Health & Safety Policy

01Purpose

Australian Personal Combatives (APC) is committed to providing practical, realistic and effective training while taking reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of participants, instructors, clients and other persons who may be affected by our activities.

Combatives training is physical by nature and may include striking, defensive movements, grabs, releases, pad work, controlled resistance and scenario-based exercises. These activities involve an inherent risk of physical injury that cannot be eliminated entirely.

Our objective is to identify foreseeable hazards, manage risks so far as reasonably practicable, and conduct training in a controlled and progressive manner without unnecessarily reducing its practical training value.

02Scope

This policy applies to:

• all Combatives training courses, workshops and related activities;
• all Combatives instructors and assistants;
• all participants undertaking Combatives training; and
• training conducted at client premises, hired facilities and other approved locations.

This policy should be read together with any relevant participant waiver, risk assessment, emergency procedure and instructor safety briefing.

03Health and safety principles

Combatives applies the following principles to all training:

• Training intensity will be appropriate to participants' experience, physical capability and the activity being undertaken.
• Techniques will be introduced progressively before speed, resistance or pressure are increased.
• Participants are expected to exercise control when working with training partners.
• Any participant or instructor may stop an exercise immediately if they consider continuing to be unsafe.
• An instructor may modify, suspend or terminate an exercise or a participant's involvement where safety is compromised.
• Participants will not be pressured to continue an activity if they are injured, unwell, excessively fatigued or uncomfortable continuing.
• Foreseeable hazards will be eliminated where reasonably practicable or otherwise controlled to reduce risk.

04Responsibilities

Combatives and its instructors

Combatives instructors are responsible for:

• conducting training in accordance with this policy;
• inspecting the training environment before training commences;
• explaining relevant hazards and safety requirements to participants;
• providing appropriate instruction and supervision;
• introducing techniques and exercises progressively;
• monitoring participants for unsafe behaviour, excessive fatigue or loss of control;
• modifying exercises where appropriate;
• stopping unsafe activity;
• checking that training equipment is suitable for its intended use;
• responding appropriately to injuries, incidents and emergencies; and
• recording significant injuries, incidents and near misses.

Participants

Participants are expected to:

• follow instructor directions and safety instructions;
• act responsibly towards their training partners;
• maintain appropriate control during physical exercises;
• immediately advise an instructor if they are injured or become unwell;
• advise the instructor of any injury, physical limitation or other circumstance that may affect their ability to participate safely;
• use protective or training equipment as instructed;
• stop an exercise if they believe continuing would be unsafe;
• not deliberately apply excessive force or continue a technique after being instructed to stop; and
• not participate while impaired by alcohol, recreational drugs or any other substance that significantly affects their ability to train safely.

Participants remain responsible for deciding whether they are physically capable of participating in training and should seek appropriate medical advice where they have concerns about their ability to undertake strenuous physical activity.

05Venue safety

Training will only be conducted where the instructor considers that the available space is reasonably suitable for the activities planned.

Before training commences, consideration will be given to:

• the condition and suitability of the floor or training surface;
• available training space;
• furniture, equipment, walls, pillars and other potential collision hazards;
• lighting and ventilation;
• emergency exits and access routes;
• availability of drinking water and reasonable rest opportunities;
• availability and location of first-aid equipment;
• access to emergency assistance; and
• any hazards specific to the venue.

Where a hazard cannot be adequately controlled, the affected exercise will be modified, relocated or not conducted.

Where training is conducted at a client's premises, Combatives and the client will cooperate as reasonably necessary regarding venue-specific health and safety requirements and emergency arrangements.

06Participant health and physical capability

Combatives training may involve vigorous physical activity.

Participants should notify the instructor before training of any injury, medical issue, physical restriction or other circumstance they believe may affect their ability to participate safely.

Where an instructor becomes aware of an issue, the instructor may:

• modify an exercise;
• reduce its intensity;
• substitute an alternative activity;
• require the participant to observe rather than participate; or
• stop the participant from undertaking some or all of the training.

Disclosure of a condition does not necessarily prevent participation.

Combatives instructors do not provide medical advice. Where there is significant uncertainty about whether participation is appropriate, the participant may be asked to obtain advice from an appropriately qualified health professional before continuing.

07Management of physical training

Physical techniques will be taught and practised using appropriate controls for the exercise. These may include:

• demonstration before practice;
• initial practice at reduced speed and intensity;
• progressive introduction of resistance;
• appropriate selection and matching of training partners;
• use of pads or other protective equipment where appropriate;
• defined limits on permitted levels of contact;
• clear start and stop instructions;
• adequate rest and hydration opportunities; and
• increased supervision during higher-intensity or scenario-based exercises.

