Our Marshals Training Night for the Stages Rally will take place in Mulvany's in Dunboyne tomorrow night Wednesday 28th June at 8 pm sharp. This will be a full Motorsport Ireland Training night and of interest to anyone involved in Motorsport, and especially if you are a first time marshal at our own Stages Rally. For further information contact Chief Marshal Raymond Scullion at 087-6187829.

 

This training provides those interested in becoming a marshal with the information they require to get started.

 

The course covers topics such as:

 Good crowd control is an essential part of any rally marshals brie

Preparation for an event.

Stage and Location set up.

Specific details relating to Stage Entry and Exit Locations.

Details on the format for the running of a Stage Rally.

Managing a location.

Dealing with media personnel.

Flagging procedures.

Emergency procedures.

 

Some Training Content:

Your roles and responsibilities?

The role of the marshal is to maintain the safety and security of a stage and to ensure that any incidents are dealt with effectively and efficiently.

Your main responsibility is to ensure that the event runs safely for everyone - competitors, spectators, the general public, your colleagues and of course yourself. You also act as the eyes and ears for the Stage Commander and Clerk of the Course who will be situated some distance away.

You are seen by the spectators and general public as being in a position of authority so, in order to make your job easier, always set a good example for them to follow:

o In order to ensure you are covered by the event and Motorsport Ireland  insurance always sign on for the event before you do anything else.

o Ensure you are fully briefed by your Stage Commander or their deputy prior to arriving at your allocated position (this will usually be at the stage start).

o Read the Marshals instructions you have been given.

o Arrive at your position in good time and wear your tabard.

o Be aware of what is before and after your location i.e. around the preceding and following bends.

o Stand in a sensible place - do not position yourself where you would not allow a spectator to stand, for example, prohibited areas.

o Try not to stand directly in front of spectators, so blocking their view - they will not thank you for it.

o Do not leave your position unless you are specifically requested to do so.

o You may be required to deal with incidents and write reports - be prepared for this.

o At the end of the last run of your stage follow the instructions you are given about leaving - there are likely to be other vehicles going through the stage as part of their role.

 If a sweeper  / road opening car is being used do not leave your post until it has passed your location, unless the instructions that you have been given say otherwise.

 When leaving, always travel in stage direction unless otherwise instructed.

o If instructed to do so, help the event by breaking down your junction of tape and signage, but remember to leave a single advance arrow in position for the guidance of those following you out of the stage.

 

 

YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT

 ALMC needs you to keep yourself safe in order to perform your role, so here are a few hints and tips:

• Stand well clear of the stage - remember that rally cars move quickly and may: 

o Run wide on corners

o Cut across corners

o Leave the road

o Throw up stones

o Do what you least expect 

• Do not stand in a position that you would not let a spectator stand.

• Prohibited areas apply to you too - do not stand in them.

• Use your whistle to signify the approach of oncoming cars.

• Read your marshals instructions when you receive them.

• Identify how to summon assistance should you need to.

• Wear your marshals tabard at all times whilst on duty.

• Do not take photographs or video whilst on duty unless you are requested to do so as part of the management of an incident. The event needs you to concentrate fully on what is around you and a vehicle travelling towards you seems further away when viewed through a lens. 

Also, you should consider the following:

• Take plenty of food and drink with you as you could be at your post longer than you expect to be.

• Ensure you take any personal medication with you.

• Wear suitable clothing - you could be standing at your position for a long period of time so take a hat and additional layers (or sunscreen) just in case.  

• Remember to take good waterproofs, both tops and over-trousers.

• Wear suitable footwear - boots providing ankle and toe protection for example.

• Consider taking eye protection devices and ear plugs, particularly if you are going to be working on the start - line.

• A torch and a mobile phone are also useful to take.

• Eat well, both before you set off and during the day. 

• Keep hydrated - both warm and cold drinks.

Finally, leave plenty of time for your journey both to and from the event and remember to..... 

KEEP SAFE

 

 

One of your responsibilities as a Marshal is to help the event ensure that all spectators are kept safe

It is your responsibility to control the area around where you are positioned - this includes looking after any spectators or media who may be in your vicinity.

This duty may include:

• Ensuring that spectators are only located in designated spectating areas (where established) to aid safe viewing and if not, they are to be encouraged to relocate to an acceptable location.

• Controlling the movement of spectators whilst the stage is live, following the instructions you have been given at signing on, or those received from the Stage Commander or the Clerk of the Course.

• Indicating the approach of oncoming vehicles by the use of your whistle.

• Whenever possible, keeping those around you informed of the current situation.  For example, if there is a delay then establish what the delay is, a predicted restart time and any changes to the published plan, then tell all those around you.  This may include passing on news of an early cancellation of the stage, so be prepared for questions as to why and what happens next.

• Be firm, fair but most importantly, friendly and polite.

Here are a few general hints and tips:

• Stay calm - your authority may be challenged but remember, it is not personal so don't make it so.

• Be firm, fair but most importantly, polite.

