Meridian Kung Fu Policies

Privacy Policy

Club Policies

Child Protection Policy

Health & Safety Policy

Code of conduct

Last Update: May 2018

MKF(UK)

DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT Data Policy – Meridian Kung Fu 2018

Download here.

Last Update: October 2016

Membership

1. Acceptance of an application for Membership of each Club is at our absolute discretion (although we will exercise our discretion reasonably and in compliance with applicable laws).
2. Membership entitles Members to use the facilities available from time to time at their Home Club. We offer different types of membership and facilities at each Club and the types of memberships and facilities offered by us will differ from Club to Club and may change from time to time.
3. You should contact your Home Club if you would like further details of different types of membership that are available. Each category of membership has different restrictions, conditions and benefits. Another category of membership or Club may be of interest to you if your requirements or circumstances change.

Membership Licence

1. A Membership Licence will be issued to each Member when they join a Club.
2. There is a fee as set out in the relevant then current Club price list for replacement of lost, stolen or damaged cards.
3. Each Member must have his/her licence renewed annually.
4. A Member must not lend his Membership Card to anyone else as Membership is personal and covers only the Member’s use of a Club.
5. On termination of Membership for any reason, the Member is required to surrender his Membership licence.
6. Where Meridian Kung Fu terminates a Member’s Membership, this will make the Member ineligible for Membership of all Clubs, for which purpose we will communicate such of the Member’s personal data and reason for termination to such other Clubs as may be necessary to administer this Rule.
7. A Member who has “frozen” his/her Membership will not be allowed access to any Club (including as a guest).

General

1. Opening times for a Club will be prominently displayed at the relevant Club.
2. You must not consume any food or drink in a Club that you have brought in from outside the Club.
3. We reserve the right to show potential Members and other individuals the facilities of a Club on a trial basis.

This policy is to ensure your childrens’ protection

Our designated safeguarding officer is Steve Carpenter. Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Steve.

Email Steve at hq.meridiankungfu@gmail.com or call 01702 391998.

 

Download our policy here Safeguarding Policy Children – Meridian Kung Fu

Download our policy for adults here Safeguarding Policy Adults – Meridian Kung Fu.

Making things safer

1. The Directors of the Meridian Kung Fu regards the promotion of Health and Safety measures as a mutual objective of coach`s and members at every level, and will support all those who endeavour to carry it out.

2. It is therefore this organisation’s policy to do all that is reasonable to prevent personal injury and damage to property and protect everyone including the public, from foreseeable hazards, in so far as they come into contact with the organisation and it’s activities. Meridian Kung Fu Health and Safety conforms to the Health and Safety at Work Act, hence the terminology of employer and employee that is used throughout.

3. In particular we recognise a responsibility:
(a) to provide and maintain a safe and healthy level of instruction.
(b) to provide appropriate training and instructors, so far is reasonably practical, to enable members to practise safely and efficiently.
(c) to encourage the use of all necessary protective equipment and to supervise their use.
(d) to maintain a constant and continuing interest in health and safety matters applicable to this organisation’s activities.

Each School under Meridian banner is an independent entity. As such each school has a head instructor/ Head Master/Head Mistress and it is this individual who is directly responsible for the schools H & S. This individual is ultimately responsible within the kwoon and all facilities used by the instructors, employees, members and visitors. The Head Instructor can appoint a responsible individual to oversee H & S. but the Head Instructor can not abdicate his or her ultimate responsibility for safety in their facilities.

Definition of individuals here and after shall be known as the following.
a) Head instructor the employer.
b) Assistant Instructors, any instructor other than the Head Instructor, potential instructors who are in training to instruct, Volunteers, executive committee members will be know as Employees. All employees, instructing or otherwise, who volunteer their services or obtain some gratuity or service (for example free instruction) in return for their duties must be given a written description of their duties and responsibilities that both parties must sign and agree to before those duties can commence. ALL employees must be CRB checked before they can commence in their duties.
c) Members, students, pupils are to be known as members.
d) Non-members, visitors, family members of students are to be known as visitors.

No visitor should participate in training, only members.

4. Members and Employees have a duty to co-operate in the operation of this policy:
(a) by encouraging safe practices.
(b) by using protective equipment when required.
(c) by reporting incidents that have lead, or may lead to injury or damage.
(d) by adhering to Meridian Kung Fu’s procedures agreed on their behalf for securing a safe environment.
(e) by assisting in the investigation of any incident with the object of introducing measures to prevent recurrence.

