CHANGING ROOMS - Everything you need to know

Date: 17th May 2021

Go at your own pace and do it safely

In response to a number of queries from clubs concerning Changing Rooms from 17 May and the Leagues requirements and expectations for Saturday 22 May we publish the following. Whilst recognising that it is in the players interests to be back in Changing Rooms and using showers as soon as possible, the key phrase here is for clubs to do so “when they are ready to do so safely”. The ECB have published detailed guidance to enable clubs to do this and we ask our clubs to follow it.

FULL ECB GUIDANCE and STATEMENT ON CHANGING ROOMS: (From ENGLAND GUIDANCE 17 May – latest ECB COVID-19 Guidance).

Recreational-Cricket-COVID-Guidance-in-England-Step-3-May.pdf (ecb.co.uk)

Changing rooms can open where it is safe to do so but social distancing and other mitigation measures must be observed (we have provided guidance to help you do this safely in the Changing Rooms section in Part 2 below).

Note that no club is obliged to provide use of changing facilities for all participants and clubs and venues should only use changing rooms when they are ready to do so safely –it will require time to complete the necessary preparations and venues should only do this at their pace

Part 2

Changing rooms

You should continue to encourage participants to avoid or minimise use where possible (for example, by arriving in kit and showering at home) and to minimise time spent in the changing area.

Changing rooms and showers can be opened where it is safe to do so and in compliance with government guidance for sports facilities.

To help you achieve compliance, you should:

1. Carry out a risk assessment of changing room safety that considers:

a. The maximum changing room capacity based upon government social distancing guidance and ventilation guidance (an effective flow of fresh air into the room and displaced air out of the room, without violating safeguarding protections is essential).

b. An effective process for managing a ‘one-in, one-out’ process once capacity has been reached, and how this impacts on safe queuing and the scheduling of matches.

c. A suitable cleaning regime that minimises the risk of transmission by cleaning changing rooms between groups of users – the cleaning plan should consider the risk to and from different age groups within your club. You should base your cleaning plan on a risk assessment of different user groups within your club. A thorough initial clean may be required following a long period of closure. Minimising clutter within the changing room will help to make cleaning easier and more effective.

d. Where and when face coverings need to be worn in accordance with government guidance on face coverings and suitable signage reminding users where face coverings should be worn. e. Provision and placement of hand sanitiser within each changing room.

f. The safe provision of showers paying particular attention to the high risk of Legionnaire’s from that have not been used for a long period of time, socially distanced capacity and ventilation.

2. Inform participants that both changing rooms and showers are areas of increased risk (including with signage) and that they should shower and change at home where possible.

3. Communicate your changing room procedures to all users (see additional information below). No venue is obliged to provide changing and showering facilities and should not open changing rooms where it is not safe to do so (other than to disabled persons or to those needing it for safeguarding purposes, where such provision can be made available safely).

It will require time to complete the necessary preparations and venues should only do this at their pace.

Minimising time spent in changing rooms Sport England guidance requires participants to minimise time spent in the changing rooms and showers, and to inform participants that these are higher risk areas. Therefore changing rooms should not be used during rain delays and whilst waiting to bat. Outdoor space should be used where possible, and players directed towards their cars where there is insufficient outdoor rain cover.

Communicating your changing room and shower safe usage procedures

Consider your visitors and your players. You should communicate clearly with all players and match officials pre-arrival: • Whether or not your changing and showering facilities are available. • How capacity restrictions will affect pre-match preparation times.

Water Systems – High Risk

Legionella bacteria can cause an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease. Water systems need to be treated with particular caution following a period of closure due to the risk of legionella bacteria developing in stagnant water. Legionella is the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease and it thrives in stagnant water at tepid temperatures.

Unless your systems have been flushed on a weekly basis and a normal cleaning regime has been in place, particular care should be taken to disinfect them prior to opening. This particularly applies to showers which can be brought into use at Step 3 but may not have been used since the 2019 season.

So whilst hot water may have been used elsewhere in the building since, showers and shower heads will need to be suitably cleaned to reduce the risk of Legionnaire’s disease. It is essential to have a ‘competent person’ overseeing any work on water systems, if any doubt consult a suitably qualified specialist.

Further advice can be found at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/legionella-risks-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm

(Extracts taken from ENGLAND GUIDANCE Document)

Management Committee 17 May