What are the safety person's responsibilities?
Guideline- Canada
- Hockey Canada
- Hockey Canada Safety Program
- Concussion Protocol
- All divisions
- 2026-27
- Team safety persons
The Hockey Canada Safety Program lists these responsibilities for the safety person, who is a volunteer team official:
- Run an effective risk management program that prevents injuries and accidents before they happen, and identify and reduce risks during all activities. If in doubt, err on the side of caution.
- Promote Fair Play, and ensure players have meaningful, enjoyable opportunities free from physical or emotional maltreatment.
- Regularly check players' equipment for proper fit, protective quality and maintenance, and advise players and parents on selecting or replacing it.
- Promote proper conditioning, warm-up and cool-down.
- Keep accurate medical information files on all players and team officials and bring them to all team activities.
- Maintain a Player Injury Log.
- Keep a fully stocked first aid kit and bring it to all team activities.
- Implement an effective Emergency Action Plan and practise it regularly.
- Recognize life-threatening and significant injuries and be prepared to deal with serious injury.
- Manage minor injuries using basic injury management principles and refer players to medical professionals when necessary.
- Recognize injuries that require a player to be removed from action, refer the player to medical professionals and coordinate return to play.
- Promote a healthy lifestyle: hygiene, performance-enhancing substances, drug and alcohol abuse, nutrition and hydration.
- Communicate with players, coaches, parents, physicians, therapists, paramedical personnel, officials and other volunteers about safety, injury prevention and players' health status.
- Act as safety person for both your team and the opponents if only one safety person is present.
Added 25 Oct 2026