General Responsibilities for Health & Safety

It shall be the duty of every employee to ensure that they have familiarised themselves with the contents of this policy and shall include:

1.Familiarising themselves with the premises in use, noting:
a) All exit routes and assembly points.
b) First aid facilities
c) Fire extinguishers.
d) Toilets and changing rooms
e) Notice boards
f) Rules and regulations
g) Telephones
h) Nearest casualty hospital

It is the responsibility of every employer to provide opportunities to familiarise every employee with the above. It is the responsibility of every employer to provide initial induction for every new member in the above.

2. Employees, Members and visitors to the premises shall observe Meridian Kung Fu Health and Safety rules, and any instruction/ advice given by the individuals responsible for the club/ premises or any member legitimately so entitled.

Responsibilities of Members

It shall be the legal duty of every Employer/employee/member/visitor whilst at the premises:
(a) To take reasonable care of Health and Safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by his/hers acts or omissions at the premises.
(b) To co-operate so far as is necessary with regard to any duty requirement imposed upon the Employer or instructing Employee or any other persons by or under any statutory provisions, to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or fulfilled.
(c) To make themselves familiar with Meridian Kung Fu’s Health and Safety policy at all times.

Responsibilities of Employers Instructing Employees / Persons in Charge

They shall:
a) familiarise themselves with the safety policy and enforce it at all times.
b) monitor any suggestions or complaints from members or instructors on the subject of safety, and take action where practicable.
c) investigate all accidents and dangerous practices, in conjunction with any person so authorised, and report accordingly.
d) ensure that a record is maintained of all injuries. Such record to be produced as and when required.
e) be directly responsible for the running of club/s under their control.
f) provide adequate supervision of all employees and members, particularly monitoring young or inexperienced members and/or instructing employees.
g) take any action necessary to ensure that legal safety obligations have been carried out by the owners/authority in charge of the premises, i.e. safety fire-check etc.
h) ensure that any training or safety equipment being used is in a safe, clean and serviceable condition.
i) ensure that any prospective instructing employees receives appropriate training as provided by the Meridian Kung Fu and that only authorised persons are placed in a position of supervision of others.
j) Introduce control measures where necessary, to reduce hazards.
k) Ensure that all persons acting on their behalf comply with this and all other Health and Safety regulations.
l) Ensure that all persons comply with any directives relative to insurance indemnities.

Executive / Management Committee

Shall:-
a) advise the members of any standards of safety.
b) have representation on any meetings on Health and Safety.
c) provide and maintain all Health and Safety policy documentation.
d) seek to provide information and training concerning Health and Safety.
e) ensure that all instructors of all ranks, including brown belts in training for instructor levels, are provided with an opportunity to undergo training for coaching and Health and Safety.
f) seek advice from the Central Council for Physical Recreation, The Sports Council and other bodies able to provide instruction or guidance.

Personal Safety Equipment
A wide range of personal protective equipment is available to all martial artists for the Health and Safety of not only the wearer, but also any other persons engaged in activities with them. It is the employers and employees responsibility to maintain an environment where individuals, members or employees, who wish to wear protective equipment are not made to feel inferior for doing so. It must be assumed that any individual wishing to wear protective equipment is doing so because he or she feels the need and as such it must be encouraged.

The range of equipment varies with martial arts disciplines and the rules of combat. The instructor will advise.

The following are available:
a) Head-guard. of suitable material; secure-fitting and protected all round
b) Gum-shield. These should be individually fitted
c) Chest protector for ladies and for
d) Forearm protector
e) Fist protector – These could be 10oz boxing gloves or above( full-contact and Light contact) or cotton mitts or open palmed gloves.( semi-contact)
f) Groin Box
g) Shin protector
h) Boot/instep protector

Safety equipment should be worn during all contact activities where injury could result. Such equipment will usually be determined by national or international rules and regulations.

For personal hygiene and efficiency, borrowing and lending of equipment is not to be encouraged. All members should obtain their own personal items of safety equipment.

Any refusal or non-compliance with any reasonable request to wear adequate safety equipment MUST result in the exclusion of the individual concerned, from any activity requiring such protection, for the health and safety of themselves and others.

First Aid

Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981, premises must have first aid provision.

At least one first aid box should be kept on each of the premises used or occupied by the club/s. Where applicable a qualified first aider or responsible person shall be expected to maintain the box.

