advised to seek clarification from the rospa leisure safety ......reader note this version of safety...
TRANSCRIPT
Reader note
This version of safety at inland waters is currently subject to revision. As such the guidance
within may not reflect current policy or guidance.
We expect a revised version of the document to be available for summer 2015. The reader is
advised to seek clarification from the RoSPA leisure safety team at the address below.
01212482235
March 2015
Safety at
Inland Water Sites Operational Guidelines
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Dr Michael Howard for his contribution on water
quality.
We also thank all those who commented all the dOClllllcm for
thei r constructive contributions.
Extn(ts from BS 8800. 1996 are reproduced with the permission
of B51 under lict"llce 110. PD\ 1998 0669. Complete cdilions of
the sundards can be obtained by pOSt from HSI Customer
Services, 389 Chiswick High Hoad, London W4 4AL.
TIl(.' support of the HOllle Offic~ ill thc production of this
donlluent is gratefully acknowledged.
1st Edition
ISBN No 1 85088092 I
This document may not be reproduced without wrincn pcnnission from RoSPA
(jHoSPA 1m
Safety at Inland WollC'r SuC's
Foreword T he opportumty for .. njoymg unr I"isur" timc ~roulld Ikitlin's nned and wrll-di~trib\lted open WOller ,' .. nut">. is cvcr i"crc;>SlIlg. H(}\>''t'o't'r, this improved :u:cessibiliTy,better a\'lIilabilityoi >¥:ater sport
fKihues, greater upt:lkc of open air exercise and genenllpprcdlfioo of the "llllni ""VlJvnmcnt, LtlcvlubJy rr~uh in exp.>sun' I<> Ihe haums of open ,,'lIler and Ihe associated risks,
Many of Ihe drown",s I';lgeeh". «("lIrring ("a.::h ynr CQUId SO u~,ly
be pre"ented Ii appropn.lle pr.-aUllons ~ ul:"n. In p.1",cuilr, Ihc number oi yUllng mlle. who drown eu,h Slimmer Ihrough
swnnnnng '" hu .. nlous open w:ater. is an .nnull rcmi,tder of the nC<'d iot ongoing"'lI1C1' ,..fety edllution in school~ and corn'nunmcs. m landem wnh approp"ate Sliety m"asures It "'liter ,'enue, themselvcs.
The usl: i:u:mS dutyholde.,.t nuny ""tet sites is the delerminalion
oi Ihe )ppropriate ",fety "'e)Sure! 10 Tender tI"" WOlter aceepubly safe wlulsl at the 5:l1I1C time allu,,~ng optimum :u:ccs'ibility and diversity of use. This un be .dncvcd through safety m.lI"b~me'" systems ba~ on Ih" p,ue"ss of haz.rd idem;lk;l1ion and the assessmcnt and control of risk 10 an 3ccrplablc level.
The :lim of thi, document is to provide oper-Olaf'S with ~ r;~k
a5ses~rneU\ fr:lm,,"url: appropnate 10 accidelll pre""ntion at w;lIn Jiles, indudll1g au application of the specific w;tICr ha7.ards to be con!idertd in the de"elopment of wata saiety ~lnl"'gio:S_ /" addition, these b"ttidcllnes aim 10 "nt,,,,,nder a more uniform and consislent al'11TOlCh to n~1: control il Ilrltlill'S in!..nd w;ttcf siles.
Contents
I NTRODUCTION ,., 6 , 9
9
'" 10
II II
12
2 LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS ,. ,; ,; ,;
" " "
\"'r" B •• kg ... ",d
Inbnd wn~r d""""'11",, III~ 1',,,1>1, L"",.u, n A,-", "V
k v,,-u • I)", ... ,,; .I'Ll
C"Ul",,'" LJW I)",y of eu"
<'''IU'''T) "<jUl""',",H, J iclhh &,- 'i,lrty at W",l ,-U' Act 1<J7~
Th,- M,,,.,,,''''cnl "," I k,ilh ll"J ~dt"'I)' l' W",k It,·~tlbu",," 19'11
{llh~r Oen'r."'''''' I klhl, .nd ~.ret}' DUI'~s
Oe<oricr" l ,.hllu)' Ar, 1')51 I'u!>!', I k.hll A,t 19.1(.
3 THE DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGY
4 lUSK ASSESSMENT
2
20
" ,. 26 26
" " " 28
\VII,- 1',01'1 • .I" .... 'n
W.,cr 'lfct~, 111'", <'men!
OrI;"'I1,'" 11", ... d ,dwtlli,.u n
N>tur< <>f <I •• w
Pr"",nnll' "r d~p ",a
Th ... ,,'I n :KIf A"'u .. hih,, of II WlIlcf
1llIllcrbn,J .><:I''"'tl
S;.fcty ~I Inbnd W~ln ')11<:5
5 RI SK CONTROL
" 32 32
" " " 36
36
37 38 38 J8 39 .. ., ., " ..
6 WATE R-BASED ACT IViTiES
APPENDICES
" " " " " 52
" ;. 56
58 ;S
39 (I)
IIppeudix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix)
AppendIx '" Append]),5 Append", 6
AppendIX 7
InttOOUClHln
Ed~ !,rule(\I"n
<trod"" l'1~nIU1K
F{>Olr~'l"
F.>nt,n!:
Infu'''''"0'' allll wu"i"11 "",i~", Spellti ... ",,,,,
A<-cc" "il:n~
S'IP'~" lq' I",:.""", "N.og' "~'" lllc •• ,u." d"trlhu'n,,, Edu<,.u"nal m"~."n.'U
l'IIb"" 'e""" cqu,pn,~", W.ttr'lll.I",-
(;.,,,".,1 "'{tt''''I1~ kpN'p" ..... ' ('W'"l"1 n~ .. c) BlII<.'1'-,.,CI1 alpc
Fu"' .. I .... "a'I'''"' S.k,y ww, .l",w't
C •• u.l,e,i,-j,ici
~w""'nl"l A"~hntl
Penon.1 w'h"r.nli Ronc.I'",ul 1>, •• , hire ko,llll"l!
SlIre"'''''''' "f ""Ie,-h •• cd a.-u",,, •• <'Iltr
l'.""" ""II, ,,,h,,, '1 """c. A,nd,"111 '.r"!lIng
1 k.hh .nd ".tkl)' (;\IId.n,-o fUrlha .r.dmg
IW~ I)A N.llon.1 W'IO' ~,fcty C"mmlllcc The ncp"'l .. f Ih" \\'" ... Sp"n, ~ufc,y W".lun~
G.uup _ \'1')11) l", "I' ItoH" ,,,,,,,,wliol1\
N,",>! .. I W.«. \,t"l,. ",pt> N.\lol1.1 (;o~".n"'l! 11.><1,,,, "I' ~porl U.cful.dd.tIW' Supcrv,,,u,, of <,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Lif ... :u .. di"11
Safety at In land Water Si(c~
Introduction • SCOPE
• BACKGROUND
• INLAND WATER DROWNINGS - TH E PROBLEM
• AIMS
1 ,
I Ill" ~ 10" !" ,"
Safety 111nbnd W~lcr '),tc~
SCOPE
1.1 This pubhc~"(),, provide. g\"ddm~' on ",,{e,y "'.n"!,~"'c", for the pcTWn> or bod)' 111 cITcr",'" ",,"rul ('he ."pc,."",") of,1I
m .. whne the public h.v" =<IiS!(, iuland ""','n
",her ,b,n at the OO.>S1. "'i,I"" dum~,'ic p",nll=.
or ., ,'''os of w"er sold)' for co"'''', .... i.1 u.e. I< should nO! b. reg."dcd os on ,u.h",;",,,,.., """'prell""" uf Ih" bw.
1.2 The .dv,ce S"'cn in lI'eS<' guideline.
prnn>rily conCerns 'he s,fety ", the public. Whdc m."y of ,he geller,l $;Ifety principle. dcscrilx-d m1)' .Iso be n-I<",>I]{!O ,he pmteeliotl of
clf\pl~ ... "" .nd the ,df-e,"ploycd ... ",k"'g on "r Ilc.rw"cr. IIlOr<' deuill;<.l1d,"iccull mC.~"rc< 10 b.
ukcn '" eQ"'pl)" "'nh ,,,knOll dUlle. under OCCllrlt;"".1 he.hh .nd .. fet)' kgisblioll " "-"1>bl. d<;cwhcrc {Appendix I]
1.3 On" to the ""'que fC.,u'O •. In 'en", of ?OS",.;>n. pU'P'JS" .nd pn)tiic o(;nd;,·;d".llxxlte. of inland W1tct. tl", doc"Illcm d""s 'lOI
. tte",p' '0 p,ovide p",ocnpu,"" .,,,,,..,,, 10 19'""",1 que'tlo". ,,,eh.,
,he ;Ilt"".I. >t wh,ch "'scuc d",,·,ees ,hould be lTl>"lIed. J("k
"""In,en,s ~, c1ch .tt, 11'<' ncce".,), ;n "rde, '" ''''we, ."eh
que,,;on •. and 'h', I'ubhco""" pmv;dc, the fr:ot1lcwor~ lmund which ,1m I1sk Cllt ~ C'CCttt.-d .nd .tt dTen;,·" ... fcty m.nlg<:nlcn,
>}'>ten, csubh,lted.
IA Ahh""l;h the ... fct)· of'hosc pan,dp'unl; tt1 wa,n .portS;. of cou ...... ,mpon,n,. 'he docu",en, "',11 not ,u"mp' to p,,,,;dc dcuilod
rccomtttc"duiott, f"r 'he ,.C, pu",,;t of i"di,;d'l1l .ports. Thi, .d,·,cc " beSt oh"oncd fTOm the nmon.1 go"en,i"s bodies of the
'port eouccr""d. Co"t.K1 add",,,,,,,, arc {:l",,, ttl Appendi' 5.
1.5 Many opcnlOl'$ duo howe"er. le.se f"ihue5 10 W>l" 'port. dubs .nd 'he rok of such clubs tll the .. fety of p>nicip.nlS 'S .dd",,,,,d in s.,ctiun 6. The .. fe,y of part;cip."" in morc ·<05u.1'
"':Itcr-Nscd .n",;II<. sitch ., .nghng, ",,,n)l""'S .nd """,ng b<>., hire.;1 ",duded ..
Saf..-ty at Inland w'na Sitcs
BACKGROUND
1.6 [n the urly p.n of ,h" 1990', Ih,,", w.s grow;"g concern ovCr
the n"",ocr of drown",£:, OCenTT11lg >t ocuhn. A "umocr of org:111i ... ,io". includms [ei.",e 01"'''''01"$. loc.1 "IIhor;,;"s .• nd
g",·c",n"", ",u"sters. ""co(;",scd ,he need (or 5Om" ll,\lonal gmdehnc~ for ,he m.JI.lgcmcnt of public ... rety .1 ,he ("0;1'1. In r~,pon~ '0 ,hi, neffl. The Roy.! Sociel)' fnr the l'r .. wnnon of
Accidents (l~oSI'A) .. ".I the RQy:o.l life SlV"'!: SOC,,,!)· UK (IU.sS UK), w"h the support Qf the [k.lth .nd S.fety Exccunvc (HSE)
.nd memocrs of ltoSI'A"s N.II"".[ W"n S.f"Iy Commute", [Append i., 2]. pubh,hffllhe opc",11ol1.1 B,ndel",,,. -.""/<"1 Q" Iln",ish &wI",". in 1993.
1.7 The puhlic.,ion "'as disnibut.-d to.1I loc.[ .uthorme. ""h.
co.~ .. 1 ""nil .• nd I1,.,,)'OIh .. r org:",i ... !ion, h,\"e since """gh, copies.
It bee.",,, 'pr_rem Ih .. "rg;t", ... "om respo"sib[e ...,[ely for ",land
w,nCT fc""""s. ""<:TC .Iso rcfcrrons.o -S.fcty on IIr""h Ikache.·, in
,he abst""ncc of an .hem.","". ",ore relev_",. p"blinnon. This
confirmed ,he ne.-d for • ,i.~r pub[ic.,ion. addre"ing .he .pe<:ilic
,<S,,~s of s>f~ty a, ",I.nd w.t~r site'. 10 ""is!)·. wide .udi~"ee.
1.8 The nsc of ",bnd w."r """ for ",,",,,,unn.[ PUrp<JS,s h.s
incre.sed considn. b[y ",·,·r ,he [as( 15 ye .... V.roous f .. e'ON i",·, co",,,buled '0 ,Ins. ""Iud"'g an ",erea.,., '" Ictsur, Inne .nd
d'sPQS.1.blc ,,,cume, .nd Ihe co"(o""u,,, d",·.lopn'~'" and
promotIon of such .,teS. Indeod. Ihere h~s ocen ~n ongoons ~n~"'[
(hrust III go"'m",ent policy W open up th~ n.uon·. "-.tCT re>o""'"
(or public "c""s .• nd (hi, h., been reflected in ,he d.v('!op""'"
of f.nhn"s such .s rcSCTVOlTS lUl1I m"h,·recre.tion site.
,ccom"'odt""s "",'er .porls. n.ture I",i[s ~tc. A;, .... nh. much of
our ",bnd w.'cr h .. become a recreattonal .sse, 10 mi[IiQ'" of
peorle. bri"ging nrw 0rponnni,;n. but .[>0 .ddi,imu[ ri,b.
1.9 In 199~, BTlli ~h W:ltcrw'r~. wbicb is
responSlb[e for oy.r 2000 n"l~ Qf ,"nl!, .nd
"'., .. '" 1J",..n. [.rgel}' wIthdrew from frdglu l,.ndling opc ... non, dne to " .. ,I.e, condItion< .• nd n",,· promot ••• nd m.",rains ,be.., W:ltcf ,i,eo rOT
bo,mns. ~ng[ms ~nd other [e,sure u~. Almo>\
half of ,he popu[atlon of Ilmam "",,· li"e> wilh,u
fiv," mile. of. con.[ or m·er. ,ht m.jori.y "fwhich
are complolely lCc,"ssible.
1 I "11",j, " 11""
I~~--
L 10 Th~ EnVII\J/I"'~nI ,o.g.,n~y. wlllch " II ... nJ\'IJ;>"on am""n.y
for nUll)' "'..,.." (ind"dll'lt ,h~ TIullln. Modw.),. (;.~ .. au"" and
NeIlC). II .. 'r«,foc d",,~ I" "'.", .. ",. n"prO\"e .nd d~'{dop
r.~hel1("$. '0 promote .h~ u..c of ""'e' .nd .ssoc ... ed und fnr
'""" .... " .... ' .• nd '0 ",.k ,,,,,bhk II~ 0\'011 ~IIO (m """""l)Iul
p"rp<;»<"'. Th~ ~n<y "","" 6(X) '""s ne •• m <>\><"" w.",. ,oJ winch
.he pubhc h,s acc~s •.• ,Id ",.IIY .re """'l,oed '0 pro .. "Jc • wid,'
\"I..i<I}' of ,eere.,i"" ;!I",i\'ilie~,
In .ddlllon. Ih~ W .... I\c, or 191:19. obhj,oes "';UN .",ho","o< to
<n<on.~.., ,he mc of ,he "';lIcrs Ihey (M'" (0' 0>'" which ,hey I,."e ngt. .. ), for .ur •• "on.l."d .m.",1)' P"'f'O'C'
1. 11 [11 May 1990, Ih. D.p.rt",e", .. r N.,ion.1 Ile.i,.gc'
csubhshcd .n ,,'dcpc.ldcn, gnJup '" .epvn <>1' ,he cff""",..,n<s< nf =S\ln~ PrO\',.",,, for ..,fell III ,,'lie' >f'O'u ""ulllng III •• ',n. Rtp<tn
., dw II ..... Sf'I"U !Wfrtr 11&.*1":t (;""'1" Wl,i!s. ,hi> cOII,hKk-d d,"
much good ... rel)· pr.cn« .. ",mod. " ode""ii.rd II ... .....,.j, iOr a boti).
,och ~ RoSPA. (.hrollgh ,u N."oo,.1 IX'lte' ~.II('·i COIl'nHl""'). and
,he R~S UK \IJ play.n oKln.., rok '" ,<kllll£)""'!; puhloc .. fel) I"UI:S
whoch .ffK! " .... " X1"~I"", ArpcndlX .1 cOllUm. ,he [ull It", nf
rrcotllmt'"nW,IOfI'. TI~ IP'ldchno "'pre",,,, ",n of,he~" 10
thl> dulkl1gc'.
1 12 Opn-.'un .,Id nurugcn of ",bnd "",'er f>CII",C$. fxc til<' !:.O,l of i<k"uj),ng ,he hu.lds
"WCL1,od ""h OfK'II ">I,, .IId ~ ..... ''''g tI ... n,1os
,he"" prot"III '0 tI ... puhh<. T! ... ), III"" ,hell nuk
.rP.opn ...... fel)' .... ,,~"'~"'; to e"IIIN! ,h ..
."h 'o .11 ><<<I,,,,1>1c IC"-cI T" dlle .• llhQugh H"SI'A, Ih~ RLSS UI\ lIId ",her '!},Iteic, h'''e
bc:~" .hle '" "rr~r he'I",kc >d,·"c. "''' '!"",fie 11.UOlIll ~""'.lIcc h,s eXl"cd 10 .,,'" 0l"''''on. III lhi. ta5k.
1_13 The H"",e OrTiee .11d mh", h"di",
c""cerned ...... h ".Ie, .. ret}' ,ecognlsed ,he
coIII"b"II"" dUI > docuII",,,, "tel. ., tI", could
nuke In t..lplllg I" red,te ... h .. d......,111I", "I",h oceu ••• eh ).., .. '"
our L>.i<es. n,.., ... nd e.,ul, .• nd h.,·. offered ,he" lUl'f'On.
u~ The folln .... IIIg orl(01'''''''K.>'', ""'" WII.Ulrro '" .m, p"'p"rall"n or d ... p"I>I,<."o",
Adl'lmIU'" Ann~,," ll("Cn""g Au.honf)·
U"",h SunW.ld~ Irrstuu ...
Bnh.h IX' ..... 'ik, FcdeUI1or1
Bnttsh W~ter''';ly$
llrQJ.d. Authority
S~fcty at lnb nd Water Sites
Ch;lrt~t<:d Insutu,e ofEnvtJornnCI1t.11 kJlth
Chc§ler en)" Council
Wcl,hJottu Educ."un Corn,,"uec
Countryside Conulllss,on
£as< itcnfrO'w,lme Cuu'lCil
Enghsh Spon. Cotttle,l
Em'Im",ne", Agency
He.hh &: s"fet)' E.""cnti,·.
Loss Pre"emiun Council
Royal L,fe S ... ·,"S <;OC,et)' UK
l~opl N"io,,.lliicbo:u Institution
1l0}·.1 Y;;chttnS Alsoc,won
Scotti,h Angkr> N,tion,1 AssociJtion
Sco"'sh C.n"" A<SOCt>\'on
SWI111nl"'g Te.,he.,; J\ssoci;ltton
Surf life Saving Associ."on of G B
Th.,. Bnn.h Sub-Aqua Club
Scow.h Sporn Council
SporlS eo"",il fur W:!.les
IN LAN D WAT ER D ROWN ING - THE PROBLEM
lOC.AT10N
DROWN ING BY LOCATIONS _ UK 1997 1.15 Sin~< 1983. RoS I'A'.
annu,l pubh,-atton. 'V.otl'tli"g< ill
,I,. UK', h:lS ,hown cons"tcml),
th," drO\\Tll!lgo; l!l tnl.nd ",:ncr
(exclud",s those '" the d""'ntic en"mnmcm) m.ke up o\'er h.lf
of the 440 Of more d"""",l£'
,,",cumng ttl JT'Y )"Jr. A "'11K.l hrc.ldo"" show",1': 'pecific types of h>Ution ,e,·e.l< tlw
",·crs. on """'g<'. cI."" the "'''''t I"ocs; JO per cent of thc to",1 l;oke.. r",crVo,r< and pond.
