CAMS Officials Apparel Matrix

[niknax84]

Hi All,

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Nicole Crowley and I’ve been a member of the NSW State Officiating Panel (SOP) since January 2009.

I compete and officiate in CAMS motorkhana, khanacross, supersprint, hillclimb, touring assembly and special stage rally events, navigate and officiate in AMSAG rallies, and navigate in AASA rallies. I’ve been a member of Thornleigh Car Club since 2005, and currently have Bronze licences in Event Command, Administration, Rally and Timekeeping, as well as Event Assessor endorsement.

The NSW SOP has been allocated the duty of designing a CAMS Officials Apparel Matrix by the Australian Officials Commission (AOC). This apparel matrix, whilst designed by NSW, will need to cover officials Australia wide.

As I am the only ‘non-Circuit’ official on the Panel (Graham Roser has recently stepped down from the SOP ), and as I officiate in all levels of club motorsport, I am the only person who will be the voice of all the officials for the disciplines of Motorkhana, Khanacross, Autocross, Rallysprint, Rallying (Gravel & Tarmac), Touring Assembly, Touring Road Event, Supersprint, Hillclimb, etc (even Drifting!) from club to national level. It is a huge job and I will not pretend to know everything about all or any of these disciplines and therefore am asking for your help in advising, suggesting or telling me what apparel and PPE should be worn by all types of officials in different disciplines in different levels of events. If any Circuit officials want to give me information, as well as the rest of disciplines, I am happy to take it all to the SOP whether it's one of the ones I've been asked to look after or not.

Whilst you may think that this is ridiculous, we have the chance to decide what is necessary and submit that information, instead of having people higher up who know very little about grassroots motorsport making decisions without consulting officials for their input. We are the ones that have to deal with the consequences of requirements (set by those who sometimes don't understand or care for the lower levels) being filtered down and creating havoc when certain national requirements should not be applied to club and multi-club events. This happens all the time with officials requirements at events, so here is a great chance to suggest requirements that we know are relevant to our particular level and discipline of motorsport.

What I need to know is what kind of apparel and PPE needs to worn by different officials in different disciplines in different levels. Please remember that these requirements will need to be suitable for Australia wide events and therefore the climates of areas need to be considered amongst other factors. Apparel that might be suitable for a Canberra Rally in Winter may not be suitable for a rally in NT for example due to heat.

Other considerations include:
* Rallying includes gravel and tarmac (from club rallysprints to ARC), the banner 'Rally' also includes Touring Assemblies (navigational un-timed events on public roads on a 2NS licence).

* Apparel for timekeepers at a circuit race (i.e. they are sitting in an air conditioned building) may be different from those who are holding a stopwatch at a tarmac motorkhana in the sun.

* Apparel for officials at Rally HQ may be different from those on a road closure, start or finish control at a rally contending with the heat, cold, rain and all the crawling, biting creatures the Australian bush can provide.

* The levels of motorsport (club only, multi-club, state, national etc) if you feel that apparel and PPE should be any different according to the level of competition.

* At present we are unsure if these requirements will be covering pit crews and service crews for these events as well. To be on the safe side I’m asking that any requirements that you feel are necessary for pit and service crews, to please include these as well.

The above examples show that I need specific information to take back to the SOP, which will then go on to the AOC. A ‘one size fits all’ will not do, so please give me as much information as possible. For those who have seen the competitor apparel matrix, I am looking at tabling the information in a similar format where possible, however, I'm sure it will be way more in-depth to cover everything that needs to be covered.

I'm hoping to take a lot of this information to the next SOP meeting (17th March) but I won't have it tabled by then. Just in a format to show the rest of the SOP that in-depth information is being sought. Whilst apparel for officials is really a commonsense issue, commonsense is not what it used to be and we have to document it now. Please don't rush replies to this, but take time to consider what is really necessary.

Feel free to reply here, PM me or send an email to:

niknax84 at optusnet dot com dot au

Thanks for your help.

[crowleyaj]

This is a great place to gather information as so many motorsport enthusiasts from around Australia get on here at various times. You never know who could be watching......