• Explain why you need them to comply with your instructions - if they appreciate your reason they are more likely to accept your request.

• Listen to their argument - they may identify an issue you are unaware of which could change the situation.

• Remember your body language as this can undo all your good words.

• Asking compliant spectators to support you can often be very helpful.

• If you are still unable to resolve the situation seek further assistance, either from the next passing safety car or via the radio network.

If, despite all your best efforts, you still encounter resistance from the spectators you may need to call for the stage to be stopped whilst the situation is resolved.  

This decision may not be received well by those around you, but if you remember and employ the advice in the bullet points above you stand a better chance of achieving your desired goal.  You will not be left alone at this point, assistance will be made available should you request it.

 

 

 If you are confronted with an incident and you are the first marshal on scene, the best advice anyone can give is:

......assistance will be with you very soon.

There are a number of immediate actions that you need to take in order to provide the event's safety services with as much information as possible.

Firstly you must make an assessment of what has happened:

• STOP - take a breath. 

• LOOK - visually evaluate the situation.

• LISTEN - what can you hear?

Your priorities after that will be to:

• Ensure that your nearest radio operator is informed so that they can update the Stage Commander and Rally Control.

• Keep people away from the incident.

• Ensure a lookout is positioned to warn those on scene of any approaching vehicle.

• Warn other competitors in advance of the incident. If spare marshals are available, send one further back up the stage to warn approaching vehicles that there is an incident ahead.

• Ensure the warning triangle is out and the OK / SOS board is displayed.

 WARNING TRIANGLE

Used to warn following competitors of a stationary vehicle ahead.  Position 100 metres before the incident.

 

SOS /OK BOARD 

Indicates to following crews if further assistance is required - ensure the correct side is displayed.

• Where possible, approach the vehicle from the front.

• Deal with any fire if trained to do so.

• Identify both the electrical cut-off and extinguisher switch and activate as required.

• Keep assessing the situation.

If the competitor is still in the vehicle and the vehicle is on fire - GET THEM OUT IMMEDIATELY.

 

If the competitor is still in the vehicle, is responsive and there is no risk of fire:

• Approach from the front, look them in the eyes - do they seem aware of their surroundings?

• Speak to them, ask their name - do they respond?

• Any pain, loss of feeling - if yes keep them where they are!

• Keep them calm.

• Keep them talking.

• DO NOT MOVE THEM UNTIL PROFESSIONAL HELP ARRIVES.

• Do nothing else.

If the competitor is still in the vehicle, is unresponsive and there is no risk of fire:

• Check if they are breathing - if not try to ensure an airway.

• Stop any life threatening bleeding by applying direct pressure.

• Immobilise the head and c-spine (neck) but

DO NOT REMOVE THEIR HELMET UNLESS THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO ENSURE AN OPEN AIRWAY.

 

Take a look at the following video which is aimed primarily at competing crews, but the message remains the same...

 

 

If the competitor is out of the vehicle:

• Do not grab hold of them - they might be unaware of what is happening and become combative.  Guide them to a place of safety away from the incident and other competitors .

• Speak to them, ask if they are OK? Keep someone with them.

• Once in a safe place, assess them for injuries:

o Are they aware of their surroundings?

o Any signs of injury / are they experiencing pain?

• Do not let them wander around, but keep them under observation.

                

Once the area is secured ensure that Rally Control is updated / informed accordingly wherever possible.  This should be via the nearest radio car if you are not equipped with a radio yourself.

Any incident will need to be handled effectively

Good handling of an incident will enable the event's Senior Officials to make the necessary decisions required to assist you and others, should it be needed.

When reporting an incident you must:

• Stay Calm. Rally Control needs you to remain composed so that your message can be understood.

• Have as many facts regarding the incident available to you so that as full a picture as possible can be passed to Rally Control.

• If you are unsure of anything, check it.  If still unsure then say so.

When handling an incident you may receive offers of assistance from Spectators. Whilst these offers are made with the best of intentions, please remember that, unlike you, they will not have signed on to the event and are not therefore covered under Motorsport Ireland's  insurance.  

This is most likely to happen when a competition car leaves the stage and becomes stuck.The crew will want to get going again and may beckon to the spectators around them to assist.  The ALMC's Stage Rally Safety Plan offers specific guidance on this activity, however in summary:

When an incident happens, a marshal’s primary responsibility is to act as a look out in order to allow another person to assess the needs of the competitor.

·      Where marshals are on site, they should be responsible for ensuring the spectators are not in positions of danger.

 

·     If the incident has created a blockage or partial blockage and there are sufficient marshals on the stage, an additional marshal should go further up the stage to warn approaching cars.

 

·      If the incident involves assisting competitors ensure that you have a lookout, that you are in a safe position, that the SOS/OK board carried by all competitors is being shown and ensure that someone takes and displays the warning triangle approximately 100 metres down the stage. The SOS board should be shown at the vehicle itself if a competitor needs medical assistance.

 

Once the incident has been dealt with make sure that everyone returns to a suitable area and that Rally Control is informed that the stage is now clear.