'CCOUut f"r" evnsid".blc 20 pee ceut .• "d cln.!> .bout elgin per C~nt (If ,nnu,l drowntngo;.
Rh ...... S" •• m •• • « III (.lO'I.)
c .... " 34 (8"-)
Doclu. H.,b<>u" 22 (5%)
t ak<., R.u n 'Oi ..
78 (Ih.)
S"iml1l' nr;: l'oob 1.0 (5%)
c ... " .:, , ........ i\I~~ ""m. Bot h. !/> (6.,.) 108(1.0.,.)
S~fcty ~t Inblld w'ller Sites
\,\6 Th~ rd.tl\'dy lugh numt>c,r of ",I.nd """,'" drownllll:\'> COInp"w 10 c~ul d~.d,~!> ('~rl.U1W III 1"''' by Ihe d~n~ )!O<'kc ..
of popubnOl1 Ii!;ng in d,., ,·icinit'f of ~uch ...... ,~. bod",., n"klllg
!'USC' ... !.), f.lls '1110 w.~ n",", common, .. wdl .1 rTn<',,"ng
upponum~1 heM \\'1;"1,h(. l .... lI"",~N .... 1Ih com'en",,,, upcn ...... ler
WnU~S, furth~mJ(>f('. C<W.ul ,WIIl"'''''!> i$ of'en '''P<' .. ,sc-d by ""lled hfq;u .. d •• "d i, h ' Ugg<'"ed ,h., ,here ,s , !:, .. ,.,cr 'prw:w;oll oflltc nsk< """h'w III SC'3 .wi",,,,ing dun is <om<l;""$
,he ,'""., III I.kcs 311d n!'eN. hllporum rbk comrol ",,,.in,,,. >lllllll1d
...... "" ."e. mdude; OCI<:""'HS (eMep' .. deslgr''"W ..... ""nm's ne •• ); 1'<0\;,;011 of ;"rOI1lUliOn .bou, hn.rd at>d ,,~k (or nurb)'
resident' .nd \1S'tO .. , ."d n •• unllg .h(' >qlU.ic environ lite", , ..... I( i.
U Afc '" poMtblc.
ACTIVllY
1.17. The ""m'm", m winch ,·,('"ms \\~I'I: cngag<:d rno •• 0 the
d'OII'llnll ""eide",. renutn f.irly coma", from One yen II) Ihe neSl.
\". t't1>tC:111 )",n, d ... m.lJ'l<lI)· (.bn.n XI percen,) of,~ "ho drown
U1 ",l>nd \\'1!n ,1'1: p1S'('N'by "ho o'mpl)' f.1I Ill. (0\\011..,.;1 by.hose who 1f( 'Wlm"u"g. ."gl"'l> ."d oo..''''g. (.boon 13 pcr IXIl' (;t<:h), Thc 1'I:1II.inde. compT'''''.;I reb",..,I)' ." .. n lIumbC'r of w.l<:. SPOI'tS r ... httes. It .. ~lso wonh nouIIII ,I,.. • IlOl inSig",rlOlIt rlumber of wDuld · be T~Kuen .re 'tying to ,,,'c no' uII\y hutlt~lI. bm
oc~'''''II.lly c.rlme c,""u>lllcs.
,eE
1.18 Inl."d ....... " •• kod,ffcr. from the "'" In ,h .. dunnll , .... w"nn rno",h~ n rn,y fTITle o,."r, l),lTmll' cold ,,~nccr, «'\~ ... I r."I"",. ",,11 be d'l'I:ctly .""buubl,' '0 f"'2~" w;u~ ... , \Vo"er bodi", ",here Ibis
occurs .re often snu11('d ",tlun re.eh of reSlden",\ .rc.s. ",.klltg
sbling and sliding on dte icc • 'empung pl'O:lp<'<'l, p>rticlllarly I()
ch,ld,..,,, who '1'( or",n 1I11>"pc .. ·'..,.... 0,,,,,, """rotIC h .. r.llen
Ihrough .he 1« •• Ix- clunce of 5" .. ·",.1 " remote .nd ,hcre " ..cute
cbn&<,T {or the wdl·rnc.nmg. but III>dcqlUtely p~red and nleXp<'l't
~T. ,,·II()'O<! oftc" suffe,", II.., un.., {>Ct. The Iw.rds offn.>zen
W.tcT musc be .ddTc.""d by Sne opcr.ron, .Iong wnh ,h ... e
1S5OC1.,,:d \\'Itli Ihe _",,,mer rnomh. (...., p'T>W"rhs 6.l4,(,.39),
S~(et}' Jt Inland Waler Sites
VICTIMS
1.19 Tv ",mpJ.I~ the ~''']ysis vi ",bnd "':!fcr ,]""'''''''''SS, ,t ,s
""porum '0 d",,;mun<' 'hUS<' mos, ~, ri,k. E,'cry ~"'~T SUUSIlCS
confinn ,hlt;' is yo""g m.le~who .rt mOS' likely to suffer .~cid.nul
dro"."ing. It would ~ppc~' '0 be ,his group who mOSt f'e<!u.ully indulge in imp romp'" w,'ims in h.urdous bkcs ~nd I)"cr<, ",ho 1~ m()>1 hkdy 'u h"'" b\.'C1I drmk'n!; ~1cohl)l, .nd
who ore mos' .ubJ"~' 'u pcer prel>uro whe,e ",.l1e .. of phy>ie.l chalkn g<: are concerned,
D,(m~llng prc"cnnon slulcb~es ne..d \0 "due.",
yuung people .OOUI ' he rISk!; proscmcd by ~11
",:lIer and 10 diKou,"b'C dl"",'crous beh.\~our ., ",""r,"cs,
DROWNING DATA
1.20 Unlike som, co><ul ,,,e, where i, i,
l'O'!ibk 10 pin. P"""" of'no.r m'sses' d"ough
rest''': d,,,, fru'" bud'e. s"ch .s the Roy,,1 Life
S''''''8: Socie'), UK (RLSS UK), ,he Surf life Saving AS$OCb,ion of Grc .. Uri,.in (SL<;A GU), .Ild 'h<' Ruy.1 N>liv".1 L,fd,oal Institotion (RN U ), mosl inl.nd ",:"or bodies arc un<upc,,,iscd and
such ",(o,,,,.non IS not .,.,lohl", Funh .. mon: d'e o]><"'lOr Illay nOI
be ",formed of.Il .ccident, e,'en where th~ emc~ncy ""r\'icc~ ha,·c
rcmowd an injnrcd I"'''Y from •• if(.
1.21 M.ny who cX]><ricllCc 0 'Ilc~r dro'MI",g' Ill'), suffer no III effect!, .Ild III')' nOI ";SI1 • ho.pitll. where ,uclt acddt"'! mighl
mhctwisc be pICked up. With 'he lII'lIIboor of drowllillgs each )'Nr
r<!inmed ., .round fi"e hundred (ucordilll!; .0 unoffici.1 fi.o::ure<), .lId with. UK pupul",'on of "ver 5R IIlIlholl, ,he ch:>uccs of
dro'o''tltng .. ~ Ih.nkfully Still 10\\', All equh.km number of people
die m houS<' fire< OS ore dro'o'11ed, alld ,here 1$ .ppr<>'~'lImcly ~ nne III
16,500 ~hallcc of booing killed 011 'he food. Nc"cnhdcss If i,d" n Ihe
cue: ,h., Ihose who trogtc.lIy lose their hcs Ihro","" dr""~lIng. do
SO quil' nc..dlessl)' when lhere "Tc so m,"), ".)'5 in which it con be pre,,,,m..d,.s this d<)Cutnctll will des<:n~,
1
AIMS
1.22 TI", pl1bliC:Illon 'i111~ 10:
piKe Ih< conc"p' or risk a\s."'IllC'" for inla"d w,UCr 11110 "S ope"'''onlilud le!;Oll roJ1!cXI:
pro"ide' .'''''tID' .nd b'lllddil1<"l for ",I.: "'~nlgc11l"m: . nd
e.t.bll,h principles • .,d 'YSI"m. which or" rC'>0111bly
ptul1Clblc .nd can b" 'pplu,.d co"""emly .Jtrol1ghom the Bm!>h 1,lcs.
Safer}' 3t Inland Wiler Sitcs
Legal Considerations • COMMON LAW DUTY OF CARE
• STATUTORY REQUI REMENTS
•
2.1 HoIh CommOI1 atld ~'~'Ult I~w II".., , .<'1 ..... "....., 10 Ih~
opcr.lllOn ... finbnd "",crs.
COMMON LAW DUTY OF CARE
2.2 Ulld~r «""mon llw. h.bill,y 10 negllgenlX n",y .nse (rum ,he b ... .>th (>f a f"tld.m~ntll dUI); kn"""1 .1 the '.lUI)' of ca.-c', Th~ dmy
il dCK"l'lcd as fon"",~, .,,, Ilke r~.s"n.bl,· cor. to O\"o,d >CII Or
rnmssioru which yuu nil ""'I01uhl), r"",,.,, wOllld be hkely to "'J"" ),,,ur n"ghbou,'
TIm applies 10 members of,he public., w~II., 10 ille 0IX'''''''''',
2.3 TI,e .1m)' ~I,..rilil'd I. 10 uk. ',cuon.blc' cot<. ThIS ClIO bot ddi"rd as ·wh ... he I'<'.J.OI1.l>k PC""" would I .. ,'., fore"""" J.J bc;ng
n«twry", A eerl,lI" k-,,] of risk" ..cccpubk .n..!" OS ~<ed .11 ..
s"fety mC"<lSurtS ""II b<' 'l'Pliro'w fa •• ~ II .... '<)01.1>1)· pr¥lIC.bk' In
other words. the «'Chnical (.nibili!). 11 ... CU>I •• ,od the dfOl1 rrqu'rcd
10 ""rlcmtnl mu.,,~ nero; to b<: b>.1.n(W .S"um \l1C 1(".1'1 "fnole.
Th, m k IS dc\cTI1l1l1cd fmm "CQmbUll110n of ,h. foll""'mg: hk..!)'
k"crit)' of th~ jnjury a.i,jng; hkdy freque"cy uf lh~ Illckknl or<'"mng; .nd .n C!lIm.ol~ of Ihe n"",~. of pe.son, hkely 1\1 ~
illCClro. The <>pCUIOf "Lt',1 uk.c Ihne ""0 ruolSKkr.1II0" "'1>0,, dctC'nm"mg a ... notubly JII"".IoCnnblr l>fcty " .... ,,, .... For ,:ample. fellClng off nules 0( ".Ie. edge ", ... "Id, for I1UI1Y <>pCu'on, ""
,,,,,,,,,rumro on the b'l"ound. uf coS!. w"h Imlt re~p"ni"c ~f"ty &'1m.
COl>Sldcr.lion .hould also be gi,"Cn t(l hc.i~'C .nd en,·trU""tC'm
'U"N wlttn habncmS ',e'>'Onablc pra"",,.b,ilty·
2A In th<: ~ of ",bnd ""cr,' dlll)'ofcll"C. Ittn«' ..... "' ... "lCnl
tn rakt :>d~u>'e pr«a""0"'. ,,,II f.lltn the .u, <>p("Uto •.
Slfe!y l! Inbnd W~!er SIlC~
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
2.5 n,~ 11"""1':1.1 pruw::'ples of!hoe rommon bw duty of ... ", .'"
.Iso ",tI«t"'! '" s.,,,,norydll"cs. ThIs h.b,hty ,s n,.,:asu.....! >gIlns •• h~
Icuer of the I"" Public ."d ~'"plol'e<: ~fc!)' >I w::lter 51lCS " a lumfOr)' d,,!)' pl>eM "pon "I"'rJlors in SO f~r;lS .hey .re eml'lo))-, .. , or h.,,,, df«,,,,,, control 0>,(' SueS.
IIEALTI[ AND SAFElY ATWOIlK ETC. ACT [974
2.6 EmplO)"'rs wlK) mo.", or [m", responsIbIlity lOr w~ter Jiles
h~"e sp«lflc dlUl"" to theu ~"'plo)-'...., u"d~ •• h" Ile.hh and S.f,,!)
•• Work elC, Act 1974 (d,e 1974 Act), which also un~ In
obhgllnon 10 condUCT "I"'""nons In such 1 ..... y as 10 enS"", d .. 1
ITI<'mbers of Ih" public " .. no< cxpo5('d .0 risks .0 theu hulTh mil
ufe!)', Whc", Ii,,,, 0' nl()'" suff arr emplo)'<"<I. the empl!»". IS
""'Iuued I<.> I .. ,,,, • wrmen h"a].h and s.fel}' poiie}' 1"''''''11;'''
IC('()mp,;monl by d.., "TI't('II .muSC'menlS r>C'Ccu.ry for punmg.hoe
policy InlO pr.KtlCe, ll",xh of.~ dl1li..-s nU)' kOld 10 r"{orermc,,,
Kliun. which m.oy mdude prm<'<'Uliou. :md m.y .]so be mcd III
C"'IIk'w::r III Com ",on bw d..IIII'i for din,¥". ~r.ll<.>rs of "''lter
Site':< ]u'''' >. du", 10 c""'rol r>Ot only nsb .0 ",fe!)- from drowmng.
bmals:<> hc.ltI, "sI's such U lhos-c. associ.t"'! ,,~th eOm"m"'ltro "'l'e'
('I<'r p.ngr:tphs 5.35-547).
TI LE MANAGEMENT OF IlEALTI-l AND SAFElY
AT WORK ltEGUlJ,TIONS 1992
2,7 TI, .. "" Regnl."""., nude u"d<:r .he 1974 ACI. fllnh~r ddlll~
h"w s>f~1}' """'ge"ICm ,hould be .ppr~hed .• "d n-qult'e .d<"<[".",
.nd .llll.b!c ,,,k .S'IC"Ill~m ofwork-... bted ;t("t",,,,~s.o d~t~rn""~
.Ioe !,"',"ellll"" .nd prO!~~lIw .teps whICh mil •• be ~kcn. Th'1' .I§O
rcqulre cnlplO)",rs to hl\·~ .cces, 10 cOlllpo:,cm ad"cc .• 0 m(1nll(1r
.nd m"""" the .. i<-I}' S) ... tcm. tod"',,.e ~mcrgcnry procrour..-s •• nd to
p,o,-Ide Inf".m."o" .nd "'''UHf: .s "CCCb'ry. Funh.rlllorc,
employers hl>'" • dillY to <<>-'>1'<''''''. '0 emurr "0 mlos "''''.''' \llu>KSKd •• nd Ihn .",:os of .",If r.SpGIIs,b,h!)'.re deuly defi"ed.
11M: Rexu!."on. Ih",Jo", Iu"c n~jor implicuions for ;nl."d w.ler ,i •• optr.llOrs wI ...... KI;";lin Iu,,,. b<-.ring OIl public uCe!)',
16
S~fcty at Inbnd Water S It~S
OTHER OCCUPATIONAL IIEALTI I AND SAFElY DUTIES
2.8 Opcr.IO" to whom d,e J?N Act _pplics .h.o h.w nrious
oth~r dum'" induding th~ provi"on of forst_.id (or ~",pIO')'C1.'S hkdy
to k injured .• nd th~ record,ng. .nd "oufo""o" of "Clden,s 10 ,he ,,,,(orcing .nthonty (rg J [SE Or Inc.l.uthonty env,mnnte" .. 1 hc.hh
d~p.nnt~n .. ). Where" member o( the public h" dr",,''''xl or Ius
been ",ken 10 1t00p".1 for ",ro".1 "COllllcm. " following. nur·
dmwning inc,dem. !I,e 'ppmpri." enforcing .mhor'l')· 1lIUSl be
nonfied. Further d,.,;1 "!(i",'nlll p'''W.ph. 6,47-6.48.
OCCUPIERS UAIIIUTI ACT \957
2.9 TIllS i\c, 11l1f>05<" upon dte occupIer of prOllnsc •. , duty of eu~ to .Ily ~isuo. usn,s the r.mme! for the pnrposes fOT willch 'hey >TO pen11ltted or n",,,ed '0 bo the ..... Cose low h:as .h""" ,h~,. ;n
S01l1e "SCI. e'"en "",p,»<:r •• n: o,,"CtI >I"h 1 dUly. Th" O<:cttl"er. Li . b,I,,)' Scotland Act 1960 provides (0 •• pph"non o( dns dmy 11l
Sco,l:md.
2.10 As prc~io\1sly rcferrc-d '0. " i~ nOt "'\I.lIy possible 110. dninble '0 (enee much o(d,e inbnd wlIer m ,he Bri'ish [,I.,.. It is ll,u. IInpor ... m 10 nndcrs.,nd d1.1' the oper.,or m.y be n:lic,,,d o(
hlblhry 1(' d>nRCT IS de.rty b.ouWt' '0 the vi,IIor', .ttclll;on .• nd 'he
opcnt'" ",k(s .ppropn .. c P'«(':I.I1"Oll,. It" ""PO''''UI ,herd,,.e ,1011. 'hruugh the n>I.:~I~>melll P'X)et"., openlOTS idclttl(ywhen: ,ign.ge
is necn,,!)'. ~nd ens" .... 11m 'pprorr,:ue 'ign' >T~ postcd 10 comnltLl""". ,h. prcscnc" o( d.nger. Adduion.l wTllton or ,,,,hoi
:-7"~L--:=-___ ~-,~---,. ,nrOrllUIIOn m.y .Iso be p'O\',ded to ,'ISltoTS ..
'l'Prop,i.",. WI,iI" WII'" "p"nw .... prefer nu' '0 publi cisc hll>Td, to 'he public II", .ppm.ell tmy
re$nl,ttl grc .. er nsko( "uur}' .• nd meur hablhry in ,ho cvo", o(,n KCldom.
2.11 In .dditl011. sped.l e>TO 111\1" l'<' .. hn tu ell,ure the »fel')' "f child .... n: m.IIY dlll~'" ex,,,
for chIldren which pose no 11"0>1 '0 ><lull • .
R.,linf::\. (or c~Il'ple c.n 5.lfcsuml .dults from.
h .. "d bIll pcr,,", access by chlldrell. M,"y
d.ngers Which "'''uld be "b"lou, tu tho :>dult m.}' represcnt rollculc-cl ' lId socr .. t ..... p> for the child.
Indeed. fc.t"", •• ueh a, .n ;Slltld m.y .. t :os •
'lure'.
PUBLIC: HEALTH ACT 1936
2.12 Th~ P"bh, Ik~hh Aa of
l\lJ6 " ~" ,,,~blinK I~w orrerin!;t
lonl )".horn,c< ,he ro"'er ' " I'C:{:\,I", "'un "scrs. &Cl1on 231 ",flhe Atl S",'Ci;
"a lewl olJ/lw"iy m,'y mok, b)~o,,~
,,..,1, ""pn'II~ pub/I( bo"",(~
Such byb", .. migh. ",dude:
""sulltlon of .he .Ire.!!
'" ",hlCh. :md .1>< hou",
dnring ",hich. pnhhc
Iud",,!: ,lull br pcmllnro:
IQ 'CtI"''''' pcr";,,n. ptu\1d"'g ;1CCI)3nnIoOd/.Il"u for ""dung. .0 pl"Q\ide.,><I ma", ... ", liit."",ing.l1'P1i>ncc-s Of 011><. ",un. of
pro<Nling b,nhers from dang<-r: and
regubuon o( for II><)'Ur'J'05C of pm''(''"L1'g danger 10 lulhers . • he """ig;:mOfl of ,"nSt"1. u;;nl for pknurc: p"~' ",,,I,,,,
.I"~' ..... ~llou.-d for p"bllC b,nlu"g d"""g .he hOtJrs alloo:ot<I for Iu.hmg.