I suggested that Nicole should post something here due to the quality of discussion in other threads. Please don't make this a CAMS vs AASA vs AMSAG discussion. Though my wife and I officiate for more than one motorsport provider, the topic at hand is apparel for CAMS officials.

[pvda]

To use the V8Supercars as an example all Series Officials (employees) and team members have to wear full fire resistant suits when in Pit Lane.

The local officials working in exactly the same pit lane at the same time are usually in either standard overalls or pants and polo shirts.

The locals are exposed to the same risks??

Then again I've always believe the V8's went overboard.

What I wear depends on the job, at RoC last year I was wearing a fire suit cos I was the Fire/Rescue official in FIV2 so if responded I'm first in to make the car safe before the medics go in. Other circuit events where I'm doing my usual tech support role it's cargo pants (lots of pockets) and a polo shirt (with jumper/jacket depending on the weather).

Personally I not fussed on what officials wear so long as they can be identified as an official in a crowd of people, spectators and competitors need to be able to identify them and in an emergency crews responding (motorsport or civil services) need to be able to identify them in a hurry.

Road Closure officials could more than likely suffice with a simple Hi Viz vest with "Rally Official" on it so if someone ends up at a closure the official/s have a look of authority. Probably the same for SoS & Control officials, the risk of exposure to fire is minimal so simple civvys & a vest would be good enough.

For the bigger events something they can wear in the future (Tee or Polo shirt) and keep as a momento would be a great gesture by the promotor.

[Rallyray]

Will this be used to provide potential and curent officials with info or for them to comply with?

[Col Trinder]

Hi Nicole

From your comments I think we are in fierce agreement here. I think I can speak with authority in that no one on ARCom has any knowledge of this exercise and would likely need plenty of convincing that there is any need to mandate any specific apparel requirement for all officials at rallies or road events.

I think you should suggest to the Officials Commission that they approach each of the discipline Commissions first before progressing this any further to ensure the discipline Commissions agree there is a demonstrated need.

ARCom want simple rules for simple events and have no desire to burden organisers or our volunteer officials with more requirements in the absence of a demonstrated critical need.

Some base OHS requirements (like high-vis tabards if working around traffic) might be appropriate but I think these are best covered on a discipline by discipline basis. Trying to have a one-size fits all national approach -as you correctly observe - is unlikely to win popular support.

Col

[truessman]

OH this is making my eyes glaze over... Firstly - kudos to you for actually thinking to ask the question of actual officials and competitors... And as you say, it is common sense and apparently the world has to cater for the lowest common denominator (is that circuit racing? - lol).

But I'm struggling here - fluoro vests (sure - lets make that it). But if you get some OHS Union delegate down to an autocross on a dusty day he'd probably have everyone wearing safety glasses and a dust mask. Then the obligatory sun and rain umbrellas, banning high heels on service crews, minimum number of pockets on cargo pants and ear plugs to muffle twin webbers and anti-lag.

PS - Just saw Col's post - and I think "demonstrated critical need" are the keywords to work to.

[daewoo]

My only reply is to make sure you tread very lightly with anything being mandated...

I was CoC for Narooma Booma for 3 years, officiating for 10 or 15 years before that...

I refuse to obtain and maintain an officials licence whilever I am required to do anything but turn up and officate... get a record book signed, do a course, do a test, prove experience... CAMS can jam it... as far as I am concerned, I have signed the sign on sheet, I am inthe CAMS database as CoC for a Clubman Rally, stewards reports and everything... If they expect me to do the legwork to officiate at an event where they get money for jam, they can jam it...

I know it is a terrible attitude, but I am sure I am not on my Pat Malone...

Make sure anything you do makes it EASIER to be an offical, not harder... then get someone, anyone, with a real understanding of the realities of litigation risk management to review anything you do...

If you tell an official they only need a T-Shirt at a road closure, and they set themself on fire, you have some culpability... if you say nothing, you have not acknowledged that you have identified the risk, have not accepted responsibility for mitigating the risk, and have no culpability...