Participants must respond immediately to an instruction to stop. Uncontrolled, reckless or deliberately excessive force is not acceptable.

Where fatigue causes a participant's control, coordination or judgement to deteriorate materially, the instructor may require them to reduce intensity, rest or cease the activity.

08Clothing, jewellery and equipment

Participants should wear clothing suitable for unrestricted physical movement.

Items that create an unnecessary risk to the participant or a training partner may be required to be removed or secured before training. This may include jewellery, watches, sharp objects or unsecured equipment.

Training equipment will be visually checked as appropriate and equipment showing significant damage or deterioration will not be used where that damage could create a safety risk.

09First aid and emergency arrangements

Before training commences, the instructor will establish the first-aid and emergency arrangements reasonably available at the venue. This will include, where applicable:

• identifying the location of first-aid equipment;
• identifying how trained first-aid assistance can be obtained;
• confirming how emergency services can be contacted; and
• identifying appropriate access for emergency personnel.

Where training is conducted at a client workplace or managed venue, Combatives may rely on trained first aiders and first-aid facilities provided by that organisation as part of the agreed venue arrangements.

Where those arrangements are not available, Combatives will consider the nature of the training, location and foreseeable risks and establish an alternative means of obtaining appropriate first-aid assistance.

Training will not proceed where the instructor considers that reasonable emergency and first-aid arrangements are not available for the circumstances.

In the event of injury

If a participant is injured:

• The exercise will be stopped and the immediate area made safe.
• The participant will be assessed sufficiently to determine the appropriate response.
• Available trained first-aid assistance will be obtained where required.
• Emergency services will be contacted by calling 000 where a serious injury or medical emergency is suspected.
• The participant will not be encouraged to resume training where doing so may aggravate the injury.
• Significant injuries and incidents will be documented.

Combatives personnel who are not qualified first aiders will not represent themselves as such and will seek appropriate trained or emergency assistance where required.

10Blood and bodily fluids

Where bleeding occurs during training:

• the participant will stop training;
• open wounds must be appropriately treated and covered before participation resumes;
• contaminated training equipment or surfaces will be cleaned before further use; and
• direct contact with another person's blood should be avoided.

Disposable gloves or other appropriate barriers should be used where available when dealing with blood or contaminated materials.

11Incidents and near misses

Significant injuries, safety incidents and significant near misses should be recorded.

Incident information may be used to:

• identify contributing hazards;
• determine whether training methods or controls should be changed;
• identify equipment or venue issues; and
• reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Where an incident is legally required to be notified to a regulator or other authority, Combatives will comply with the applicable reporting requirements.

12Participant right to stop

Every participant has the right to stop participating in an exercise at any time.

A participant does not need to justify a decision to stop an exercise because of pain, discomfort, fatigue, concern about a training partner or a belief that the activity has become unsafe.

Stopping an exercise for a legitimate safety concern will not be treated as a failure to complete the training.

13Instructor authority

The instructor has final authority over the conduct of Combatives training.

An instructor may refuse or discontinue a person's participation where the instructor reasonably believes that:

• the participant presents an unreasonable risk to themselves or another person;
• the participant is unable or unwilling to follow safety instructions;
• the participant is behaving recklessly or aggressively;
• the participant appears impaired;
• an injury or medical issue makes further participation inappropriate; or
• conditions at the venue make the planned training unsafe.

14Risk assessment

Combatives will consider the hazards and risks associated with the planned training and venue.

Risk controls will be proportionate to:

• the nature of the activity;
• the experience and capability of participants;
• the expected degree of physical contact;
• the environment in which training takes place; and
• the potential severity and likelihood of injury.

For unfamiliar venues or activities presenting increased risk, a more specific assessment may be undertaken before training.

15Compliance

Combatives will take reasonable steps to comply with applicable work health and safety legislation, regulations and relevant Codes of Practice, including where applicable the:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW);
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW); and
• relevant SafeWork NSW Codes of Practice.

Where training occurs outside New South Wales, applicable local work health and safety requirements will be considered.

16Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically and may also be reviewed following:

• a significant incident or injury;
• identification of a previously unrecognised hazard;
• a material change to training activities;
• a significant change to operating arrangements; or
• relevant changes to work health and safety requirements.