TIl(" P"bh, IIc.lld, (Scod~"d) Ac.. of 1897 and I\MS "ill, ," .. ious
.I"'c"dmc",~ prO\',d, for .pphc,"on of ,ud, ' C<I",r,m,ntS on
SroII.nd.
•
Safcty at Inland Watcr Sites
The Drowning Prevention Strategy • WHY PEOPLE DROWN
• WATER SAFETY MANAGEMENT
9
•
s~relY ~I Inhnd W~lcr Sil"'~
WilY PEOPLE DRO W N
3.1 A nllmbe, of lI!ponl'lolUl"l> lu"". for nunl )'<'~I"). betn
ooU"""S d"",-nmg ~U"'I1("S IIsmS d,tTeren' n .. d ..... h. "oSI'A has
.ub>crlbcd 1O~ press CIIu,nglo<"I"\"l«" <In«" 1983. frorn wtllth dcu,I.;IS
10 ""hll d"",~". "'here ..... ll("n ,,0<1 "'hl h .. · .. betn uux\t"d. WI" .. ,
"",.n "lCldem" ""n be repor,ed in ,ht """")jl'PO;rs. dH!1't"".1 ",rum
t"n~l!tcnry III the rel"","n!; yur on Y".1'. and 'rend. CO" bc (Ol1lp~'.d,
3.2 [):.,h b)' aceiden ... ! d''''''''''''11 con usu.ny be ,,:cOl1ll1cd fo,
doro"l:h on. or nwrc of d •• f"U""'lIIg f:.c.<Jf'lI:_
I, Unmfonncd or IInr~1r1("'cd >C"«<~ 10 .h .. ",.I.r huud
3, LKk ofS"PC''''~I''''-
4. hub,hlyof '-Kli", to ~ (0' 10 be """lied) 01>tt III dlffi,ult).
3..1 ... h .... "sh .xh of th ... bn-. ... ~. be ronlnbulO<)' f>C'tuos, the
""JOr ou", of dro,.m ... s .. lI"doulllcdly II", ..,...,,0<1 po"" ... fev.·
"" .. III"s would knowII1i1I)' h ... ·t tntor.d • pol .. "".Uy Itd .. 1 ~",,.,,,,,,
3,~ Un"'i ..... med or un ..... ";cfro:acC .... 10 ........ r
h.urd "n •• "Iy Pf(J\", f.",1. Wotrtllllg """I(tl "'.)'
dete, the potent .. 1 0i .... 11}:. .nd .dctj'''IC .,,01 ,.. ... n
n .. IIlu"ocd N ..... OS .... ~n .Is<> help p"" ... nt .Kce<.'_
3.s Sup"r .. '.IOI' IIIdud ..... d", ofl'."'1II,.1. wdl ..
'profcs".m.r '''1'''''-'<0'-'; ,neh .. hfcl1,u,dl .• nd III Ih. 1II1 .. "d ",,'c, e,,~ironmc11l n " Ih. formcc
who >t. Ihe " ...... ""porum.
3_6 F" .. U~'. ,he ",.h,li.y ,ocopo' once 111 d,flk,,!,,-.
,.1" often mult from ;mm""';o,, .• ",IIC, ",lllllgi)
or a<"~I<k"\;IIf), "lIo eoId ""~,. E,'~" Ih<»<: ,.11Il1:
d'~lIlsch"C'S n good <,..,mn'ers "" find d.e>< .blltry ~ ... ,.d)' ""p.i,~d III d.< 1")1"C31ly ("Old .• nd
ofocn f.)t 111O\'lIIg. 1111,,,d "'lleT< of the Il'tnlh
bl ...... U"dc",,,ln .m.tnKliom. "".,d gowlh ."d s,l. C,It '1 .... "1:",flC .... I)' .If« .... "....." ... , .b,l,ly'o ",""", III 01'<"" ,..".ef. The :added h.ufdJ flf "'n......,n'''~. "'nd~ ."d depth of w ...... ~ • "".1'" COlIC ......
1.7 l!~mNh,1 m~'S\l= .ppr<.lpr~I~ In .>ddlX'ssln!,: th~ "luI-,ll
fXtOO In dl"<)\\~"ng.rc ,h""" bdow,
[duc.tlon .nd i"fom"l;on.
1.~ T""",h~r. IheS~ musurci Con Ix: comb"'cd 10 form a
drowl1l1'S: prcvc""o,, ~II""'1!Y 1<.> help col1l",1 risk. They.rc likely t"
Ix mOST (ITeCtl'"(" when utlh~d ~ a hicwchyof mC~UrCS urgcttd n
'p,:e;';, palms III the ~UCJKC <.>f ["\"("m. which c." Iud to •
dl"<)\\""'1:- Employ",S a St"'tc-g>c .pp~h demand, a thor<wj;h gnsp
of dIC pri'ICipks of ri,l .. ~n ... '" on .I,c )Urt of "",,"""rs. 10 "<I~I
,he", '" 'ppt)"lnltcomrol ",,,.0$,,= wtnch.rc m",I'ppropr ... , 10 Ihe
(Olld"'OOI!.
WATElt SAFETY MANAGEMENT
3.9 Opcn'ors an nrcl}: if ","ct. ""h"(" ,heir .. fct)· problems by
s'mrl)" uurod'ICml; • 'onc off' ,echnic.1 mc~UIX' fol""'lng an accode1ll Tim ...,~,i\"c .pprua<:h. ",hi<:h gcn,,, •• II)" f.iI, to address ,he
ch.", nf .KCldCnI C'''''"';OI1. d"". mil: mmll}' ,dem,fy u"dcrl\·",lt ""(".k"cs",,. ,,' d,e opc-r .. or·~ .. (ct)' ",an.>C"I11cnl '~'SIC"', Tl1<"SC
""("alme.", •. ,f "01 corlX'cled. can 'I""C c •• il)" Ic.>d to ol1,er .KCldcnl>,
1101 Idc,,"fjed (r"lll a 'I:nec jerk' responS<' Ill' single .cddenll.'Wtll
.l ln A"o'hcr "'" I1"CO'"''''-''' ,,"i'<1d(. tim lr'
acc1<\cnr-f'f"<" ,<"Cord ... 'i !~. indie."·, a .. f, sne. IS ShOT'-Sl!;hl('d and d.n~roui,~, ~II W;1feT posel IOmC dcglX'c of",\:. All opcralOfl, nttd. '0 de\"elop
~od .dop! • pro.,,;\"(" T.,her ,h." rc.",,"c
""rroach to m.II"H'''1( ,h~;, nsks ho"'-"«.~''-~r Ihes..
n .. y ~n,." 11 's Impor'an< to ... ubh,h ,h~ pohe)'.
OIpI1l$,mon ~"d proetdur ... for uckling .. fcly
bc,colX' su",ns 10 «)!1SKkr sp«ific prublcms ~nd
f'VI'>lbk wl"no" •.
3.11 Tho sUrlmS PQ"" 'S 'v om.blosh ~ ~f~I)' "'~".g<""'~m sY"Cnl b.sed on acknvwledgc-d good pr"",;cc .s com,II"cd "'. lor """",pic. lISE·, s",d.nce. 'S"«r!$!111 IImltl, Q'W s"ft,y J\I,Wd.\"""',,,, · (1IS{G)65) .nd tI'e B'm,h Sund.rds In"",,"o" ·s. "C"j,[, to ()(mf"'"",,,,1 IINlt/,
d",[ S.if(ty ,11""""","'<111 Sp''''''· (IlS:I:!!:IOO:I9%). HOIh public.,;on. sIre's ,h., ,he key '0 .d"p""S • pl.nncd ' PP'Olch '<> ",rct)·
",.n,!;C"",cm lies in dcvelop",s a" c«~ctiw app,,,,,ch '<> 'isk .. "".mom.
3.12 W"hcre 01""""0'"' h.w ohmy d",..,loped 0" CK"cup,,,on.1
h~.hh .nd ~.rcl)' """'>gcm"m sY"'~'" ,hey should ~nsurc ,h" this ,.les W"eT ... reIY ",m'b"'""''''''. ,"d pan,c"I .. ly ufel)' of'he publIc. fully into ,eeouII1.
Safety ~t Inland Wat .. r Sit .. s
Risk Assessment • DEFINITION
• I-lAZARD IDENTIFICATION
4 I/"k \'" ""Ie Tot DEFIN ITION
4.1 The purp<M uf mk UK"I~"'C"I 'I 10;
cI'ttk whelher eXlsung contro\ m .. UureS (including ell.el'[:""<)' rblll)'" ulcqu.tc;
reduce ."ks to >I, xC<I',.blo kvd Or whe.Il". 1lI0rr nero, 10 I>< dOlle: .nd
I'"orn,,., "'''«<I'ublo ."1,,, ,d.,,,,r,cd III tin. w"y for fll"h~r
>ctlon
4.2 Ihsk '" lern" vf ~fuy II ddill('(! ., ,h. likelihood or
prvbab'hry 01 .. , • l,.um ("""1"« ur poI<"".1 Iurm) ",11 !:i'" n.., to ." ""I'I."""d r-..,nl (a«itkm) ,,"h h.",,(,,1 otllrum<" (.;"11'>"'<1' ..... 1)(0). Thr, .. f", •. w nSorU risk. " 0< 11«"""1)' 1<1
'(\""111)' h.ums. <"SIUl"\( d", n,1; from <..eh Il.lLIrd. (ie , .....
hk£hhood 1)1' It"", QCC"ITII~ ""'plni ,nIh "' ..... ..,nry If"
don) .... d .... " d«odc.- ,flh .. mL ,s ,ok"bk Qnc, "~. '" willch ,hi. m'~u be .ppro.ochni .. w USC". '''''rk ri,L .... 'illUtor and ".k_~ cumrol pl." such ., ,h., dM,S<'<! by .h. IInush
St.I,Jd.rd, 1">1111111"" (...., brl", .. ,). Tin, ... ", .. on tI ... j:;ndong of
'he huhhnod of ,11 ",,,den! <>ceu"",!; ~"b' ,h ..... ," .. nl)' of h.m, ,lu, rot,ld II<- do".,. .hulIld II ..... cur. For "''''''"plt. ,f 21)
;occ,dent 1> unhkdy >lid «mid re~"h 0/11)" '" ~hj!1" h.>rm. dle/1
~hc nskcould be d" .... d .. ',,,, ... 1" (:"''''''1' •. .-1): ,(,he clUII"" Qf ." ;oce,denl " .uSIt. cVllrkd "" ... n .,.~tr~r"d)" h.",,(ul "mcome (,,; dmwn;n!:l. ,hen cI,,· ri;1: would he- ·intvkr.bk· .nd n"mrd"'e .oc'''''' w"uld u...,d '0 Ix- ,.k .... 11 '" «d,Ke d',llsl; 10. wlcnblc Ic\TI
4.3 1(,,1: ••• ,,"'m .... ," i~ OH1)· of .ny ,·.llIe if II 11""""'" ." iH,"cmory for KII"H h .h,,"ld 11m Ix- r~rdrd cnhrr :as .H .,."d on
n.df or merely" hur .... ",,-..uc f"ro,,-filh,,!: e,ere;",. II "eed, 10 Ix("1rrtW 0111 try ",mpo:'lcon 1'<"-'1'k "~11t , r.Klle.1 knowlcdl,'<' oi ,lte
.IoCm',,; .. bei"lI '»<:n<"ti. "")- que,u"". I" "''' ",dllde till' follo ..... ",lI'
Who 'Sf~' HowoflCn'
How hul)' "" dUI.n ;oc,IIk", ",uld iuPJIC">
W1u, cumruls.lOn- on pbce>
S.fety at Ill b lld Water S ite~
lISE', but,kkt. "j S"11i 'a R"k A.<st",,,,m", is • mcful pnbl,c.,ion
designed '" hdp "pen,o,., ~c"rnph<h th,S 1>sk dfec,,\·dy.
\V:Itcr "fety 'Si".~ ofl~n i""olve sew'll different partie! and II ,!
"nport"" '0 &"'" e.ch of tI,ern III "pro",,"i,y 10 contribute to the risk .,,,,s!me,,, procc!!,
IExtr", from ~SI:S&(): 1996]
A . imple ri.k level est imator
Prob.bilit'1' of S .... ·crity of ou,come
>ccid~II" Slightly Immful II.nllf,,1 Extremely I»II"f,,1
I lighl)' unlikely TRIVIAL IUSK TOU,RABLE IUSK MODERATE IUSK
Unlikely TOLEItAI:H.E lHSK MODERATE RISK SUBSTANTIAL IUS K
likely MODERATE RISK SUBSTANTIAL RIS K IN I ()I ~11Am F HI\K
A sim ple risk-based con trol plan
IUSK LEVEL
TRIVIAL
TOLERABLE
MODERATE
SUBSTANTIAL
INTOLEltAllL£
ACTION AND TIMESCALE
No a<liOIl is rl..:Juired and no doc"mem'I)' ,,,,,<>,d, IIC<:d '0 he krp'
No addition.1 control, 3re ""q",rcd. COlt,ideTatioll m.y be given to. more
co,,-('ffeMi, ... solution or ' '''pro' ... mem thai imposes no .dd,ttolt.1 coSt burdcn,
Efforts should be muk to reduce the mk. but the ''''IS of pr(;,'cm;on should
be ",rdully me»"rcd ."d limited . Risk reduCtion "'<";[SureS ~h""ld k
imp1em~rI"d wltlun a der."ed ti'"e period.
Where the tnOO~r:lte ri,k is u,wci.,ed with ~xt ... mdy harmful cO"S<"<Ju."ce$.
further :>ssessm.", may k nc(cs>.l'Y to establish more prc~i,dy .h~ likdihlJlKI
ofh~rnl ~. Nsis for dClCrtl1lllm& the need for ;mp"',,'cd control me",,,,, .. ,
Work should not be Slatted "",illite ri,k h,~ hc:en ... duc<:d, Considerable
TeIOU=S may h"'e to be allocat\d [0 reduce tI,e r,sk. Where the ri,k involves
work in progrc". urge'" :.c'io" should k taken.
Work ,h"ul<l nlll to.. ",m,,1 ,,, """"""d unttl the r"k I .. , I"rlt ,rd,u ~d If It I'
rI,l[ rosstbk ttl rcdn" ",k, ,,1\ ",,10 ",,11111 It,,! T( ,,,,,,,,, .... nrk h" til H In"ttl
prnh'hltld
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
4,4 I. II luet,,1 ro «()r\snh h,ltor,c~l dn. On """""''''E;' .nd ...... r
dro'''''''''!;)', .0 2S5'~' I" <k'~rn"'''n!l .he lU'ur~ of .he hu.rd, and hkely ri.1<. >< " .~,rLC t)1'<' ofloauol1. Agenc .... sloeh" R"SI'A and IlL\\ UI<: h"",, ron"d" .. bl, knCM'lcdgc of d",,,,.,,ItlS:C.,lK •• 1r~nd, ."d ",,,,'101,, ~"d "ny Ix- .pprwchM fur
help on ,I", "'''j«'l. The ("lIow",!; "f'I'CIl "f .he w,ler ,'011"0 will prl"SC1ll haurd~ which neC'd w be Jddrrl\Cd during ri~k assessment
.he ""ure <>f .he """,cr,
.he proximiry ur,he d~p "';lleT to the nl!t":
.he.- >t~."h,hty of tI ... ,,";lter; ."d
NATURE Of THE WATEH
~,; D")"'11II1!C' c.n .nd do h'Jll'Cn III ,uI hod)' or eonU",,,.
of ",It." .nd '" 2$ link .os i"'" «n"rntlrt> '" deplh Ilowe,-cr, In
j:cncrll. d •• n"w ",,'er " Ie ••
h.urdous tI"n de<:p ""'cr .• nd c:«t",meiy doq, wa,er is .he,- mOSI
h.urduus of.ll _ for .c.sot" of
.''''IX ..... u.' and d>r'1y .s well.,
.hc redncod 1'<.ne"".1 for
IUCfC!sfnt ", ... no u(. I "b"'cr~,'cd c.,n.l.y
<4.6 MO'·lUg ",d lHrbnkm w:llcr .. n...,,,, Iou.r""". ,h." >nll w:lle. (or <:>tn·,,,u. .e:r5Oll.. .nd ... ,11 Mn:'ch II,~ .b,luin of .... ..,n
....... Ill"" CO"'~'enl."''''n..,r. C:"rrcnlS rn.y n<M ,"'-.,... h<- 'Pi"-",n, from d.., b>"k, or nl:ly""'''' "..,.1<1:. II .. " die)' '" f.n 'K. Add,,,,, ... l dangers "", .. at "fC"S whe .. ,he "-.'c" depth QtCurrclll .. ~1."Cf<."d 1»bC"J>·Y ""'n 0. nood. hll ,lKM" cmcn"g ~1I("b W:If". a.., plKI"g
<hcm~h"rS "pc" n\l. "",<db of "'"''''''''''Il.b.h'),
Safety at h,bnd Water S'tes
4.7 WI,~", "'-;ltOr is lIIurky or d,fficuh 10 ~ d1r<>Ilgh. hidden
ObS1~dcs m~y prcloC"lIt fnnher hn.rd, 10 '''fone in ,h~ """cr. p.mcul~rly ,nynne """,,,.. enough 10 di\"C III. Cloudy W:>1cr mayalso
,nd".'e lugh le,·d. of pollU!all!>. Funhcrrl1orc." ~ubmergcd e .. u.lty
is .nthe more d,fficuh to '"{"'cue from .uch W;ltcr.
I'I(OXIMITYOF 11EEPWATElt
4.8 The deep w.,er h.~,ru m,y be less significant if,imm"d in the
(cntre .• WoIy from the .-.:IS'". WI,c", ,here is • re.~u.hly S'"ntlc
gnd,clll for SQIllC dl<tmce hefore dropPlllg mor~ s'eeply 10 dup
",,!cr. tilt n$k to auyl)rlC who f.lIs '" .1 the cdb,," v .. ill be solllcwh.lt
rednced. Ahem. ",""I),. where ,he ""dcrwoltcr prof,le >hO\V'i •• heer drop from ,he rob'" "";gh, down 10 deep w.lcr. (35 m;ght be (oll"d
",.n 0>.1=';011 pill, or whcr~ Ihere is s"dden shelVing ""ncath W:IICr,
the dccp w:ncr presents a nlbst.:mn.1 risk!() .nyone entering.
THE WATER'S EnGE ITSELF
4.\1 A firm. n., ."d well
deflll.-.:l edge 10. body of ..... oter i~.
in so",e co."". Ie" luuruuus dUll
• 'soff n.Hlr1Il olle. p.Tllenlarly
h.nk, whel"<' ",ud .. nd surf.ce
IllO"HIrO m.y co.u,", .hpP;l1g. or
whe,", ,~uuon h .. grm'" o\"er to give. f~l,e imp,e«;oll ~' to Ih~
.~l~nt of tC!T:I firm1.
ACCESSIBILITY OF TI IE WATEn
4.1U Th~ 'C(e.sib,hty of dcep
w.ler I> of (mic.1 ill'po,uu(e
whe" .. se~'lIIg r;.k. Th~ degrct'of .ue.. m.y he .ny of ,he
f,,!lQWtug: opeo .nd d"':<:t; footp,uhs "'t ruck from the w,""": parti.1
segr"g,,,;oll from ,he ",,'et hy v'S'"'.';"" or Illa,, _n];.dc bu,;e .. : public .cee" 1."';1.:11;011 dne I<J 1 ren,Ote I""uon: or eo",pl~te d~"i.1
of anes, by 1 <uh<ll111111.nd undc~;r1Iblc fence. So .. for 111,unee. 1n
e;.,1ren,dy deep 1xxI1' o("'~tcr m.)' .(nully be dccm~ low mk if;1S
rCUlU'" loc1t"m me4"~ it IS "Idom \;med.