No good deed goes unpunished...

Cheers,
Daewoo

[moxo]

Originally Posted by pvda

To use the V8Supercars as an example all Series Officials (employees) and team members have to wear full fire resistant suits when in Pit Lane.

The local officials working in exactly the same pit lane at the same time are usually in either standard overalls or pants and polo shirts.

The locals are exposed to the same risks??

Then again I've always believe the V8's went overboard.

Actually, as much as I'd enjoy slamming a few folks - those fire-suit rules are only for when there is racing / practicing that involves / requires pit-lane refuelling. The same rules were in place at the 12-hour race.

Rest of the time you can wander about pit lane in ordinary clothes.

My two cents' worth - we've dumbed-down everything else in motorsport - why not mandate what clothing timekeepers have to wear at motorkhanas?

Nic, were you there when the discussion turned to a proposal that motorkhana drivers have to wear HANS devices?

Jeese, it's such a common-sense thing, right? 'Appropriate' clothing - long pants/sleeves and a hat when it's sunny, appropriate footwear... Most officials are not complete idiots, so let's assume they're not.

However, if someone's going to insist on rules, then perhaps that someone should be responsible for providing the PPE.

Funny that Col should mention hi-vis tabards, now virtually compulsory for photographers. Two years ago I was chased away from a flag point for wearing a 'non-neutral' coloured jacket in cold a driving rain. Oh well. OK, it was red. The guy that chased me off was wearing orange, but my red might have confused a driver. Uh-huh.

Now, Daewoo makes some great points - seems we're in agreement. I agree as well about the licence thing. I couldn't be bothered jumping through 'their' hoops to help 'them.'



Moxo

[WAC Secretary]

This 'matrix' will need to be as simple and basic as possible.

So rather than trying to cover all bases of officials and their jobs, you're probably better off focussing on the environments any official is likely to work in. I imagine trying to cover all officials jobs and then their locations could eailsy run into 1000's of combinations on the matrix - and as a result be confusing and cumbersome. So if you ignore the specific officials titles and just look at the environments and then the job hazards, the result would be alot simpler as these components would equally affect all jobs.

So, something like:
Location: indoors, outdoors
Shelter: shade, noshade etc
Weather: Hot, cold, wet, dusty etc.
Hazardous area: trackside, refuelling ,pits etc.

Anything requiring specific PPE such as refuelling should be goverened by the relevant product MSDS, not a generic matrix.

[PeterO]

Originally Posted by niknax84

Hi All,

The NSW SOP has been allocated the duty of designing a CAMS Officials Apparel Matrix by the Australian Officials Commission (AOC). This apparel matrix, whilst designed by NSW, will need to cover officials Australia wide.

As I am the only ‘non-Circuit’ official on the Panel ....

Thanks for your help.

The rally, autocross, motorkhana etc input is extremely simple.

Anyone near refueling should be covered neck to wrist to ankle with natural fibre clothing. All others wear whatever sensible clothing they like.
Footwear should be closed - no thongs or sandals.

The circuit people will have their own idea of what is appropriate, and they can specify what they like for circuit officials.

I am interested as to who "allocated the duty".

Given that very few rally officials actually have to hold an officials licence, I am not sure how the AOC would control clothing anyway.

Peter

ps: in VIC, anyone refueling a rally car must already have non-flammable, neck to wrist to ankle clothing - policed by the official in charge of the refueling zone [refueling is banned anywhere out side specified zones].

[CMD]

Originally Posted by daewoo

I refuse to obtain and maintain an officials licence whilever I am required to do anything but turn up and officate... get a record book signed, do a course, do a test, prove experience... CAMS can jam it... as far as I am concerned, I have signed the sign on sheet, If they expect me to do the legwork to officiate at an event where they get money for jam, they can jam it...

+ 1

If they start to tell me what I have to wear outside of the car as well as in it - I'll simply stop doing it.

Like Daryl, my attitude to this is probably not wonderful but that's how I feel.

