Partnership in Safety: Voluntary Guidelines for Paddleboard Retailers

The voluntary guidelines created in collaboration with Paddle UK are for the use of retail businesses including online marketplaces and online marketplace sellers. 

The guidelines specify practical measures to ensure that safety information is communicated to customers at the point of sale. They also require that product marketing accurately represent necessary safety precautions for paddlers, thereby reinforcing the dissemination of safety information.      

We recognise that businesses may need time to implement these steps owing to procurement and planning, but we encourage action whenever possible. → For example, revisions to online safety pages can frequently be implemented more rapidly than modifications to leaflets or product packaging details.

Businesses can implement these voluntary guidelines, adopting the actions which are compatible with the business so that retail industry can improve point-of-sale safety of paddleboards. 

 

HM Coastguard regularly attends incidents involving stand-up paddleboarding as part of our wider emergency response around the coast. We therefore welcome these voluntary guidelines, which recognise the important role retailers can play in helping customers make safer decisions. By providing clear and consistent safety information at the point of sale, consumers are better equipped with the right knowledge when planning to enjoy our waters.