IIINT[RlAND ACTIVITY
~,II In ~>s<'s"'iI n.k. con.,dC'~U<l" ,J<:t'd. ,0 Ix- 1,:1'-~" lU d",
KII'''}' !oldy,,, til" rlKe "', on,
"r brs,dt ,he "'>ler bod)' '"
~dd",,,n ,0 ,he ph}',,''''''1 hn>rds
rr"><'nt"d 1»" '''e, The """,be", of d,,,,,, uk",!; I',n ."d ,he "a",,,,
of ,hV><' groul's w,1I .1 ... , h"" l
hc'''''1\ "" ,,,k 1",,,1 •.
4.12 Wa'er.5,de public hOIl"" .
• "d ",her J,,,,h ("."u,,., br"'l> ,~,hn r«>pk ~nd .10,,11,,1 p.rncullrly ,,~,h group< of )""""g
"",n. 0". ,un"'",r'~ ",'e",III! this
m,)- ""<'0'"'''''' d.IIgr'",,, beh",,,,,,, ... ..-h U: .n ,mrromptu
d,p '0 cool otT: c~h,b"IOI">' t..,h,,·,ollr; <>r honerb,. Akvlwl 0" nOl
""1)- kad ,n "'l.lond".I. hnldouS .11 "" .... h.'" ,-~ 0( ,he" 0lI.'Jl
.h,hl)' but .lso ""P"'" ,h" ><" .. I.h1I" .... ,lq' do ""' ..... _
4,13 All)" "'" rn.)" Ix- h'gh ,,<I. MoU)C " !'Cpf1'<;cu", to )'011111'>''''''
• (=. outdoor "",et ","n""118 ,'cnuc fur 0001"'1: do-.-" "', hot dar', or " m.y be otIC .. "h..-h. 1""one.II), 1001 rcvrk h"" N,hn!,
deSI'''C tl""" bemS no orT.cul 'N'OgI"u"" (I( '!'J'fO',.1 ofttoc ><11\-'1)
4.14 Othe. 5<""""'" ." ... ",dllde tl,~ "her<" '''''ers"k :act;,'jucs
CII""U"'gt'. "",~", ... uo" ofP<"'-'I'k- g; .. hc""II"' "",, "me, Example-; ",dude: <h"I'" ""I"b",,,,,, .,,11 "",><""ns: COIICC,!>; be.,,'Y .potS
r
.nd "'ew"'~ I''''nt" ~"'~'gr"cy C" ~C";"'O" as><'nlbly ~"'~<; ,ouri"
~'''~Cl''''''; ,nd cml>.,k.,;on l'O,ms fur '""'>l'ls, A" .. ctlon • .. k"'g rl><~ on ,he ...... te' .• u"h as fi,~w",k di.pll)". ('0111 b,rges .nd
w.,cr 'PO"" .. ,'''''''' "~II 1:1'-" n ... 10.11",1 .. cond,n"",.
4.1!i P""h-J>Ol"". «potS wher<"
ro:orlt ",11 he 'r"""clled" '''P',krl, ",·hoch occu, On 'J>C<',!ic ....,.""" 0(' " .. ..". bod)- (Ilt ft.\Ol b"dgcJ) .... ,,11 .1", ... n .. " ... ,h ••
panicular ;«110" ur" w.,c"
S~f .. ty at 11Ihnd Wat .. r Sites
W;mrslde ,lIoroughf>rcs. cspcci~lly Ihose Ih~, orc short cuI> or
a],em~",-e '><~",c rom~". w]"ch au"", • ]IIgh Ic,-ci of pcdcslrI~n
~.16 If a pbyground or o,h~r chi]drcn·, ,nnctioll i, .,",",cd
n~Jr 10 W:""'. Ih~1l '[:'I'" ,h~ risk will b~ "Kr~>s~d. If w~ll'r is
suu,led wu],," Ih. p .... mi,". of
• <ehoo] whe~ U m~y b<: u~d for clworonmcl1u] <I"d ,es. for
"1>Uncc. ,hell do"ly ,hc
pru~inmy of alar!>" nllmocr of pos,ib]y vcry YOlln!> children \\,Il
rcndn Ihis high risk. and "ill nClod
10 be c .. ~fully considered whcn rI~k comru] m~»lIrcS arl·
"np]c"'~lllffi
When; "'otc c'~II.l usc IS ",~de of ~ wlItcl"$ldc. (eg ~;. o~m:b~I~'~"~';d:"';'i'-----lr----~7:~~]~t'l Q\\"'~I"$ lIlId cyclis's) ,h~ risk I1llly Ix lower. except ~, pOlln< wher~
specifIc ~dd1Tlonal h~lJrdS ~re identified (cg a narrow scellon of
foo.pl-'h '" pcrpendlcubr access point).
4.17 Th""" who spend. con.idenb]e .",<.>11'" O(,,,l1C 0" Or oc"de
"",Icr (q; w.lIcr .pom emh"""", and ~"gkl"). may on the f>ee of it. ,",em moro .1 risk. However. f.mi]ilriry wiill .he hn>rd. plus .h~
1c,-d or~n()\O,·kdg': .nd ,ki]]' pos ...... ...d. c.n lower Ihc 0\"'1":111 ri.\k '0
wl",h ,he)" .. c ~xposcd .nd should oc ukcn into lcconn< III 'he
;t5SCSSn'CIU. 11 should he no'c-d 11..1 ~"~n ~"f'<'n"ncNl w,ler user, ",m enCounter ditTI(U],,~ p .. "cu],rly wh~n ming a waler >Te, for ,hc
fino. ,i",~. when: 'here n .... y be '"IC.'<PCCtNl h, .. "ts.
4.18 With ,he rcdcw]opmcn' ~round many of our dod,s. canals
and urbon ri'·CI"$. w.lcf>idc b",inc •• COllllnUlm.eo .. re now 10 he found III. rolmdcr>hk 11<,,,,bor of urban arcas. Thom.md, of peop]c
;ore worklllS lx .. dc J.r>;o: .nd "fl<ll dCqI bodl~S of Wl",r and Co" enj<.>y lunch.",ne rc<:rC.Ilon III ].ndsc.ped w,tnside are.S. Drspilc
,h~ pro.~iU1il)· of ~xtremdy deep W;lIer. sIlch ffig<"!i .. e onen dc~mcd
'0 bo rel.,i,·dy low risk. ;t5 d.tugc-rous beh."io"r and impromptu
1"'1ll5"re unlikely 10 bo efTected by office workers. and public us..gc
is "s".l1y low.
Safety., I"bod \\-:lIe .... ,,'"
4 H"l \"'''"IC]l(
4.19 WI ... n n .. w .... o<k"',.1 r"'f'<"rtln.'" Inllle bo. Kle "'";"er~~" is ;ntpurum 10 uk .. 11110 :aceo"", ,I,( Illtl,lX of lIew "",d""I' "'ho moy
1,------------''---------------, hlW ,00 p' ... ·'Olli c~p<"n .. n« of dup ..... ,cr h»"d.. Co",..,.~dy. ,h...., .. ~ co ,h .. ho ... d 0\..,... 0 long p<"nod
""Y ",no: '" p<"rr~,," .. 11 .~. hu.rd.t.11 .nd e~l"b" m"'rl~ .. ,,<)'. T he Ic,'d of mk w,1I bo .IlCelN 1»' the densIty.
I'ro~"""}\ .. jOe, 1I1I,,'" "f Ih .. ><"c""",,0<1""m . • "d ,he H,,,,,,,'n of pup"I.""". I I"",,,, .. ,,. III gene ... l. Ih" .i,k 1< hkdy 10 bo lugh ... ,.." h,n newer
mtn"'"mlln Ih.n c!ubh.h"d on .. >. N;
.",h. dory w,1l ",,,,,11)" rnt'''''' .cIdmor .. 1 nsl. cOIuml "' ... "..... . p • ..,eul .. ly ,ncorp<>r""'g jlgrup: .nd mfum .. l;on.
4.20 hll ... nd workm!; qwy' . on whoch
""ro" pnk .. 1';\'1(1.00 011..:. '".>ehi" .. ,}" .n:- "111.1<"<1 •• "d "' ... ..., opt .. :kTI"U '" .Iw: \laIn '5 'c-q",...,d. pr('S<'," pnncnl ••
h..aurd. whIch. wlw:" .,,,,»ed. ,,-,II .11""". "'n:l.mlr rC<i'"'" oh<: .mpmm"n of I'ubhe ....,~< 1't">'f>Cllom or , .. her murt" subsunn.>.1 "sk rollltol n ... ~u,.....
hl~ry ~( Inbnd \V:ncr Sues
Risk Control • INTIl.ODUCTION
• EDGE PROTECTION
• INFOIl.MATION AND WARN ING NOTICES
• PUBLIC RESCUE EQUIPMENT
• WATER QUALIlY'
Safely a, In land W"er Si'es
INTRO DUCTION
5. I TI,e fi ... , conSIderation 111 • """e~")' 10' a,e,de", pre'-e"tlon IS
al" .. ys to try to rema-·c. 0' ... ·p.1 .. 'e. the pubhc from the hozard . At
S,t~S such.s w.ler 'rc"m~nt plall!. who,e only autho"..,d ,'"nors "e pcru""od, (onlpkt, restrictions .'" Ilc"Ce ... ry. Hov.,,·cr. >< ""n) ml>nd w:l1o, sno<. n would ~ n,nhe' prlClkll. ,e.sonabk 110r
destr:tblo 10 .ttemp' 10 p"""'''' drm"'''''g by dony"'g access <0 "';1'0'.
or by p"",d,ng "'I"'T"i,;on ;llong ''''I)' ", .. ,el"< cdgt. Open "';l'cr.
liko au' r<»d nOI\""k. is on i"'<"gJ1I1 pu, of our ctm,onmc", wi,h
which "." must Ic.m 10 11\"0 ",fdy. wl"lst those 111 I""n,olls of
rosponsih,hry pl.y ,hOlT part ill (olllrollll1g ,he 'isk 10 • ">SO"dhly
p=,icabk 10\'01.
5.2 Whe,"" :>CCes,; "'>lr;CI;OI1 IS nn' approp"atc. <tel" must be Ilkon '0 00""01 risk ,o.n ;tCcepllhlo lo"d using d,o mk .SSC!Sm,1lI
proce.s dcocribcd 100.." .ud id,nufy,ng 'I'propmtc mk control moa,,,,,,,,. wnle of which ,ro outlincd below. It is irnporuut tl,..
opera,ol"< ,esponsible for :t<ljaccn, sites (cg sect;nn! of ,i,."rsidc). do.
where possible ro-ope .. ,e '" ,he ra>k '0 CU,lI,"" conS;S'oncy for
";"'''1"< p>S5l1lg ~tw,cn sn,s.
EDGE PROTECTION
5.3 %i)St the profile .nd n:uure of 'he " .. ,cr', ed!;" " ~
f,,,,d.n'enl.1 f.Clor ill 'i<k. :idd'~"illg the cdS" in i""I,,;oll will nOl
:idd,css .11 'lte sately "~u("<. I',o"'nl\'e "',,.,,,,.s shollid .1W1~'" Ix.upl'lcrnented by :idOqUllO ,,,(o,,".l1<>n .nd w."n"!;,; cd,,,,,,ioll of
\"i,itol">: ,"d. whe,"" 'l'prop,i.t<:. roscuo oqlllpn>C"nl .nd supervi,;"".
Some ph)".ic.l "'O:I.,Hre. ," pr''''llI pubbc ."c<~ ore outhncd klow.
GltADING
5.4 On~ crIIlC.l reature of.1l W1!C'
~d~'Cs .ffecllll!: th, outcom, of
;I"idem.1 em,y m,o tho w"er from the bank. ,s the gr-,d,em .!>m'e .nd
below ,100 W'lOr I;"e. HCS<:>rch ulldo,tl.kell by ,ho R.LSS UK ill ,he 1980.. ("D",,,.ni,tg,;n ,It~ /lri';,), I,/(s"
1982. 19&3). demo"" .. ,o"h" nUll)"
people who d''''''Il. do SO III "';;lIe'
wlllch IS ncar ,h'Ir own "and"'l:
depth. M~"'''"1111: or reg.ulInl:
"."ding bal.ncc wllllsl 'Ill ,h,Ir
Safcty at Inland Water Sues
dCl'lh' IS vcry d'(lic"h forw,,~k or non.swimmers. The .... f"rc. where
r;,k ;~ '"n~lderC"d 10 he hIgh, bill ,n 01"'" .. poc • • 0 .h~ "'~.cr is
r«lmred. " is preierablc to m,"Hl'" • b",,,,lc ,,"dCI"'''CI b' .. di~n1 [rom ,he edgo.·. Thi, ,I",,,ld be stich .. 10 .11""", p<:I'Wn'" sl,,,d will,
Ihe" he.d .1>o,·c W'ICI, ., • d"r:mcc of '''"0 body knb~hs ftum the shore. TIns SCClIol1 of ,h.llow ",:I1 .. wIII pro,\,IM pro,,,,,,;on fturn the
deep Water. Gruhns abm~ .nd bel"", Ihe Wl1~, I",e, ca", at ""me
locali"",. '"CCCSS[llly corurol .he r;,k "ffalling ;n.
PLANTING
5.5 [n uldi!;oll. or.,.n ,h~nll""e
to gr.ding. .nd wherc .ccc,' .0 .he
"''''t'''$ ~d!-", ;, ''''Iotred, but el,her" steep gndicm (f.lllll); "sk) '" '~ry
,h.IIO" gr."I;.;", (,w;mnllllS temp
"'''011) e,,, ... !he pbllu"sofb.nksldc or 'qu,u, wge.,II()n. plrllcularly
","h ,ha,p foh'g<:. COIl pro"lde
.d"'Iu,,, }"'" .cstllen, protection. Wllh add"i",n.1
b,:nelits. Mud .1 the , ..... ",·s edg<:
l> "1,,, lInal'rc:,h"S .nd .ctS as a deter",,,,.
FOOTIWrl IS
5.6 A furthn pro,ee.i,·c mea.lI'e (where public rights "f w~y
pcm"')''''o define foo.p .. h< .w.y fron' Ihe "":llcr', td(¢, crull,,!;)
'''''1);',,' uf "e(;<''"'i'''' """,""en the .wo Th;, "1'.;011 ;s p.nicul.rly
.ppropri:nt ",hc'~ vicws O\'c, the \\'~,er feOfuTt ~rc <<<Iuircd. lnd rhe
">t",,,l be,,,ty of ,h~ "t~ i, to be
", •• i,,~d. Wllerc • p.nimbr >en;o"
"f ""~rer h.s been .1.'sc<~d .s h;gh~r
ri.k. 1I1L' f<.>O'p"h con Ic.d "SIIOl1'
aw.y from the w.lcr .Itog<:,her.
AhcnI,",'d); wh"rc ,i,k i. d~~mC"d I""". d,,< po'hops to the ,h,lI"", d<pth
of 'he ""'e', (.~ fu""d .r SOn,e duck pulld. f"r ""Ultcc) .• p .. nted )'cIlO'"
hne nn be • """ful ",callS of clc>Tly
dcfm",s rhe "",,,,d.ry 1xtv.'ITll p •• h .nd ",:ltCr.
5.7 h' ",mo CU"("llm, ... "co,. wh~.~ ,h~
ri,k i,I"Sh dllo "nho' '0 ,he ,WU'" orlhe cdgc. ,he h""Nbnd "m'IlY or ~
co,,,bon.,,on of Iho tw.,. 'hcn foncu,):
nu) be.- n<"n""''Y How",-" •. " .hould ~ borno III T1111ld d,,,, dm " "",ally." cxpcm"'e "ptlon. h w,l) .eqm,e
in,peClOol1 ,,,<.1 '''>'''I<'n~IIU. " mly be
>u1!iC<:1 to ,-.,,<.I.Io,tn. :md " ",,11 ""ully rem:"" "".le. ble. The off«1 of h.:orri~r
"'«"on on other I}s," gr"nps. sllch .< I><utcrs. will .1,0 It,,·. to be uken ",to
.ecot"". to en,u .... th., 1,n<.l'nll poim,.re
p,,,,,"'Md .".1 tlUt tI,,,,,, >< "" n,k of crush,ng.
S.l! Tho level nf '<,SCSS<"<! .i,k ,,,II affect tho choice "rharner. 'It low rlsk "''''. ,h. r"nCltOn of the b:>".,c. ""{\f" ~ m<rely ,,, 'dell"",' the publi' (.no" the "'."alcr. cdge. 'ill' post ."d ,h.", Or .inllie rustic ..,il migll' be ,roeqlll1c_
5.9 When' Q\·c..,11 rlsk ,~ ,d,·uttti.d .. moder.,. but whe.e •
p>r,icul>rly ..,,,mi,·c IOCI-I;on is id,,",iJi"d (fo. j""."cr where the
",:ne.;' deeper or. p,tlch.p"ttlt ex«".). =lton of ",ore ,,,bSt.nll.l fencons tn.y well be rc<ju1rcd.
5.10 WheT(" thc w:llc. is r>.uemd)' deep. b", ,here a.c mi,il:",inl;
r'<"Io" "leh .. > wdl-detitu:d odb't .ttd I",mod .~ccs. by V\1lttCr:lble 1,.,ouP<, > 'ddl",,\;ott' ')1'<" to,,,.,-., I)1;gh\ sIIII be ",c~p,.ble. but Ihc.~
.hould be 'pprup'me ."d st.."cgi<>lIy pct<IItottcd w;trn,,,s StS"! .• "d
'e.",'e e'ltt'p'''cm. I" .dd",nn." Wille .nc.> ,,,.h >, d",k:; where ,he
"'"or 1(:\'(1 '. comidc..,bl)' ]""..,. tlun 'he e<ib't. bdd~,\ a, ;tPP"'I',we ""0 ...... 1., .nd gnb ch.in~ "\lI",d ,h~ ...... tcr linc Ion; .1$0 adYl:i.\blc.
S~fcty ~I l nl~nd W~I~T Sill'~
5,11 The highest )""d of ",k i. " .... lly preselll :It mo. wllh very dc<:p w;lIer 1'1",,1 k.sl One more lI:lz.rd, ",ch os au uu",,,.lly lugh Wb'" ,bo,', Iho Wllor Io>~l. Or th, proxll1my of:l ",hool or public .IlDellon (",e p,ra, 4.10-4.20). Such. 10011'011 ... -ould req,m. more surumHl.1 fenCing. dT<'CII"dy 10 'deily'
access, Tin' fen"'''g ,hould mcel .11 d" 1I0TOn.1 rcquircmcllts l.,d down m Ihe
Bu,ldlllglksul.llon, 1991 (SI"rs, fl..n,rs .nd Gu.rd. - Appl'Owd Document K) rt'garding heighl, 'pann!: of .. ,hugs . "d "on-climb de,;s", S"ch :I felice is unhkdy to dCler. det.nn",ed ,ndi"d".l from K.I",S II, bUI w,ll pre,,<nt accid"nul ,mrr '",,0 d,e ",,"er. Vemcal r.,ling.; .re Indil;OOl>lly ch"",,, 10 f"lf,llh;, role, b",
'" recem p"rs .ltern.",'C'S h,w hoe" dc,igl,,,d wIlle], Slill "'''''Ilhe emcn'. fur ""I.nCe, horizorn.l r.i! ings c.n h<:
etTecli,'e if ,he fence " :I whole " ca""levered n"''lrd, '<W.'lrtl, Ih~ 101'.