[Marcus]

Originally Posted by CMD

+ 1

If they start to tell me what I have to wear outside of the car as well as in it - I'll simply stop doing it.

Like Daryl, my attitude to this is probably not wonderful but that's how I feel.

The fact that CAMS just doesnt realise that officials are volunteers and dont want - or need - to do the garbage to do with officalling licencing. I too utterly refuse to have a bar of it and I think as Daewoo does it's an insult to people who have had quite a deal of experience to be asked to fulfil the prerequisites.

And I would add to make this with the request in this thread, asking our volunteers to conform with a clothing policy beyond "common sense" is simply not acceptible. There should be no requests for special clothing as frankly there is simply no reason for it. In fact I really just dont see why we need this at all.

[Matthew Ferguson]

Originally Posted by PeterO

The rally, autocross, motorkhana etc input is extremely simple.

.

And should be limited by the "common law" governing anyone refuling a car at a petrol Station.........
Spill kit near by, some fire extinguishers handy.

I mean it ****s me that an activity that is carried out by the lowest common denominator over 100 thousand times each day with out catastrophe, that we are so anal

and like wise for driving in such events, if you don’t exceed the (100KMH) speed limit in a resisted car, wear what you like ........I mean really, I drive to work each day wearing what I want and its a harder trip than any motor sport I’ve ever done.

[PeterO]

Originally Posted by Matthew Ferguson

I mean it ****s me that an activity that is carried out by the lowest common denominator over 100 thousand times each day with out catastrophe, that we are so anal

I am not so sure that 100 thousand times a day a jerry can and funnel are used to fill a car. And most funnels are not fitted with a cut-off/switch-off device to cut the flow when the filler neck is full.

Peter

[daewoo]

Originally Posted by PeterO

I am not so sure that 100 thousand times a day a jerry can and funnel are used to fill a car. And most funnels are not fitted with a cut-off/switch-off device to cut the flow when the filler neck is full.

Peter

True, but this is where the need for someone who really understands the legal side of litigation needs to be involved...

I have never considered what I am wearing when I fill my car from a jerry can... or my mower, or my leaf blower, or my weed wacker...

If I'm wearing shorts, I do it in shorts, if I'm not wearing shoes, I do it without shoes, If I'm wearing my rubber nurses uniform, I consider the neighbours and don't go outside...

I am doing what a normal or reasonable person would do...

If CAMS tells me, I need to wear non-flamable shoes if I am near a car that is refuelling, and the thing explodes, and I am injured...

CAMS has acknowledged there is a risk,
CAMS has taken responsibility for the risk (by doing a risk assessment and requiring mitigation)
CAMS is held to a higher level of responsibility than a normal or reasonable person, because they are expected to be trained and seek advice on whether requiring non-flamable shoes is sufficient mitigation... They are acting as a professional, not a reasonable person...

If in a court it is decided that more could have been done (always will be), CAMS is held responsible when it would normally have been only me that was responsible...

I know that Jamberoo Recreation Park paid a settlement to someone who got sunburnt at the park... what if CAMS specifies hats, but someone wears a cap, not a hat, no-one prevents them from officialing and they get sunburnt on the back of their neck...

No Apparel Matrix, it is up to the reasonable person, Apparel Matrix, and suddenly CAMS is taking responsibility...

I am not saying I am an expert on this, but I have spoken to guys who are, and they believe that CAMS usually takes the worst possible decisions from a legal risk point of view... CAMS makes knee jerk reactions to poorly performed risk assessments, performed by untrained volunteers, and we all pay the price... by increased controls, and additional risk of our entry fees and license fees being thrown away unnecessarily...

From our clubs point of view, we have always allowed minors on flag points and to official in the pits at speed events... I mean, the kid is in a concrette bunker under direct supervision FFS... CAMS says you can't do it, so now, any father or mother who would normally be responsible for a child has to leave the kid at home, or not official... so we lost heaps of officials... thanks CAMS...

It doesn't take much to make officialing just too hard for people to be bothered...

Cheers,
Daewoo