A ‘Responsible’ or ‘Appointed person’ is someone who is authorised or expected to take charge of a serious situation (e.g. to call an ambulance) if there is a serious illness or injury. The person will act in the absence of the trained or qualified first aider, or where a qualified first aider is not required.

A qualified first aider is a person who must have undertaken training and obtained qualification. We provide such training by qualified experts in the field. The certificate is valid for 1year.

Emergency first aid training is insisted upon for all appointed persons and should be considered for all employees instructing or otherwise.

A record (Accident book) must be maintained in conjunction with the first aid box.

Members should be made aware of any activity that might be potentially dangerous, and any exclusions to their personal indemnity as a result of such practices.

First Aid Special Precautions
In any situation requiring first aid, certain precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of transmitting infections, including AIDS and hepatitis.
First aiders should always cover any exposed cuts or abrasions they may have with a waterproof dressing before treating a casualty whether or not any infection is suspected.
They should also wash their hands both before and after applying dressings
Whenever blood, semen, or other body fluids have to be mopped up, disposable plastic gloves should always be worn and paper towels used, these items should then be placed in plastic bags and safely disposed of, preferably by burning. Clothing may be cleaned in an ordinary washing machine using the hot cycle. The AIDS virus is killed by household bleach and the area in which any spills have occurred should be disinfected using one part bleach diluted with 10 parts water, caution should be exercised as bleach is corrosive and can be harmful to the skin.
If direct contact with another persons blood or other body fluids occur, the area should be washed as soon as possible with ordinary soap and water. Clean cold tap water should be used if the lips, mouth, tongue, eyes or broken skin are affected and medical advice sought.
First aiders who may be called upon to give mouth to mouth resuscitation should be aware that mouthpieces are available for this procedure for specially trained persons. Such treatment should be provided by continous chest compressions if someone is unwilling to give mouth to mouth.treatment should not be be withheld in an emergency if a mouth piece is not available. No case of infection has been reported from any part of the world as a result of giving mouth to mouth resuscitation.

Training Safety

Mat Space and Mat restrictions
These guidelines are for adult sized individuals training that is any individual equal to or over 14 years of age. Between 9-13 multiply values by 0.7. Between 4 and 9 multiply values by 0.5.
The following is a guide lines only and an employer or instructing employee need to use their professional judgement on safety.
1.5 m2/person for Karate, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, most types of Kung Fu,Muay Thai training, savate,
2.0 m2/person goshin jiujutsu, silat , Krav Maga, Systema, ninpo taijutsu, Shau Giao, ambrasare, jeet Kune do, muay thai or semi/full contact striking. Taiji chuan
2.5 m2/person for Aikido, Jujitsu, Judo, escrima, Baguazhang and Shorinji Kempo
5-6 m2 with 1 m surround Jujitsu/ judo/ aiki randori matches.

Minimum Teacher numbers

DFES guidelines state that the maximum advisable pupil to instructor ratio for practical lessons is 20. If numbers exceed 20 per employee/employer then employees should be recruited, instructing or otherwise with the key responsibility of maintaining a safe training environment. It is the employers responsibility to train all individuals in the skills required for assisting in the maintenance of a safe training environment.

Weapons training

No individual shall participate in weapon sparring without the use of sufficient safety/protective equipment.
No Junior member shall participate in any weapon on weapon training or weapon on unarmed training without the direct and constant supervision of a single employer or instructing employee.
No live edged blades or sharp points are permitted to be used in training or permitted to be brought into the kwoon and facility such as changing area.

Notification of Injury and the monitoring of injuries

It is the responsibility of the employer, at he beginning of each lesson, to request from each student a declaration of fitness to train.
If an individual articulates an injury it must be noted in front of the group entire and the option must be given to that individual not to train.
That individual must then be openly monitored throughout the lesson and a training partner must be selected and informed and frequently reminded on the injury.
If the employer is of the opinion that the individual should not train then they should not, if the employer is of the opinion that they can train but with restricted activities then that course of action should be stuck to and monitored.
A written record should be maintained by the employer of the injury which is countersigned at the lesson/s in question by the member.
At the end of each lesson it is the employer’s responsibility to request a declaration from each member to declare their injury status at the end of the lesson. Again this should be done in front of the entire membership.

Warm-ups

Warm ups should be to reduce the possibility of injury while training. Any warm-up too vigorous so as to create fatigue within the individual are by there nature dangerous. As injuries are more likely to occur when fatigued. Relaxed stretching is advised in warm ups.