5.12 ll .... d ... ,ITn",S "'Jucc, should also J,c ',,"olkd >1 lugh ri,k ';Ie<, How",w, rescu. «l";pmcnt lnd u'e .. "rc •• u,h .. I.dd.~ ;",d gub eh."". :lTe ",u.lI) co""dered ., unncuss.,), wnh excl"s,on fencing, ...... <~» 10 ,b~ W.ler fto", tbc cdS<' is crfccli,-dy dcmcd 10 pedeslri." .nd ,,-ould-bc re"'''~r,
S,I3 \Vh~r~. physico! b.rricr is d"me<l C'S~nu.1 due '" Ihe k\'cI of Tlsk, b"l ",hert .undard fem'in): ,,-ould be .csthct".lIy detriment.l to the enviro"ment, . dequlle prulcnion c.n o(lcn J,c .... h,e\'ed thronSh "n';I;'" d";b~' .nd ,boice of ron,ItlIC';on I11.len.l, '-0., 10
,'n,me Ihe fence ""II be '" keep"'J( wuh the loc.1 e"\,,TO"'''C'''.
5 H"),, ( """"I
S~relY ~I Inbnd W~ler SIlC~
INFORMATION AND WARN ING NOTICES
:'.I~ TlK-.... Ius btcn 1",le by "'Y 0( ,.",..Hch.
""0 'he elfcn,w"e<' of ""1mong '1<>I1Ct"< ,nd saf~!)" ",forma"un ,,' "'0,hr)1"~ bd .. ,"lOO' 11""..,,·c,. '" Ihe ah<,e'KC of .c", .. eh c"nd~ncc. It .
,e[O",,,,el1d,d ,10 ... hq· ~r(" "'>I.llNi "her.
"I'prol'ro>'c '0 hdp wnlrol r"~ •. Opr"no," .hv111d ~>r III nnnd howe,·cr. ,h" 110ll(CS.
p.nimllrly "hen ,hey orc Ii!"). onl •• ll.-d. ~rc hied)" I{) he mQTc ,u,""cp"hl. to ,.,,,,t.h~,,, tiun ,hQo.C
.I.ead) in piKe. Th" ,,!C.n, ,II •• "c"'y ""tllk<!
rIOIlCC"< ,.,ll TftImTC 0 SIr"', .. ", ""1'«""" '""S!"'" ,,"Ilh • ",..dy ><<lCk of .epl..ce,,,.m OOllCes •• ."lobk, fllnhem...,,,,. c.",f,,1 ,hou¢,' ,,",II bt
.... qu;.Ni In 10c.llm" ,.'h ... e .",·.romnNn.l <1>01>o<k",no,>< confl,e< ",,1. 1I",.>«d f ..... ' ...,IICeS.
SI'IX':IF lCAT10N
5,15 Th. I I •• hh ond S.rer)" (S.fety Sib~" ."d S'Il".I.) l~cK"I'lio"s
1996 - Om. ",I{) IOrc. OIl I Aprol 1996 .nd >tI"d."'Io ..... s.rCl)' "!!''' Ihro,,[,;ho"l ",.mbt. ,u'es of,h" E"rupc.n Un...,n s<> ,Iu, "'hen",," •
• 1»"'."1. .... r,,1Y "W' " .... ". " 1'"""1<1,,, ,he "''''''' """"g<". Thc R"l;ulou"ns ""'t""e cmrlo)lCrs ,0 ,t!(". ""rery 'lltl. "hc.c ,here.s. "S'HrK".n' n.l '0 ,h .. hc.hh .00 .. rcl)' ",- ,hcor emr1oy<-c<.. wl"ch
C~"'IOI bt .. -....dc<I 0< .. " ... -....~. CQlluolk-d b) other """hod~ ."
TftI'urcd ulld". rd .... .,m low_ pr",'1<kd "'" u,., of. "1:" ... n l"'lp rcdu« ,h. ml. S'P'S or" .1Ol • ,,,b.,,,,,,,, for Of"'" ,,"'.,1S of
",n,roIh,,!; ",I: ,,,d. m m.n)" C~'. " " 'rr"'l'''"c 10 ",., ,h~", in (O'IJ'UlCliun ""h ",he, m~ ... ",..,...
5.16 Th. ]kS"]'''''''' do II,,, '("<j,m" ""'p]O)·"" to pru,",de "b~" I" w.m ,,'hn people (eg '1s"o«) of mks 10 ,h,,", huhh ,nd "'fel)".
1 h ....... '·'lC' flleY do ""II iuv" duues undr. ~""".l of 'he 11~.hh ."d s".f~I)"" Worl: ~"'_ Iv:, 197~ ."d IkS',lo""" \0 of II", M."~,nc,,, of l k~hh .nd Safcry., \'1;",1: ](cIluLaH"''' 1m rep,lim!; ,hot hot.hh
.00 DfCI)" of non.-nnp~ ....... Thus. , ...... fcl)" I,&,,' ckKnhod ,n ,he R<w,lo,IOnS nn bt hcfpful In m«"ng tht:$c g<""e",] d"'IN_
5,17 11,,, itew""'''''' 'f'.'''IY tI,,· dc"S" ,,«dcd .nd .re C"<>f1'l<I~n' ",""h lIn",h Sun<hrd .5J71:1:19tIO S.fel)- Si!:," ~"d Cuk>urs. App<"di~
~ ,1I""r.lI'" ""m(" ... rel)" \,gt>, 'rprop'u,,, '" ",!. .. d ".,'er in""",,,,,,.
5.]8 ]t" Imporl.m 10 .,·oid ·ovcc-cu>t<."nising· signs with
compa"y livery a, ,·.".uo,," '" Ihe p"""m,,,ion of illf"rm~liOll c.n C.IISC coufll~ion 10 v;s;lOn >I ditTc.,1II S;ICS .• lId be le>l ,,!T«th-c.
5.]9 \"tIl,er',"c, posslhle. p](toSHm, ,hollid be I11COrp<.>r:tIC<! <0 provIde. cleo. '"~~ to p<"Opl~ of lil y ,u11on.li,y .• I,hollgh 'hey shollid be
combine<! wllh. '(X' Ine.s.!,,,,. 111 1980, RaSP .....
N.,ion.1 W>tcr S.fel)' Commi'tee lppro"cd ;I.
r:tnS" of plc<ogr.m .. gns for Wlter s.ofcty willeh
comply w],h ,he as 5.378 [App.-ndi.,< 41 and ,h,se
orc nOVo' commonly seel1 al W>ln '..,nlle, .. ros.
,h. (0111111)'.
When choosIng .lId ins,.lIing signs. ,he needs of
dis.oblcd people will need '0 be cunsidered. and
:"'cmion gi,"Cn '0 heightl.ng1c. tela "xc. oolollr
oon":", .nd. f'O'Slbl)·. t:lctiic prupcnics.
ACCESS SIGNS
5.20 Iff'O'.ibk.lnd whc~ .ppropn.te. Ihe f"'oured IOClUOII' for
dIsplay of ",fery mfonn.uou I. al prinei!",l """s.; pointS. Car p.rks
.nd "IS;'O, CentreS. Country parks and "verside walk" ... ys, lend
,h.rn>c!vcs well to th, .... l1 viSItors 'cnd to !"''' 'hrough the Silme
PO"ltS. Con,c'Iuwtly •• wdl-posmoncd. prominent SIgn or ",form.tlon board C.II ensnrc ,hot v;.;to," h.ve muimum
opportun'l)'lo sec .l1d LIke heed ufd" s.ofcl)' nl('SiIg<""
.5.2] Pl.ns or m,ps of ,he S;te 011 be vcry use!,,,) for h'ghhg''''n;;
ponic"l" h"'<lrd 'pots .. well >s. for ~.,",mple. 'he loc:l"on of ,uy firsl
Old r",hn .... cmcrgency telephones. w:>rd~t1'~ uJ1"j(~ ete. \"\i'here Ihero
1$ 110 .Llff pre~n<e ,h,s could k ""ed, .]ong Wllh ill>l''''''"I1s 011
""i,,,, I" .. ~~ III Ihe ,vent of an cm,fl,"'''CY ;ndndi"g ",lhng emergency sc,.,.·,ec<. mouth_lo-nlouth rc.useU.llon ct<. Warnings .uch :os 'No SW"l1nHng' .nd ·D.ng,r _ Deep W. tcr'. as "",II as
gencr:tl .dvice ",dud"'g rell1l11<iers '0 p",entS .l1d j;\1>rdi:ll1S 10
supc""'i>c thm dllldrcn dosely at .n tlm .... "hQuld be dlsp[')'cd .,
these POIntS.
-" ,- The il1furl1miQIl should be dear and concise .• nd where
f'O's;ble gi"cn ;n piCturi.t1 !~I"on. otherWISe it could k ovcrlooke<!.
Furdlermorc. "'fcl)' inf""":I"ol1 .honld be dlspl.)"Cd scp.nlcly from
d,.1 rel>tmg '0 OtllCT " ... ters. such .s co"""y code •. or ,here is • d.n~r oC,he infoml.,ion ~umi"g ·Ios'·.
5 II,,].; ( '\] 11.,,1
5 II,,~ ( <>IO'H,1
~lfcty 11 Inland Wale, Suo
SIGNS AT KEY LOCATIONS
5.23 Worn,ns .is''' .ho"ld b. 'trat~gic.[[y loc3tcd .t id~ntir,<d h •• "d spo", cg' ,,,,d,uoll,[[y popular 'beuh' .rt.
whICh" too h.~.rdo"s fot ,,,;m"';I)S; • poi'" WhCT< , p:nh p •• :;.c, dose 10 doop w.,n; or .n 'Tea which .. ,nclS •
CO"C~"tnUO" uf propl<' .uch." pICmc sput or ,,"Or~lI,g locl; Tho", >TO <'Xlmplo' of 1<'l<"U011j which w;1I need ,!",cial
<on.id<""ion. Though, ,hould be g,,'on to ,100 (>:;let heIgh', pos;';on ,md ,"gle of ,he siS', tu enSu", m:u;mun' ",ewing
potenti.l, W'herc the h.urd could be .pproached from ,
""mber of dorc",o"s, mOTO th.1l Olle S'S" ""y Ix nt'C"'''''1)'.
Th"", "b~'s WIll help rc;"f"."" ,Iw ",Ccry m~ ... ges .Iw~dy d,spl'yod", >Ce<" po,ms,
'NAG' SIGN::;
5.24 'N.S' S'S"! ~'C w!"'." m"".!Urc wmfo.ccmom< of k<;' •• fery Ill""'g<' . Iro.dy d;_pby.'d, ."d ,hould:u-t >< """I1,derS of ",:trl""S' o •• ub, .ueh as '''0 5W11",,,i,,),:', ~lo"gall c:<leudcd
me,ch of ",.«r. Bo;ns rcb"vdy s",.11. the\(' S'l;JlS "ecd "0'
'pu,1 the ."",heue \':>Iue of d .. :t'U, bur ,hn' "",b,hry " non~,bd." u"porum, Th. ,,>:>ct 1<>C~lIon for ~II such "S''',
.hollid be d~eided whil« ",.lkll'S ,he sUr '", 'he 'hoes of ,he
",sIlor' ~"d nOt 'n<rdy by ntlrking up • nl1p. '0 e"S"'~ .ppropri .. o l",.lIons >rC ,,,It'C'cd. It ;s no< recommended that s'S'"
oC an)' 'YI'" ore ."ached to trce'.
LITERATURE Dl$TRllIUTION
5,25 A, ",,,,e brgcr "':>tcr-1»>cd f""ill""., partlcul.rly whnc •
number uf d;tl"f~n\ "",'Il'e> tlk~ pl=. le:tflc!S on
""'leT s.fcty or ,",corporaung ,,':>Ier .. fel), ,,,fo"".,,OI1, dimib",ed ., emr:",ccs or ,·i,ltOT rent,...,. n il bc '" dle""vc addu,on.1 me,hod oC eo,wrying .ueh
;"Com .. "on, A<, on ",rcry ",fonn>1I0" bu.>rd" 'he kaflet shOI,ld co"'.'" p,iorn,,,,d .. fcry m">"'gt'5 d,~pl.)'cd
"'p.",rcly f,om othe, Types of II1fo""'''o,",
Ao;:ain, ,he loc",on ufk • .,..I",fct}' ,c",urec> ('1; .",o'g<"<;'
,ricphonc), '~n Ix identIfied
EDUC"TIONAL AWARENESS
5.26 The IllO" df",,",'c mcdlOd of prom"''''1: w,un ",rety is
through COlllllllllll'Y cduc.,;on. II is in ,h" "'lIy ,ha. people",
perception, of .he dln{:rrs in and around op<n w"er "n be d,.lkngcd .nd ,hei. ,,'.rene •• of ,he risks jucrnscd. Operonors of
l>.rb'C w~'n-b...,d .i • ..s .h"uld uk. ,he opponumtywhere possIble 10 pr<>vide tllb and V"I\$ for school child."" ro b.rn . 00,,' ,heir )on.l fu,hu ••. whll .. " . he ..,me mile d,,,dopmS good w,'er .. n..,. A
f\lrth~r .dv.lIu!!" '" IIl"ol"",S ,he loc.l communi<>' .nd enrollng;ng J"'nplc [" ,hlnk of ,he ';te .s • ,,,,,,,,uon.1 :as~, for them IS to
engender. he.hhy .d.lIomhip ",ilh ,h. ClpC'r.I,or .• "d to possIbly .sahli.h .11 ",(orm.1 n.I\\'Or~ for ,h. rep<>wus nf .nu-snell)
behav,ou, or .m.~.m risks.
5.27 Much help" noW .,'.,bhlc ,,' ,he fu,m of '<",-,urccs .nd .d,·;cc to 1oc.I.lUhoTluc< ;Iud others wishing .<>cs.~b1ish w;ucr :.;afc.y
cdu, .. ion progr;ll1uncs. A fou, poi'" w;ucr :.;af,!), c<.>de h2S bo:<:n
dc,·doped hy lIoS!'A ~"d I\LSS UK. ~nd some ye.,." "!\'>W., .dop.rd
by ns N.non.1 w, ••• S.fC!y Connnmet. Th" .nm !O counter ,he
main idennfied ,.u'>tO of drownms ( ..... , p~ragr.ph 32) ;lnd works on
,he p''''''plc ofpr".nnon r.uher dun cure. The code winch,s OUlhnrd bdO"· fom', 'he ctn''''_p,n of .ht
11>>I,n;lI, of RoSPA. RLSS UK .nd , ... ,"'" ",her
bodi,<.
SI'OT TI IE DANGEUS - Oren ,,";I,cr m.)· I""k ",fc.
10", e..-cn in ,he sum"'e' h i. extremdy cold ,"d ,,·,11 be
much h.rder '<> .WI'" on ,h.n " W""'. ",door pool.
1I,,,",,r. of decp "",.er .• hpp<"ry b.nks and strong
currc,,~<.
TAKE SAFElY ADVICE _ Look OUI fer sign •• nd
notic", which .ell )"ou of the d.ngors .nd "·here it i,
Slfe. Know wi,., .he si!,," "" .. ,.nd follow the ..:lv;cc.
DON·T (;0 IT ALONE _ [fyou· .. ,,[one. the.e w.1I
be no one to help ;f you get Into trouble ,,' ",."er.
ChIldren ,hou[d .l"";I}" go ",th "n :adult .• nd W;Ucr sports emhus;.stS should enSu,. SOmeone e[S<' IS ncor.
KNOW I [OW TO HEll' - By bnnng r.>rue and
s"nw.[ >lull, you m;lY be .bk to help """'COliC ch.: . • nd yo",..,[f)f thore i';ln ;occident in "'";Ite •. Try t<> get
help ,,""'cd, .. cly .nd do no. pu. you.S<'lf", dAI1!;"r ..
you try"" S>W SOmeone tlS<'.
5 \1,,1; ( ''''(H, l
-J 1/,,1 ( "," T" I
5_28 Thotc .J.c,.-dopmll "'I"kuw.i ~"d ro"", .. ",;.1 "e.lS ,,\ the
'"\Cinar of W:IIC. _"<'S. ",,11 nc.-ed '" CIJIlsKkr the educatIOn of """I'('>idcml In uP«" uf w:"~r well_ .IS ,..dt"' pl'Q\~d",g o,,-.iIC ri,k romrol II,.. ... "'",. such ~s Nrnr". .nd 50S''', :x,mc ... eh orpmuII<.>!IS
h.,". w,..,ly d"'"Clopcd .nd produced .dun,;"n.1 ", .... i.1 for P''''''')' <ehool$ III !h. :ad»,.,,! COl1lnln,nUcS to ""p:m ...... 'c. "ret>' """"get ~t ~n c.rly >f:C.
PUBLIC I(ESCUE EQUIPMENT
5.29 The II1s1.II~uon of",scu< tqn'p",.m \~ of,." "Tongiy Ken by
opcr;uors .M nun.S"' ... of "" ... r bod",,, as • koy ",k C'Omrol m.~Sur<.
l,f~ '" pamcu"'r .rc cOI"",onl)' fOll"d ~tOIl11d the HMJIH'Y"'
W:r<. docb ."t! r""'.... Ofocn thory .... n<M pan of • C<.>n.id~rcd
d""'T1mS I'«""."u,," .tutClt)' ."d ."" "'.pprop" .... fur the snc. thereby ptrfor",mS n>m:1r. <m" ... ! .. fun .. nOl1, h>det-d, !>«'au.., of ,helt fCSC"mbbn«' to l"",mllll1g pool pll) «1"'1"''''''' weh.s rublx-r
nUg<. ,hoy nuy. III """" """"IttS . .., .... Ily .n ....... lr~ ~"'mmmg In
d.mgo:rous open ""J~~'
5.30 n.. hf~buoy "";I. d~~I(!I"'" 10 he- druppcd from tht ~1Ik of sh,p' ( .. a '~mnl drop). for "hl~h ~hcy I~ approprulc. Illd hl<eY....., nuy well be 1Ii«(nl .. SII'" wIlh deep "";lief dOi( 10 tht rdgo:. such;lS I qUMrY or kKk. II""",".,. ~hry ~re • .,,,re",dy d,{f",uh 1<) Ih ....... any
d"ullcc honzOlll;llly .uch II from ~ r"..,. bmk. d, .. ~o 'heIT ,,"~lglIl and """, .. ldy siul'"' Ah"" .. ",· ... ,uch IS .Il ....... 10" ... nn Ix nlOK
drceu". bm .,,11 ~ItIK OOIIII"~r.lbk ~bll 10 uSC .treen, ... ly .. 1<1 h .. ·• ,Ite added du ... dv''''''t-:''t of "'" bell'lI ~"scd .IS rtKuc <"qltlp",ent by 'he plthhc •• nd bc-mg SUbJCCl ,,, ~h<:fl by v»><hk
5.31 The gre;ucs. "..,.k.t,cs~ of publtc Ki(tle C{JUIP"'''''' howe,.., •. I.
tl,., to he- clf...,,,,.., tho follow",!! C,rcUnlSUnCcS m,N ~xi,,:
the VlC'"n "mi' he- Iotr" by "'''>«.>11.'
", .h. "'cnm tIIu" ",m.1n oiloat ulI,,1 rc-scuc .. "' .... ;
". .ppropn .. c feSCue <"qu'pmcnt IIIU" be: '0 lund. alld ,II
opera"oru.t 00.1<1111011 (I. ""h rupe ""llllglcd etC>:
\" 'M ~I~t '11\," Ju.,.., Ibe .hllt!): J,ldb"''''C'''' ""'''g''' ...... Iobll «> elT~. "'.c .... ,
s..rCl)· at Inbnd W~"·r Snn
,.. ,I"' .... "nKI b. »c-q.",,~ I~ngth of'''P'' ,.mh whICh 10 .... xh.h<: cu,,.It)·,
,." Ih~ ",,.11.... ("ond" ..... " n",,, b<: rond'ICi-.., t<J ,he rese,lC; and
'·HI .he '·ICII", mu" bt .hl~ 10 co-<lfI<'''''c. it' .",m ."", .. rds d,e
ll:KuC deVICe. ,f "C1:e~ry. gr"'-'p It •• "d """'1:.1'" • hold """I
.u""d lIl.he cdI;'".
