Shrewsbury Hillwalking Club - Health and Safety Policy

Although the Club’s Health and Safety representative (Louise Dermont) can, on request, provide guidance on these matters, each walker on a Club walk is responsible for their own health and safety; in addition, they should also be mindful of the health and safety of other walkers in the group, and the safety of other people on the route.

Each walker should report to the Walk Coordinator, before the start of the walk, any medical conditions which may be a liability during the walk. Each walker should also carry the Club’s membership card with emergency contact and medical details (or any Guest Walker should provide the same information on the Guest Walker form), and a first aid kit.

A person should not participate in a walk if there is any doubt that they are well or fit enough to do so.

One of the most important considerations when hillwalking is to be prepared appropriately for the weather and terrain. In particular, extremes of cold, heat, wind and rain can be encountered. It is important that each walker has suitable protection by way of warm and waterproof clothes (including hat and gloves, and appropriate footwear), sun protection (including hat and suncream) and enough food and liquids for the walk, with some spare.

Each walker should familiarise themselves with the Club’s Emergency Action information found here: https://shrewswalk.co.uk/emergency/

Walkers should comply with the Countryside Code found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code which provides details of how to enjoy the countryside safely and responsibly.

Most walks will involve some road walking at some point, and walkers should abide by the highway code: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code, particularly as it pertains to pedestrians: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-pedestrians-1-to-35.

Updated November 2026