Members should be encouraged to perform any cardio-vascular exercises at a pace suitable for their fitness level. It is the Employee’s responsibility to maintain a positive environment that encourages individuals to rest when fatigued. Training partners should be encouraged who are at comparable fitness levels as to not encourage excessive competitiveness from those who lack fitness which may result in physical injury.

Cool downs must be performed at the end of the lesson.

Water and rest

All individuals must be encouraged to rest when needed and drink water when needed. This must be verbalised and frequently reinforced during the lesson.

Use of Toilet

Members must inform the employer or employees that they require the toilet. The Member must be asked if they are feeling unwell or injured and the time period of their absence should be monitored.

Employees who require the toilet must inform the employer. An employee may only go to the toilet if the ratio of a minimum of 20 members :1 employee/employer if still maintained. If it is not then members must be required to not participate in training until the employee returns.

Health and Safety Risk Assessment

It is the responsibility of the employer to personally, or via an appointed officer, perform an ongoing risk assessment of all facilities used by employees, members and visitors using the provided pro forma once per four months. These pro forma’s must be returned to Meridian Health and Safety Officer.

Our Health and Safety officer will visit all premises once per year to quality assure all risk assessments.

If a reasonable level of parity between employers and risk assessment does not exist, the employer will be given a period no more than one calendar month to raise standards to an acceptable level. If conditions have not improve to minimum acceptable level then the employers membership of Meridian Kung Fu and insurance will be revoked. After a level of minimum acceptability is reached a further two visits will occur at three month intervals to check that H & S issues have not reoccurred.

Risk Assessment of Syllabus

All syllabi must be submitted for inspection on membership of Meridian . The expectation of Meridian Kung Fu if that all safety issues regarding syllabi must be resolved.

Schools without Syllabi must prepare one, up to and including first degree, within one calendar year of membership of Meridian Kung Fu. Advice must be sought from both the Meridian Kung Fu Health and Safety and Child protection officer while compilation of the Syllabus takes place.

Competition Safety

In addition to the requirements listed elsewhere in this document: It shall be the duty of all competition organisers and promoters to observe the following requirements:
Medical: At all major competitions above club level, a medical doctor must be in attendance in addition to first-aiders and equipment.
Floors: Mats or sprung ring-boards for competitions which involve foot-sweeps, throws, takedowns and full-contact.
Licences: Every fighter must produce his licence which includes a medical record. Any head injury must be entered and in the case of a concussion, a fighter may not compete for 28 days or until cleared by a doctor.
Referees: will make the safety of the fighters the first priority and must stop the contest at any sign of distress or inability to defend.
Rules: Only approved sets of rules may be used including:

Disciplinary Procedures

While the substance of the Disciplinary Procedures (as defined in the Constitution of The Meridian Kung Fu is not changed , it is important to draw the attention of members that the procedure does apply to Health and Safety matters. Failure to observe the rules and guidance in this policy may lead to disciplinary action being taken.

All Members guests and visitors must comply with these Rules.

These Rules are incorporated into a Member’s Contract with us and compliance with these Rules is important both to maintain the standards at our Club and to enable Members to get full enjoyment from their Membership. Any person who does not comply with these Rules may be ejected from or denied access to a Club or may have their Membership terminated by Meridian Kung Fu if the non-compliance is serious.

We reserve the right to make reasonable amendments to these Rules or our individual Club operational rules at any time. If we do this we will give Members reasonable advance notice by placing the new Rules on a notice board at each Club.

Etiquette plays a very important role within martial arts and this tradition is held within high esteem at our School.

We expect;

Respect for instructors, the Kwoon and fellow Students:
This is shown by demonstrating general good manners and following the etiquette guide lines taught within class: bow when entering and leaving the Kwoon and when addressing your Sifu or fellow Student.

Respect for self: 
Good personal hygiene and smart Club uniform is mandatory. Shoddy, dirty or non Club attire will not be admitted to the Kwoon under any circumstance.

Punctuality: 
Students will not be admitted into class once the session has begun unless by prior arrangement.

Only insured and licensed Members to participate:
Students are expected to ensure their Licence has not expired. We do remind students when licensing is due for renewal and will therefore refuse entry to the Kwoon until renewed.

Grading:
Students are expected to progress through the grading syllabus in the structured manor. Belt promotions are held three times a year at HQ. Students must have a 90% attendance record to be eligible and must be recommended by an Instructor.

Retro-grade:
Any Student absent for a period over two months without good reason will be retro graded to the previous level.