5.32 Unf"'''''''l<ly ono" drowrnng "''',ns .re "n,ble .0 Wl'·C or can for help 10 .ny grcll c~'e'" co,nr.1)' .0 ,he ~Iel'("ul)1'lc.1 mil!!"
mOU people h.ve, 1"d,..,d. n;s more to",,,,on fur th o ... ,lty w .hp
I><",)(",.h the \urfxe l1""ouccd.lr,,"mg no u"", ... 11 fo •• n .uentp",d
rC~'IC,
5.33 lkome ,he odds .K :.go;n" .he ,ieu", once oIlC}
uc in difficuhin. In<11C ,hot.,1d "<"',,. b< ""ied "1''''' " Ihe "nl}' .. fet)' nlC""K, M......."" •. "i.h n"dah>1n >nod ,heft "f I,febu,,)""!. .n'p«t'''g .nd rcpLonng ,hem an bcroon ... n n,lCtO\lS ..:spnns,rnht)" Wbc", n,l> ore h,gh
h_",,, •. b", cOI"roI "ICU"I'("S 1_ (Cj;.1 bus}'locks). dl<"}" m." b<:. u""ful ',,(ct)" nee"
5.3~ The d.,.,.slO"'" ",stoll I"C'SCtlC tqt"p"lCnt .Iorn. ,,,11 tkptnd Ult II... r,,,dmp oft.bt nsl< 'SS<'SS,llent. ond .he
",,,,,I ' rr"'!"";"" dC"\'l«"S for Ihe cirrum'llllCt"S sh<.n'1d bt , .... :fully «>,u,dcrro.
r
J I~ hI.. ( ",," "I WATER QUALITY
5.35 Tht",.n:" n"",h<c, ,,( ...... ) .. III whid. "","cr <11,1;\1;1)' in term.
of ,h~ "","e .nd 10..,1 of ,,0/'''''''''''1101, rrrw.-m. 1111)' ,ff..." Ihe
h~aJfh ofp<'Oplr """g the ""lIe. lOr ",=.110".1 P"rp<><C"" The~ f.1I br;ndly 1U10 two IINnP'>. find). I>""cul ",rc<uon. ",I"e!. .'" rom",un It! the )\\"".11 1'""",1.11<)" .ud .fC '1'1l:'w by;\ """,oc. of
"'ccho",>",~ of winch ronuc! '1. "'l'~r " ""Iy one. Se<"olldly,
,lh".'I's ,.,,><<:1 by U'Il-''''''''' which .'c 'p<ci!icoUy .""""i.«"<1 ",,,II w;ucr. 'neh ., kr1u>pu"I)SIS (Wo.-,r. d,,,, .... ) vr po,son",!; throuKh
Cr>noluc'CfIl (hlue.W"c" .J!?").
GENERAlINFECTION$
536 C.o""l1on K<'IIcnl ",(en IOn, ",dude (11"'01"''''1"".1
romp""'" .,IIi ",(ceU<.>fI ofll ... "rf"t' 1nJ""'''''l' """'. the ,lIt"~ <I ... <)'t"S mel e.f'>. A> .ltCh in{=ious e.II Ix nll>C<i 10)" wod/, "'lib"<" of
nile"""",!;>"''''''' 11 ,. ,kit mw.ll)' p<>S'lhk 10 •• "'\ .... "",lIer for ..-xh type lq'>,\r.,el)' Ike.".., nf 01 .... IIld,c.'or orga"""".~ u>Cd to ~,..,
• n~"'c 0( the "kely (xc~1 COl1l,1JIlIl1mun 0(.1><- w~'cr, MOSt of <he
<>fPIlI~n1 n''J>OIl"hk- r", flC"l1cr~1 "'{«.""" ~"'''r .1><- "";ItCr ."
hl1"'~n ~._ So. > , ..... ",.., ..... he r.....,~1 ("",;m"""""" 11" .... ~tJ ,nd.c>loon o(.h" .;,.k u(illl1t» In p""plc ""III@. .h .. W,ltc'
5.37 Wuet'S jUhJ<'n '" f.«.1 00111,1"''''''01)'' ," .. mid Ix- "''''pied rq;ul~rl)' fur 1:.a:~1 ",d."tO, "'}:lIlli''''!. f.....,~1 C"""'''''''''''O<I 1$
SUJl>cml>C~, bIll "'" lhu),s, ~s~wtd with """. xsd'clt, 'I""hty of .he , ... ,,,,,_ It ,s c~""",,,1 tI., .... "'plmg "'S''''''> uke ""0 >«011'" 311
" .. ibble inC."."".io" ,0"cerl1l11~ h~d)" CIll1t.1m"Ul1on o(.he ""'cr_
5.311 The deK'ee u{ h<~hh mk rr",It",~ f,o'" ...... '.S'" poll""on v.ries I:n'l!ly I>o:'W<'(11 W~lcr sile<, In ~rc •• ufl"!:h S<"""I:C" polll1!!on
II ""Y be IICCCS~'ry ,<.>, 01'<""011 of ,.,.;,,,.1101111 .... -.,Of< !O
(0"'"""'0" " ...... '''''''pl",!! 111d lI"croh,,,k'l>~c.1 .n.lp<:. to >sse .. tI." h",hh mks to 11~'S. The En""omllcm "4'<'11<)", ".Icr '""'p.mes . • nd loe.I.",honl)' ct!\·,rOllllK'I1l.1 h<.hh dcp."mCI1IS. ,,",II.ll be .blt
.0 ><I,"S<" UPOI1 .he hkely 1 .... ..,1 of ......... S" pollU""", Lonl people .nd ><Ijoinillg lI"d",,·\le ... "'0}' .1 ... h".., useful ",(",,,,"non. ;as "'.)'
bochcs "'nh spc'<"ifk loc.h.cd rcspnn"",ln)' soch " Bnltsh W •• c., .... ~ ...
LEPTOSPIItOS1S (WElLS DiSEASE)
5.39 Ikc.e,tion31 wata uscn
c~" 1", ~t .i,,~'i!i(~I1t ",k f.om th;~
d;",,~sc whICh. ~hhollgh rare. C-J"
proye r~l>L The org""'111 responsibk is harooured III the
lidnc),< of r>tS .nd p.,sc, illlo the
w:ller frolll their llr"'~. II cl\l-lc~
no discerllih1c Iline's in raiS. so
pOl'"h l io,,~ uc "",(f,'tlcd (l"
hi~h InTis of ,,,fcclIon. Th.
,YinI'll)"" i" h"",."s "'~ li"]lI .. to l1JQ>C or (lu. ~ud C~n CluSC
~n-ne inl1css if nO! corrrnly
di'gn[)scd ."d !Tca,ed. A ),,,,,,<",.,.1
pr~Cti';[)nrr may only SUSpCCt
w.ter.
Safety at In land Wa ter Sites
SAO Ilulll~" infcC!lull 11I<>,t ufl('" OCCurS wh~", "'I"'n wuunds ~rc i",,,,,,,,;cd ill rcbtivdy <ub~"nl w.ter cu"ul11i",tcd wi,h,.,., llr;n~. It
dun nut "s".lly re,,,lt frolll swallOY.·mg Wa!er. ,>' rat bi,es.
5 ... 1 The ri,l of m",r.e,;ng ,he d;sc~sc depend< nuinly 0 11 the S;2C
..,C !he loc.l r>t P"P"l.tion .nd !he d~gree of ttlllllC"ion expeC!cd
from the "'"er aCliVll)'. Tho..: ~'m'ntes mOS! likd)" '''' m~rc.«: the
rISk of d'<C~<l' ",d"d~ \hos~ which con "u"" open woun<4 . ..,r th ...
take pllCC d""" 10 d,. w;Her'. ~d),,,, where rlt m;ne i, more likdy!u
fo,ttld . It i, "..,! possihle 'n :\ample fOT this micro-OT!\'ItllSm. ,hIts
where d'e'" is pani,,,]'r mncern, ,~«,<>m~n( uf "sk ,lIuuld 'oc b/...:d
011 !n'd of r>\ infestation combined with the :1C!i\"1ti"" likely '0 be eanted 0'" on dtc w, .. cr. C>n<JCins ""ied ""' from. concrete cat,.l
b,nk. "ill produce more risk of injury ~nd COntact wnh ,he ""ner
thOIl mOtor ,,,'''illS On la~ l.kc •. Similarly. """cr .djo"""!!
prelll;":' "teh .. homing, r""-,,, CanurieS ..,r ~nill,,1 fe«l ~!Ores. is
mOre likely 'u b<: visited b)" UtS tilan !h," n01 !O uJl<'tl fields, so
pre""",i,,!: ~ higher risl.
5.42 It is dimeul, I() 's..:ss I""ds of nt infeS!.lIon Q\-'CT extensive
seCtions ofw.tCr and m.)" nOt II<: practicable at r'mOle Or liule USN
,i,.,. but ..,pe""..,r~ Can g~t help frolll b"dowllers. \oc:1I .mhoril)·
c",·ironmental he.hh dcp.nmems •• nd, ttl 'grtcuhtt,..~1 Uel>. the
M"ILslry of I\grtCUIILlTC Fi,her;es and Fuorl.
5 I{"I-; ( ""tn,1
ULUE-GltEEN ALGAE
5.43 vru,n <p«iN nrhl"~-F" .I~ •• 11 produce I<>X>'" ,,·horh. UpUII cor'",,'
nu)' "US<" """,be. orh~.loh J'f'.\bkIllS
on h""UIIS .• uch ~ dr",,,,,u> ... ,hllu.
"')'t ,,,,Utlu". 1':><1", .. bh"~,,,,!t or ,h~ <~'" .ru""d,~ ",,,,,.h .nd 'I<'>:«:. n,,,,,, •. 1;-I.",,-ent.-n1l<. rn"",I~ n.rnp<. hc.ad.(h~ •• lId pnc''''''''''', They I","e ,I..., ,.,,"'" f.ulitle, '" ti.h.I"'t,.",~ .ud
e<"
3.44 11,...., ws>n .. uI> ..-.n '''oOrl}:\> • ,'cl)' "p,d popul."o" ,,,crcue In
r,,·oll •• bk cond",nn' {,e p."lulIgrd
penod< <or "':>'111 .• tlil "'..-a,her wlIrlcd
","I. IIISh 1",·c1. ur """"" .. ,n the ",.tc •• tleh .. """'I\<n "",-off (ru", "S"I<'ulmnl (ertlllse .. ) .nd <'" .hcrefu.e. produce wry h,gh
k,-el! of '0Xt" qu,,~ ,,,dd('lIlr Till, ...... """'me •. btl, 'lOt .1",.).,. nsoCl.,ed ""b.1x- pnxlllcu<on of. "urn., .he ",Ir':.cc 0(,10< wOlICf.
5,45 Arc .. of luSh ".k """c' n.- likly to be "'"-,,,"'n .0 ,IxE"'·In.nlln~tII AgcIlC")' .nd ,he o'I'"'ru""",,,,,,1 he.ld, de" .. "",,,,,, who h.,,,, <Oil tlus 1I1lI,(,'. The5c bud,,:s '''' .I".., .. h·,>ec on tlm.- 0'\0.' whe" ,he risk " h'ghest ."d c." be ,o",,,lIed by 0l", .. ,or<
1I,><I~r.,"'ng "<k ""'nmcnt.
5.iU 5,!:'" .nd.'or ~.jk<l 0." be cffC('t"" ,,' ""''''III~ U"' ...... 'n"n of grt".tnI mk.. S",,,,,,,,,,,, .. ><I other "'",Ie. sport> oc"\'Iucs where
III11''''n>OIt or ,,,,,,lkM'IIlCofthc w.""" lI~d)'",1I ,""I. III 'nc~:»nI ".k of ,III",,.,. Spons lI""'"<mmg bodl6 such >s the 11.'1)";11 Yoch''''g
All.""""'" B.i",h C.,,,,,, Un,on ,nd n,her 'porlS N'lIo".1 G",'c"''''& B<xlles. pro .... de ~'UOd .d,·iec "" pre,,,,,,,,,",, "'h,,,h ""y
bt: uk"n
.; 47 In sum"W), .he nsks to he.lth from ........,.,,"'uJ ""'",. """ "'flU'" ~Um..,1y I"", owr.lI. T~", .'" "g",r", .... 1.><.1 nsks
"",,","'''t. "'horh. nUl ".'Y "",b ,he "me ot- ),e-I'. ",,·d of"",,,t f\ov. .•
• 00 wI",,,, KW>g<' Con"""".'I0". lugb r.. porulll"'''' or blue-Fit .Ipc •• t ("mlltO". l\x)r ><'S,h""c ""'",r qu.lny "'IY "-ell bt: .n
",<11<">1"" ("If hc,hll ."k.<. II"" ..... ·'" t.~..-..d :testhellc qUlllty d"", not necus."ly gu .... "'cc ... fc ", .. cr. <0 ,n "" .... ,,,,e,,, uf he.hh nsk:.
"'"" .1".)"", bt: mad.-.
Water-based Activities • FORMAL WATERS PORTS
• CASUAL ACTIVITIES
• SUPERVISION OF WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES
6.1 For d,~ pu!'J>OS<' uf tins ducunoo:m W~lCt-b,ucd on,nun ",n
boo d,,-kkd IIUO Iwo """""" as sloo"" boo!.......:
'funm!' W,IIcr 'pom ""h )s s .. I"'Il,nd ,."OCII'S. wh,ch h.ve
~" ,"nl>tmi~III .. ;un.! to''Cm;ng bod}' of whICh ... gmiiom proponoon of ","h" ... ,,, .r~ noo:mbrl'l. I)uo; lO IinJ;l~uo" on
~~, ~,Jd thr mtr.1ikd ..,><kroh,!, of rim publlC,mulI. only
1",,..,..1 s;of~ty poilU' h .. -~ bttn hlllhhglnC'd boolow. Th~se .hould he comidrrc<i by '"}' w.tel ~PO"S opcnror, Iml mO.C ,!'",fic s:ofcf)' ",{ornullu" ,hould br <OlIllh! from dlC rek-",IU
IUllno,.1 !;'O'",m'l1ll bod,n [= i\ppc,Jd'~'>1
C'~II.1 ..... l<"r.NW .act.",,,,,, ,u,h .. sW'nJnJ"'S .lId .1I&lms.
",·h ........ p."ic,p.nl; nc mure likdy '0 Ix memhe ... of Ihe go:"., .. l public
FORMAL WATER SPORTS
6.2 Wilh 'he ~'Cr nocrc;l.Smg p<>pub"f)' of ""'Ic' sport>. Ih,Il' .. n>un:" <knu,Jd ,hm t"'o'C' from clubs for KcrY IQ ,u,ubl" """er
bod,c,. &. re.uh, ",.,,)" mo."c"" wd Of"''''''''!") of 'uch """er h.,.., Ic=d Ollt f",I""s h'l clubs 10 ulfcr w .. cr spon, oppu"nnilic\ ,u bo,h ulemhe,... .ud 'he !l<'''cr;ll public. Such clubs will be r"pu,u,blc
for "'.'UP'nlCnt of ,hclt Kumles bm ,I", ~"c o"".er ",II h.,,,, • rnpno,,,b,hty 10 ellS""', >$ r.,., is I"t'"a5OIubly pranoc:abk, oIu, b.,1("
sur>cbtds ofhe.hh .nd ... rety I.e .. umOO hoth f .... cmrlo)"CCS,.oo
odter m,mlx .. of the puhhc.
SAFETY ISSUES
6.3 L",w below.", >O"'e of the Slfef)' '''"0:"$ 10 .... cons,dered by the ~PU"' "I'\''''or for wInd, ,he si,e "",,.., w,lI "'<Ju;", ..... ,de,Ie .. ,
m;u;mum. ~ud m >ome C~Scj u .. ,,,mum, "umbt ..
p"n,c'p .. mg" one ,;",..
d,u)' umcc.
OPCr;lttonS ,n Inclement w~ .. lICr
C>1~hhshrn"nt of nurU1~1 Of'""l""'g rrucooul"C>
Ih~ "..,anng of "'fcry cq"'pmcm ~ p<""..,nal buoyancy
Ihe d"trlhuuon of",I"t)· nll~s (eg m membersl"p Iner.Il\1«)
displ~y of ,,(ct)' nM. (es In dub ho",.,. 'I ,hp,,":lY Cf~)
rc-infor(cmcm of S;jfcry rules
firsl ~id (,dillies
r<'SCuc prOVI,;un
u",c,ug.mOll .Ild rc<,ordiog of nc.T nlOSSCS .nd .:ICCldCnl$
procedurci rur Ihe ,epotlmg of .ccidcnts
p<'riodic , .... ·ie"" of ,,(ety p'.K,icrs
whelher b~lhinli is permitted
ZONING
6.4 Al rome Joc"iou •. different """,,er .pom clnbs m.\, u:.e ,he ,..m< waler body. (;ivins n~ 10 ~ddi"onal risk. 10 pam"p.m •. >ItCh •• wlh,iuns. In ord", for twO or mOre dubs 10 co...-"''' "'Iely on a
waler hodI'. " ~vning '~'Slcm Ill.y be required. Zoning c.n be org>n"NI on cnher a sp",.1 or tempor.1 b.sis. ic .ct;,·ilics nn take
1'1...,0 enher in differem ire's or al different limes, To be: ef(~((,,·c. il
n .. ds 10 uk<' into OCCOUnt :11110<::11 sPO""'S "ncrests. USC'" mUSI be: awarc of Ihe zoning ' ''':'''gen'ems ."d be prepared '0 comply '''In Ihem. Consnlwion and Nln .. nion :arc "ffC'SS>ry 10 e"sure Ih., Ihcse
eTllC" , are mel.
CASUAL ACTIVIT IES
SWIMMING
6.5 ,... " .... ~d " .. her. """"""';;: '" ",1.".1 .... 'UeT
I".,!) '" ~ C<>III,dc .. blo Illl",ocr of drw.l1"'~"\ each
'I"",,,or. One ,~."'>" for ,In. "uy "" I>cnusc. <>" ~ hOI .",,,,ncr d,)'. ,he III);C 10 cool down '"''
becume "run .. ..:' ,h,,, CO""""" """,e. When ~lcollOl .. "I pce' pre""ro .rc .clded 1<> dt" cqu.lll\)Il. ",d,,,,d,,.I. ",hu 1Jt., ,he plun".., ~n:
""'1")<1111; ,hcllt""h"\"> '" ~""r"'''''' <l'''Jo.'''I
fo,(, Inbnd w~tcr ,n the U"mh Isles.
rnu,,,bfly ,r deep. ,em.",. a. '-ory L"Y>
IC"'pcnm,e nell .... hen ,h •• " IcmP<'utu.e
",,"tld " ...... "'1 Mcdncrnnn.tI. Tho ciT"", of thI: reid w;lIer can "n"IC'd'J",ll Imp.1" <II< "",lil)- uf <;> .... " competent
""~m",cD. n.o", .... ho do r>OI '«Qf;I"K u.., ,,/Tcc, dm ,,~ll h~~ on
tht" IK>mul ~blhl):. IIIl)' ~lrI"" .. m ru, ~ I"mp''''1t 1J'b"1 ~",h i/.S ~n
isL.,.d or 1>0., .nd !:C1 11110 d,rlk"lu .... E,..,,, If a 'llUhflC'd Ii{c-s.,..,r
iurvcns 10 "" 011 h1,1II. few b< .... bu of ",bnd "''''e' a", doC'~r e,wugJI
to nublt ~ qUIck .nd dT«t,,~ KKU~ lOr .ny<>n~ ~nk"'g f .. ~k>w
me, ."rfoo:,
6.7 TI..,,,, .. 0 ~ddcd huard. ""I..,,,, .I",,,,, nUl' ~ • t~"'rt1"""
and the proble",. "" ~ e:u<:c,b"tod by m"r~)' "r 'u,bulent W."'r. 111ddcn <"n.ms .ud u"dc"' .. 'o' 00""1<", ..... ,, •. 110' to ",OUUO"
" .. ",,·bornc cuft .".1 nU<lmtlllll waIn k ... l< nllk<- ",h .. loe. <lo".
