Accident & Incident Reporting
Throughout last season we have been testing a brand new on-line Accident & Incident Reporting system. This has involved each promotion completing on-line forms giving details of accidents and near misses following every meeting. Although the trial hasn't been completely successful it has shown how improvements can be made to the forms which will ensure that results can be regularly analysed to flag up any H&S Issues in the coming season.

Website
Over the next few weeks the ORCi website will become a lot more user friendly. Much of what is happening regarding Health & Safety is already on the website but it has been commented on as being hard to find. We hope to put this right and bring the information right up to date and keep it that way.

Scrutineers Bulletin
Starting at the beginning of the 2010 season the ORCi will be circulating a Scrutineers Bulletin which will detail any new items which will keep them right up to date. This will be for all formulas and will also provide a forum for scrutineers to keep others informed of anything they feel is important. More about this at the Officials Seminars in the New Year.

Philip Bond
Health & Safety Co-ordinator
Oval Racing Council International