10W\1)' ""sl",.bl. f", .",nun"!!:,
6.8 F", the •• rc •• "nl. " II ~cn.r.l1y .d ..... bl. '" .et,,·ely
d,'>C<""r.!;<' IW"'''11111& III ml»' ",I.nd ""er. 1".1 ... .1. u"der by_l:aw.
Hm"h W;II."" ... p h.! b"II!,cd ,,,,,,,nn,,,,S lit .n Its c.".h .• "d the
El",,,,,,,,,,cmhgoIKY d'KUUUt."" ,w''''''''''1: " •• 11 ,~, ,;,·c .... 1>«."", of the .n"otlts, SICCP I»,,,kt .".1 1"'11,,"0" To enforce • 'no
'\\"II"n"ng' rule. opcnlon .huuld u.. ",f",,,,.tlo,,-S'''mg
upJX>"""n". "" descnbcd In \",U!::r.I,h, 5.U-52M .nd monnor
x,i,,\)· eloKl)' 10 CIl>U'. SliI''' .re bellts on..,,,-nI .tnd 1>0. «mply
,"n .... «>"''''''''111 plxe I\,) IunS • 1""~1. ~ •• """11""'& Iu.
1«0.1",,,,,.11) .. k<-n rt.... >I • CC ... 111 k>c.noll. ,".1 .n ,Kscumcn'
... .1".,,,,, til<> be h'Sh n.1.. d.en ~r« .. 1 ".rden. m.~· .1", Ix- nccdcd
00 pm~tlI II,. "'\I"'\)' on 1M.>< .up
hoh.uj"',
~~fc[ ... ~t Inbnd \Voller ~II'"
(.,9 Theft" n"},, h""' ..... ~t. be desigmtcd loc'lion~ wilh ""Iintll
cond,non' •• ,1<1 timn.1 '''pc.,."i"n »,<tcm •• "TI<-re progn",,,,nl ,,,""""'1111\ nuy"k£, plxc ,,"h .tllIi,,"]y Ivw ,,,k. II"""",,,,.. '''}
npenli'.r com,der'''g d~.i!,:,'>ling. ""ncr Zone for ,wi",,,,i,,11.- .1>u.,ld
bc .w.re of Ihc unerot" responsibilities Ih .. enu,\; II) en""" .11
d,lIlcs .rt me, .• nd .11 roil. :ukqu:ndy cuntrt>lkd (ArJX"ndix 7),
6,10 Ahhol1(th '" «Cnenl ,wi",,,,i,,!,: in inllnd w,'er i, '" !,..
d, .... "un!-.~!, Ihere ~r(". few loe.tio", .TOu"d the wnntri whrrc il is
1'<"",,,, .. 0.1. A, ",her lor.100n,. n",.1 """'ming i, nu, .11"",(,,1. h",
Ihe ""Her nil)' !,.. used ,,0 """,iuns fi>r "i.,hlo", ."d Ion!,: di'Wlce
,w",ulUng ''''-re,ses which require 'pcnfic ",I;. .,,,,,,men! .nd
cOlu.oL In ntder 10 decitl~ 10.."." .,re 'p,.,icullr hod), of w'ler i, ("r
.udl .n .cm'Ofy, • full ris~ .,,,,,men! shuuld bc undc.ulen .s
1'rn'lOI.o>lv ckscnlX'd. For .""uncc m 1111, u,k .nd rur.u <"Suhlish«l
lost of "'t~I)' nileri •. refeT""" mighl be nude 10 ,h" H~hh .nd
S.tc,l)· Cummi"i"'lI'Spo .. Council', puhlic,uoll ,Hd"'!ll'''i! tfN/tI, ,,,,d .... /tty j" .~""'~lNj,l'I1 A>CJis (1'199) ~nd ,he ItnSl'A 1U..sS UK guid~nce ''',(ct')' nn Brilish lk>eh",,' Whik it i, impossible (or >0. Clpcn ,ule'
''''1UlUll''ll '",,",..,.0 ~.um ,he itlnl S\'o~lUmi"g cQnduions p ...... .,,;n
A m~'Hll:Kk pool."'~ .d",s;.hle Ih~I;oS nUlly '"' !",,>siblc of'he Sl(~1)'
er;,,,,;, bid dov." ill ,he guid.1lKe:lre 11K'.
WI."" 11t<)· o.n"ol bc mc,. OIhn ntc;<ns of controlling .i,k mu.1 bc c"'pln)'",1 tlr Ihe Kk~ .b.:indon«l The L)' s;.fn)' er;leri .... , hrieO)'
otn)lIIro bcJov,
6,11 Ph}')tc.) Slrucllln- _ the Opcnlllr of .ny "".leT ,""'mnnng
,"enue should h.,'e. de ... nd ... cunte kn"wlcdgc oflhe u"d"rw'l<T
!':Tl<hn>l>. depth ."d nOM profik artd m,le';.1. Abrupt d",,«C~ of <kpll' on ""aler less Ih,n 1.5 ... on deplh ,h..,,,ld be "'u"led where
pd",hk. .. iu • ",.n-m,rlc pool.
Furthermore, ""I"" lhe ""ltcr body i. s",.11
enough '" hc "xdmi,"dy operaled for swimming. pllyslc>1 h.rroers "'.r~i"g ,he ,,""cn' of II,., ,w,mnung Zune should hc i"'I.]I«I.
6.12 Ac~ss 10 Ihe "'.Ier should .1I0w (or e •• y
.,1<1 ",fc entry.OO exi" In <Kher word,. OI.e would
",<»«1." t'\~n. n'-"Hllp. pr«lictlblc slope in'o Ibe
w.ler, WI.eTe Incl •• dope i, n<X prcscnl. <>ITe"
f."m 1"-'11100'" \" .. step" pn-SCll'" • poss,hle
.lte'n~,,''t', I'IM1IUOII> .re .1.., • useful n""" of
dcfinon~ , .... ~ri"'el<"r of 11K b.:i'hing .rc ••• nd
.l1ow hfcgwt<k • ",.Jk", .. y front ",I,ieh 'u p>.lrul
110" l""e,
O.AN! I
Safety ~t [nland WJtn Sites
6. [3 Wat~r C[mly ~ b'QO(\ ""ter danly " C~$enu~1 for uf~
swiouminS in our ,wu"ming puols. nOt only S<J tb.t swimmers
them""I" .. < a ..... hle to >Ss~<S tho prof,le nf 'he ponl Ooor .IId 'he
",herc.bo.,ls of olher b.thers. bu, /.)><.> S<J ,11>1 lifcb","rth ore I.ble 'u
..,0 .IIY uSIII.hy .,,,,IO,,,-;lIor .IId promptly perform • r<"S~"e.
Ilowe,·cr. 1\ ,I "01 often tim npc" w.ter ",II'"1Ieh ,).c cbn<y of,"
",door puol, .nd II 'll>ywdl be this (:!.IhnS tlm pcrsll.dc;;:1Il opcr:"o.
,h.1Ih< ri,k i, Iherefore 100 b"e'l.
6.14 Nc,·cnhek •• wille <>f Ihe mks c." be c<>l1lrulkd by \\"1:11-
enforer<! "ser r"le,. p,,"cul>rl)· ,h",e .lIlIcd ., protCCIIIIS ,he most
vIIlncublc. For IIlSl/.I1CC. IIOIl-sw"nlllerS .nd du ldrcn below •
ecrui" ¥ ....,,,ld Ix c",,1uded f""" b><h",s .It"!!,,,h, •. W>r"tn!?
:lI>om thc ".k~ of '"ddcn ","nc~,on "' cold w",e, Ii,. Ih~ wnh •
he.rt condi,ion .• nd inf(m11>liun .boUI dIe ""Ier 1011II><'I">tU"" Clll
.Iso be hdpful. l,f..gt,.rt!s t",,.,ed .nd e.'pc:ncnced III oPC" w;ur,
"""'ue ",II.lso he.n csse"".1 p;lrt or 5\1ch." Op<:r.IlOIl.
6.15 Accr~,hlhly -Any np<:r.>lor nf. ","',",n.me pool wIll he .w .. e
,h.I.IlY puol when 1101 m ",e .nd IIot ,upt',,·i,r<! should Ix· ><"<,II",d.
SO tllll onprogunllncd swim"",,!: c .. ",ot ukc pl~c(". N;uurally, .,
open w,lor '·enue, Ihi, h<WI"lICS much more diAiwlt. p.rticubrlr'~
opel1tnS limes m.y, by neccsmy. be Irregul,r duc '0 we .. hcr
nri .. io",. Al >orne [,x/.1io", i1 tn.)" be po(,,,ibk 10 ",,,dec Ih~ .CCr,\
poi'" d,fficuh to r~.ch. b", cff~c","C "S"S w,II.lso pl.y.n imporulll
p.rt in delimng opeullng hOll" wd 'he d.,,8<''' of 'Wl1n,,"ng
om,ide ,hem. Jn adduion. where ,he "' ... ", or 1"",lIon m.k", U
dit1,cult 10 seCnre 'he SWHlt"""!: ,nnc, the "p<:r.t<lr 'h""ld cnSn",
Illlt .d hoc """SCm,,,,. c.n Ix- n"de on ,m"".",,,,lIr ,,:.nll doys.
whncb)· a member or .Ilff c." ,·i'll ,he "Ie .nd pre'·elll
unprngr:I.I"mcd ,wim",;ng ",killg plxe.
6.16 Jnforn,.,ioll _ the comem. de"sn ,nd
loc."on of "'.:It!""~ IIollceS lIc<:d '0 be (.,dillly
WII"del"Cd., p,n of '"). ,w""mlllgcll,",ronmem
As c.1Ch body or OI'C" "'-:>ler i, ""'qllC. ,",h
i"forlll>lion "' der,h " partlenl ... I)" crucial. U"",
rules shoold be dl.pb}"Cd.1 .cees, po'nts ~nd 'hen
rCpC>1ed ... IIr other 'PP"'I'''"'c "PPU""'"'Y '"ch lS III c1Wlgll1S roams .• , ,he ellll)· poin' '0
the w;1Ier . • ,e. $i;:'1> ,hollid cllnform III the
'Jl<"<',lit·.lIoll bid dO\\1' '" IIn,,'h <;",nd.rd 5378
S.fety Signs ;md Colours. /.S "mh Qthe. """er
... fety,il;lI'.
Safety ~tlnl~nd Water Site,
6.17 lif~g""rd,,'g - uc.dy all on.n·m.<lo p"blic .winmnng pools requore ",m" "'''»''1"<: uf ~"PC""',s,on. ,,~,,'lly in ,he funn "fqu.hfied lifcgu.rd •. Their f"nnion is '0 prumote s>fc.}" .hrough ,he contrul of
lI\..-r Ix-h.vio", .. well " ,h~ nuinten.ncc of c<ubhshod s>fcty
... nd.rd, .• nd 10 Ix- ".,bbl •• nd .d"q"Otdy (o<npc"'" 10 US",
somwnc '" d,llicuitiN. A •• n opcn warcr m~mn""g ,·enuc. ,,·here Iho 11.1\1,,0.1 h.urd, .re "'C'o·n.bly grel,eT. the,r rok becomes even
,,'orc e1"\"i.1.
6.18 Lifc&u.rd, need '0 be: (o"u"".lIy ,W;lre of.1I u liv;,y on ,he
sUe os wdl •• '" Ihe ,vo,e. in oTd,r to respond to ch.nging
,ireumsunce •. A wdl . , ... i",d lif,,~·u .. d will be: .bk.o ukc deCl,"on,
such " clearing ,wnnme,", from the W::HCr 'n ,he (vent of
d(",oTlo ... ong woOther cond",on •• for """"'ple_
6.19 The)' should show;l 1,,-..-\ of compc,ence
.nd ,h"uld be TC"glII.rly le.led un skJlls .ud
physic.1 .b,h,y. and prderably huld • CUrrent
qU.1lific.oon from." 'pproP""C ''''\ TC"c'-'!I;uisc<l I",i""'g .ud ." ... "ing .!:Cnt_ It " essential ,h., life~"1Tds ""deruh • fUTlher module for
lifcgu.rdi,,~ inb"d "",ler< .ud ,h'" Ihis i, ""d os point of "mr}" intu ,he "<:"XI ph." of ,,,Hung
whICh IS "'e 'peci!ic. Fotluw.ng 'he fisk ",,,,,,n10111. me 0PCI";"o,", ""1';1 c.",bh,h ,hcIT
""'n Inining pro~ro",,,,e. wh,ch witl be;;,
(ollirollh" mki ,d<"ulicd. '0 'boh on' to ,heIT
,uuung. It " the'l lh~ rc,pon"b.hry of ,he <>pc .. '<>r '0 m.ure hfcgu .. d, .cluo,"" ,he ;lpprnpri>te ".,io,,,1
,\;lnd .. d conduClcd by '" 'ppro,·OO , ... ",,,r <.>r ~.'<.>nu"er .ud ,h .. ,here ,s ,,,llie;c'" ",'" ..... ,ce 1 ... 111"'& 10 ensUre ,h" competcuce i<
"""luiuOO. In p.rt;cul ... ,he u«" of resc"e bo:i" I"<:quil"O' > specific
prognmme for 'm"iug."d ."",,,ment.
6.20 Where,-cr 5"'111"'U"g is pc,.m",OO ",.11 opc" ,,"ltc. ,lte .• n
crncrl:,'enC)' .'"011 pbn (EAP) should b. formullrcd .nd hdd in
w .. mtlg_ ]" enlcrsc"C)' ,,,,,.ltO", " i, ,mportaul tl"" ,he corr«,
.cllons .re uken 111 the cOrrCCI sequcnce SO Ih.1 th" .. "'ngw~ is nO'
compounded. it is ",,,,I,h'l .ll.,.ff or" ,horQ<.>ghly f,,,,,h .. ,,1th ,he pbn. whICh wo"ld u,,,.lIy colli.", Ihe foU"",,,!: ebue",,'
res<:ue ,n>ll'S"""'" <.>f.lI incidents;
con,iu,,;!y of ,,,pc""'is;on of Ihe 'w"n ciming.n inci""",;
e<).tl1I\,,''''_"''" prOCl'dme dm"'g ",,,,dems ],o,h ",uhlll 'he
te.", ."d "",,h c.",rn.1 .~ne;<> .nd services;
I
Safety at Inland Water Snt.
~rt<rc.ro ~nd (r.nsporuuon (0 med",1 .ssist.nce o( .11
ca,mlnc •. and nt!Ce>S.>,)· c<.>Ullsclhu!;.nd support !(>T re","ncrs; ,.d
~xpec(ed lewl of p"r(orm~nc" u( h(cgI"nh/rcscucrs lrld snpport m.1[
Adcqu~,c d,>uncnon should be m:wc between nl'Jur and """or
cmcrg.:ncics in Ik £A!' by d"m1n!o\ "p >cpn:nc procedure. for cxh.
6.21 Th • .., ,honld ~ .d"'l,,",e consuh.non wHh 'he emergen",,'
scf\'icci In du",ns up the W! In tins W~)" fully agrttd I'ruttd"lU
.nd m,<11<><1s of Coml1,,,,,,C.l'OI1 betweel1 .11 ",ryiec. ean be
;mplemented. h;, c~".mdy j,nportllH <1 .. , ksson~.rc ic",,«i from
.n)· ine;d."l where ,he EAI' Ius beel1 ",,"okcd. A th".uuSh
CX>nl""liuu of each 'ne,dem,~ n~SS3r)" .nd ,,,,.s of ;mpro''t'lllcm
$hould be idc"ufjcd •• CUQI1«i .l1d "Tinm iut" Ihe EAl! All UI,idem •
• l1d occurrenc"., ",b"d wa'er ,ltcS ,h""ld be recorded (/;lld where
nercs .. ,), "'portro) 10 ens"re d"1 [he ... fcry !,nellce, re,m",
r.le, .. ",. So.., p.r::tgr::tphs 6.4J-6.44 for mOre d.I,,1.
6.22 Further del:."l. on orS'l'''''''S hfe~~,ard '''''cr CI." be fou"d
In App"ndi.~ 7 .s wC"lI ~s in Ih~ p"hlie .. ion Safirr ell Bniiill Be"r/r" Is"" p.ngr::tph 1.61_ The l~o}":. 1 lir~ S"'i"S S<.IC"kry UK prov,des
:W\,cc.
ANGLING
•
6.23 Whil,[ there arc "","n~1 ,,,,,,onal go\"ern"'~
bodies fur drc sl"-''' uf '''W,ns 1'« !q>p<nd" ~I, the
\."" n,.joriry oflhe """,wed fonr millio" I)("<)l'k
who !,lTtlClf"IC 1Tl [he spon arc no[. i" f,cI .
"'embers 0(. guvcm'''lt body .nd SO ",11 tend nO!
'<> benefi, f .... '" ,..fe,y .d,·,oe Issued by Ih'm.
Unlike somew>!cr 'PO'" "here fom .. l ,raining i>
ind'Sp"ns.ble (oS s"l lllg)_ ."sirng " • fe!>[wdy
" .. igh[forw;lrd .nd "'l'l<p"n,;w sport \<.> beco,ne
""..,lwd ,no and (an be ,njoyed III mOS' parts of
the eo,,"'~·. whnhcr urban or rural. It "also an
,,,;v;')" popular ",,,I, chilel"'n. ,d,o will [end 10 h<
Ie" ,.",f"t [h." .d"l«. II IS. ,hercforc. ""por,.",
'h" opcr:n<>rs <<>"slder 'he s.:r.fcty of anSkl"< (,..,fully '" Ihe risk
.'>cISme,n pfO("en. 0"-1'" s.fety .d,·;cc should be ",:We ,,·.il.bk_
p.nicolarly where '1=,I;c ",I:,. c~'S' which .'" II,,, oh"io\ls 10 tk
""".1 vi<ilOf.l.oc,l.nglingclub, C~" .• nd sho"ld .• Isol>, c"cour~ged
Sat~ty •• Inland W,lIcr SIlC~
6.2~ \'t'h~rc'~r fon,,~l or ,u"",,,al ~"gh"S •• krs pl.e~. ~ spee,r", risk .. ,;o-"",~", ~ho"kll><: "nd<ruk~" '0 cons.der ,h~ ~uglcrs· s;ofc!}".
Approp" .. e lOt""g ,,,d od,~r <;>f~,y .dvicc or "'ks c.n then Ix:
csl<tbh,h,xl and dISplayed for ,he Ix:"efi, of ."slers. AI sn", wkn:
perm;! w"rd~", rq:ularly p .. rol. Ih'1" should n" well b"cfed OS to ,h~
•• fN), ml", .nd <"force ,he><" where p<>5.ible.
6.25 Ikm-<en 1990 .nd 1996 .,10." 7J anglors drowned ttl ",I.nd
Wl!Cr. wnh 40 of!hO<t drownl1lg from !he shore. lnd 33 frOIll 00,:r.~.
n,,·cIS elJ,,,,NI <ligluly n,orc liv~< ' han o'hcr bodies of "·'let, duc
1''1,,,,1)" 10 ,he entren". On do«'r e><:>",,,,.non oflhe "re"m.unces.
some common c.n"" c",erg<'; ,h. n"", frcqucnd)· cncd for bnd_
b>.sed ."gln, \x-"'g ,he relrie,·.1 of dropped or sn,~""d ,.et.d,. Of,~n
,hc .ngler" li,h",!! . lone or om ofsogln of od,,,rs. §O no .""unec i •
• , .. ,I,hle. Am"n~t "'gl.I'< dr"""ed from bo.1". co.psiz"'S is often
tho ".,,<C. It ,s worth notms Ih.t th~ m.jorlty of Ih"", d"""nng
fron> bo.1" Were fmmd not to be we'''''g p<'>OIl.1 buuyanc)" "d,.
6.26 These d .... re ' ·01)" u<cflll", dO\""lllg the ."ghng ",fety pohry.
both for ~ngli"!; club:. ~nd ,n'I1'-f;Crs of "';ltc, bodi« whoro fishing IJk"l pl.co. Opo""l)'" l)f >i,~s whore nshillg Indgc-< exi<t rM tho
collccnol1 of pe"''''s e,c, c~n ",k~ ,hi> i<l~~1 OPllOrt1,ni,y '0 publicise ... fety mlo, sud, .. ·No w,dong·. or. 'AI",,,)·, fi,h wi,hin .. glll of
~"otl,c' ~,,£kT', .nd dr.", .tten"o" to 'pe".1 pre"u"",,, such •• ,TC.S OUt ofbouuds dum,£ d",w <lOWI] ~l)nditil>1".
A, SIt .... where p<l\\"Cred or """tiS bo.1" lre I",cd Out for ""wong,
0pc",,""".re .d,·;<od '0 romider ,he foll",,.,,,S" ""Y" '" which '0 (o,uml Tlsk ,0 ,,,glcr<:
'o"duel SO"'e fo'm or ''''''p''tCtlCC 'c""'g of bo.1t h,,,dli"g ,k,lh;
pro,·ide ,nd ",>,ntel in ,he u><.: OJ person.1 buop"ry dO'·lCes:
c>ublish ...,fNy rules. og d,., .nglers muSl "'., ,11 ""'c. whib, .l1oat; .nd
d,splay instrn",io". on ~o""n on the ,,",m of • "m.n
o,·c,bo.rd- Or ,"ps .. o "!U."O".
Further ad'·"e un .nghng .. fcl)" m.y be ob, .. ncd from the ,"n,,,,.1
b'll,·o,nll1£ bod;e. for . nglitl£ [App<nd", 51.
S3
S~lcly ~I I nl~nd Wn.-r Sile,>
6.27 Ahhn"!,:h ~ngk" .re III J;~"cral .wuc of ,h t "'~ of d«tlveUI;un (rom O'o'nIK..:I f'\>"~' hn~. ony o/r.lO. ""h such cobin crU\oS;ng ,m-i •• ue should ensu,"" ,h .. , d,~ w:l.mons:s ond~"lIng .he hU:l.N ~re pTO\,ded •• • teess po;nl<'o .he SOle. Where .he "ble.
1'>''' WlII"u COSt"'s d.sunce of the Wollcr body, II " ",,,,,,,,,1 II,., prmmnent "'"mms notlCN orr Sfr.u.grnll)· pos,uuncd here. A. ~"
",lun "")"'r body .ueh l> :I. ''''clCh ,,( nn~l "'here hn("5 nu)' run wJ:l.ccm to it, II". m"y nu. he ",,>on.bl)' prxlle~bk; remmdn o. ·n.g' w;rmings inmlled " une",.I, .h""ld IX" ron,idcrro a' p, rt of
".~ control mCasurtJ.
PEI~SONAL WATEIK:KAFT
6.28 l'coolul w~,cret>.f •. clkn refc=d Iu as ~C'I
.b~' or 'v.~, h,ks·. are bc-ronllns an men:umgly
romm"" sigh, Oil "'" ",I."d W"cN . • I1d "1"'t>.t<)1"$ n:port freqm'rl\ rcque< •• '" opell "I' ("niter 'nu.. bodl("5 (or 1M spur •. I~piu.lhe low KeidC"nt ,>Ie for
p''''''p.n" ."d ..... h~. Wale' 1tsc:1"$ fro", Ihi • ..-,ivi.y. (g<·ne .. lI)' nltleh luwer ,I"n 'lud'lIon,,!" ,,")\Cr $porl~
."eh •• ",,']i,,~ e. 'lO<"mg. .IId sub-oq"o), ~rsonal "")lCrcr:lf. Iu,.., bttn ."' ...... ....! on • num"", of lugh profile ~ccidem~ ~nd inCldCIU< III IIfl1~m. The
n~S-lIl\"C public ,nt'!le ]I)~y hot cx:.ccrh'I<"<1 by .he pcrccl''Cd 'n",~'lCC' an.ihu,cd by thc5(" cnft.
6.29 There h .. ~ heen "m~cm .. ""nIP' ho,1l ,,,,,, ... 101"$ .,><1 the pubhc .,bo", lilt· danllel"> p<)SN hy Ihi< .C1;vuy. p.rt;CllI~rI}" h) olhn
w"tcr uscrs. As. WlIb all :l.Cliv;I;<'i, "1"''''10'' ~I","ld Ix-gln 1» ... "",illS nsk both 10 p"ntC'P-'"1S md other< ... "d III wme Ioc>lIon~. ,nner sp: .... 1 or 'c"'pur.l ~OIung may au.sl In .dll~vm!llurm"mulls cocx .. lene~ bctwCCIl pc.-wu.l w.ltcreTafl panlelpam, llid other<.
H."., ..... "'r. org .. ni~llOn. such .. 1~()SI>A. JtI.s~ UK. RYA .. nd ltNLl (O,mder wuc3Iion .0 be .. k). nsk COI"roI me.sure, •. nod 11K RYA prl)\~dn (,.,nmg COUI"H'S lor p.rllnp.mS. Vulll"u,), "xJ,M and bO:1<
"kntific.Il"n loChcmcs . Iso operale n, ~mc ~rel< ,,,d :>.<,1>, III ,ite
enforee""'''' of1»·I.w'I a,ld other c«lc5 o( p .... lteC.
RECREATIONAL HOAT H!1tE
6..30 Alloougb the nllmhcr of Sile OPC""Ol"S md .".,nel1l who otTer ,,, .. II bw.rs r ..... lure. bos d",hned In tbe l.sl d«.xk, IlKre orr <1111.
con"dc .. bk "'I[n""r of p.rk> "here eomrlelcly illc:qlCri~nccd
memhcrs uf Ihe public ,.n uk, • fUwms bo.ll or ~d:l.lo OUI unto
"")I<.'r. Allhough "" tirslcull,i&:t>.llOn .h., ""y ""-llld d.".,:rous. Ihe ri.lo con"" cffec'!""l)' controlled .hrough .. ",,,,,hie chOIce of I.le on whteh .<) oper.te .• nd good ~.fety mJIIJj.,,<:mC't1
Saf"ty at ]n]md WJlcr Sill'S
6_31 The p'iucil'~1 hnmi wi ll he Ihc v,:;mrdeplh, ,md Ihe opcr,"or
should Im'c ;m accurale knowledge of [he deplh of [he ",;[cr
throughout the bke. In .,f~ty term~, the $h~Il""'er the W~ler. Iht
helltr - bke. of considenbk depth may well be lIn~l1'Clbk ror thi<
acm'lIy.
6.32 Even where ",.Ier is rcbtin:ly .Illllow. thu. will be. new to
apply adequate ~"utrol mC'~llTCS" the cmh""k'li on pomt. in vi<"Wof
the large concemntion of people likely 10 sather here d",,,,!> W', m SUmmer wcd:eud~. lbrricrs to pre,","", ." idem.l em')' into the
waIn. or t",controlled entry omo. or exit from. b<J>l~ " tI". poult
[my wdl be required.
6,33 Given Ih.1 entermg the ",:uer tithet
.,,,dentally or dd il><e,atdy from the boots
Ihclll,e1vcs. will present •• igniroc'nt ,,~k, the s.fet),
<'>1'",",i<)I1 .nd ,,,I,, shcmld be designed 10 comrol
Ihis. Once ,he ma.~i"'"1ll depth oi WOtet h.s Ixen
mablisho:-d, i[ willlX' po,sible 10 dClcrmim' 3 policy
o n pe,.....,u,1 huoY'llcy . ids. Thi, will "eed to
consider whether Jll boolers. or ""'ply th05C who
would he Ou' of ,h"c d.plh. shotl ld wc.r persoll~1
buoyancy ~ids, .nd whClher '-b'" limi" ,1.o nld he S<'t.
Where the depth <.>f , w .. cr hody i ~ un known
(b«.u$C It is nnt practicable '0 pu{orm a Ihoroug:h
depth " '!"I',,y) Dr whcre w:ne' I",-ds :I,e prone 10
fi uet" ' I; O", it may be wise to ",.tlH'''' ~ policy
wherehy , II boot.rs 111Ull ''''' .. personal buo)'allC)~
6.3~ U$Cr S.tfcty !"II I" <ho\1ld be outlined delfl)' ..
the ~)'mem arca and '&lm al the e",b .. blio" poinl ,
The~ would mosllikely indude: life jacket mk 'b'"
h"'lt: ",divid".1 height li""t ror wh ich" life jKkn
muSl be worn: and behaviour mnd.rds (eg ' No S1>ndlllg', 'No I lo,sepby". etc). The ind;"idllol(s) III
clurg< of the opention wi ll n<:Cd '0 be tC$p<l]1sibk
.nd "';tllr<: . " d be .bk nO' only 10 mfo,,"c Ihe rule s.
blll ,1:.0 to !'CO'!,"';$(: and de,1 .rrropriatdy ,,~th
.nyonc who n"y present .ll undue hnard \I)
themselves or Olhef> (eg those .ppearing '0 be under
the influence o{alcohol). The superv"or(s) ",II ueed
tnin,"!; on ;efiol1 10 be I:Ike" in Ih,' event of .pccific
inCldems. [n addlllon. all ,GIfT would benefit fto'" tl.e ~t.gi ll g of a
5imubl"d incident to enSUre emergcnC)' aClion plans arc cffeem·, and
pr.elic>1
Safety at Inland Water Sites
{),)5 When Ihe boots arc om of opcr.tUO!l '!ld ,,""'red, lh~y ~.n
p .... ..,nr , gTCJl temptallon to you!lf;>ters, BollS should Ix.- .... -curciy
lockffi and ,,'()()rcd t..)'Ond re.ch of ,he .I",r(, with ()ll"$ lud
ruwlocb SCCUft'd Kpn:ucly. Park )llrr ~ho\lld monitor the siulllion
and make cha!l!,"<'S tu the proc~dorC'S as ncce,sal),-
ICE SKATING
6.36 During,old "";mcT spells, 1Il1'!ld Willer !x"h", can frITZ" O\'or
and p .... ""m. ""uul ice r;"k faci lir:,: Unf"'!Ilmtcly,I>e<:,"",,, the (old
spdl i. often nol prolonged. d'e i<:<; re,""'" thin .nd I",uffrci~nrll'
strong to SUPP<)" i""",,, weight, Om:e someoue hh f.lb, through
icc, rhe ex,reme c"ld of Ihe w, ter t>cnelth, will make ch."ee; of
.",.viv.1 remote, partimiarly gIVen ,he prohlem' for rescllcr; from I ,_~~~_~_~ ___ ..JL ____________ th~ .lr~ad)' hrokcn and we.ken~d icc. TI", "
rdkncd in Ihe !lumber nf dro"." ing tr.!;"dic<
which I"" often oce", Olthis Ome.
6.:;7 A further tragIc co"""qneH,e of tht,,,,,
',eideutS e'" be- the de"h of the wdl-mc'lllng bOI
in .. d<XJlwdy eXI""ienecd or C<lllipl"'d ]>.:I,scr-by
who au~rnpts tn ,cSnl~ the c»"'lly. "nl)' to f~ll
'~eum III the saJUe 111.n!ler. A "umher of d<->g
WlI~crs ho\'e ~u killed, 'llcmpI;ug to rC<Cl1~
'heir 1"'1 whIch has f.lltn 'hrough the icc. The
ulw1l.:Ite 'rtm)' is, dll' whilst the Own~r ",,,. lIy
dro""S, d,e d<->g ""ry nf,~" nl.nO!;"S '0 struggle
om Utl,ss,slcd ."d ",rv,,-c •.
6,:;8 As wi,], unprogrlmmcd ,"'"mllllg. ren'IIl ](>c.llom ""em
l'Articul .. rly .ltrJn;,·c for .k:!,,,,s." f,Ct "f which the opt'r.t,or i. most
likely JWJrc. I lowtvcr, 111 w>tcr MIt opcr~lOrs should he aware of the
nted 10 ukc .. dditioll.l.I,'pS III "1St .",,,reness nfthe ri,ks of frozen
W1!cr. These might include: the rc_dtpk,)'mcnt nf .dditioml suIT
during cold ""e,,her '1"'11.: publicity of the dangers lh'"ugh the
",cd" of press and "diD: cducation~llI1lU",i\'~. iH loc. 1 school.: . ud
the approrrille pusitio",,'!: of-n'''Ser Th", Ice- ""tices.
Some operator> l)a,'~ been kno",." to 'lIt"'PI to eomrol the ti.h '0 the publk from , frozen pond by hre.klng the I(C around lhc
clrcumferencc in ou .ttemptl" prc\'Cnt acce" "Ht" it. nil' re,po"'~ is UOI nxomllll'udcd '" the gap ca" >till be hrClchC'd by dctcrmlllC'd
)'ourl!(Stns. Fllnherm()n:. the gap ml)' wdl re-frtezt and .. , prescnt
ice of more lIIleven and 11I'I"edi",hle lhid,n~ss. Sud) a gap u"y ~lso
Ix.- • c"u,idcr>bJc h i ndr.tn~c to rescllc -",,,,ke •• 11l>"ld .n :oceidcnt
OC'\lr. Insleld, the follow"'l: risk eoutrol mc",,,,,,, .hnllld be
Cn1ployffi WhNC pos~iblc.
S~tt-ty 31 Inland Waler Siws
6.39 lkspo""b,hry for i"i~i)'i"S 'he icc «spuuse ,hould bt cI~ .. ly des,s:n.1<."d to k<'}' suIT m .. ",I><-,.". ><J ,h,1 os SOOn "' ",.1<r b.-gtn! 10
freeze .• c\;on e~" br; uk"n. A, I<>COIio", wh.« "S'''''g is .prropri>le . • ,lOCk of'DANGER _ THIN ICE' sisn •• h'>uld be ""ilable for
i",ull.t;on >I frequ .. m ""e .... ·.ls >round Ihe ".rer body. and
p.ruenbrly .t ,he "'.,,, 'ppro..-h( .. ) to [he wa'cr', edge. The'"
shunld then oc inSpecled <iI,ly througho", ,he fre<:~e .s. ben,s 'HCW'
.nd of,en percei,'ed .. ocmg 'killj"y·. they 0" he pm;"nbrl), subJecl
to v,nd.li"". Thcy .hould .Iso be promptly ren)O\'W following,
tllOW. '0 to .. they do not lose ,hc;, ,de"""ec .nd ""1"<"1 when n.XI nel-cied to md,e.,,, tI,e haun!.
6.40 Where !lle 5lltT c~'SI they should .dopl • pr.,veuu"e ,ole.
parrullillS ,he (TOlen l.ke .1 ""gub, ""e,\".k This "ill cmhlc them
10 in,pee' "gI'~ ~Ild Cmu,e no one is '[fempung '0 ~k;ole 0< pby on
the icc, Thl')' should .lso be I",,,,,:d (by Ihe lirc and 'C"l.Cu~ Krviec.)
.nd l'r:tCti~ in Ihe emergene}' rrocwn,"" for'l1 iec "eidem. so th ..
lhey c." .S~'" • e'$u.lty. ""hout pUIl'ng themselves ot rlsk. Thcr., art' J number of wcll - 'ried icc reSClle mel hod,. (,,' cx:tmple Ihe 1l>C
of. ladder 0' plank 10 .... xh out '0. c,sullry "'h" h .. fallen ,hrough
Ihe ice. TI,,, reSCUer ihonld b.- tied =urdy 10 • poi'" o( I. nd .nd
h.\,e ""mcdi.,c b.ck-op. tn the e'"C", of .u iee ,,",eidem. ,he
emcrll"u'1' ",,...,ices ,hould be ""nmoned .nd Clsu.lncs should .lw,)'> h. ulteu 10 hOir, ... I. nl)[ least bee."", of Ihe pu~s,bk elTcc .. of
hn'OIher",i •.
6,4 I Whetc the,e"e no "n. ,ite surf: <>pC"" 0!"> .hould cnde,,·o .. ,
10 re-deplO}' ~urr wherc possible to u"derllke 'he role descnbcd
.oo..'t.
6.42 Us~ bu~ no~ Ic .. ~ ...... h~T'<' ~ pl",cubr
hodyof(ro'~n ".In" know" '0 k pupnb, (0' .<hli,,!?- the ope,.,or ,hould '!T.1Il!;C (or
,"",ts 10 1"",1 Khools III dIe ~tl!umn ICfm ~o
r.i", ."or,,,,,.» u( ,I,. high ri,k uf snch -,en,·""-,,,. Th;s on k done "I Ihe form of I~.'''''''''''''''O;'''''';;;;;~''~:~;~; !lIb ."d/o, d"tnhmion of edue.non, 1 m~[eri,L
~aic ty at Inland W~lcr ~ II'·'
SU PERVISION OF WATEI~-[JASED
ACT IVIT IES
STAfF
6.43 TI",«, are m.:my si'e$ orm",d ,h~ counll)'
",h~r~ Tal\~". ",,,,dens or hfcII"ud. are .,"'pluyw, whe,h", 111 • full or pn[.!,mo pa,d
(ap'c,ty Or .~ volumec"" '0 ~"I"'rviIC g<:nonl
""lleT-Nst"d oc,""ty, AI !\lch I lles Ihe folio"",,,,,
shOtJId he e'tlbh,hed:
,he ~"""'n .nd lone, .0 be CQ\'erw (a ",ap dl<)w"'g designated VInes, mff control
p<mus, emerge"C)' pro,'"""n elC 'ho"ld he
d',rby"d):
,he gene",I .. "d <peel.h" ''''''''''I! ~uircd w aT!)' 0'" dune!. eiT"""," .. ly:
lincs of commumcaLi"" ."d opt"nllllg .",hurny,' Ihe si.,,:
cme'K""cy oct"," pl~n (should be rd''''ncd reguLuly .nd
",here po",ble, Incidents linmlalcd):
cme'W'ncy c.II....,", procedures (.ppropn.,c 1I"$On wllh
cmcl),"Cncy "'1",0., .I.onld}'" m.IIlmnro): ."d
"'cidcm reponi"g procedures,
6 . .u Thor func,ion. of 11.:10', •• ny sue ""II dcp<"od on '~(XIe", of cO'>~r pTO\~ded .. rod the 'CU,'lUeS ..... }II"h uk pi""., [0« "PPend,ccs I .nd 7] , H",,~' .. er dunes .hoold, where p<>Ssrblc, rnror1"onl" Ihe following;
promoting ....... ronc<S of'l",c,f" .nd g.:ncr.1 h.llTdl:
gt""g a""tanC~ to 1ll~lllbcrs of Ihe p"blic ~,>tl Othe .. 10
Cn<" r~ ~e ""m'uy;
promollng OO"oaIlOl .. l p..,.;nmn><"S .nd ,,1\''''g »fc!)' ad\',cc
.ppropriatc 10 .h" site;
..
'1~F<J .)S.J'l1 JJ~lp' 'SUliod 1<\11<10) ,0
s;)Soq U~p'U' ,. p>lsod pUC '01",:><10 "US JljlAq "1'I<l't,," AI'~'" "P"'" ""l PI"Ull~ $J".\,l~ nt}O "''''l.UIlU pu. i~IU'U U<WQJ 1<:>01 JII.l 9t"9
'J,<"dwdd. JJJ'I'" !SlUt
01 P"l\u.>q II'''' 'Joln)lp o<l ui J)!,u;>< "":>PJ PUt ~J\J JII' mil ,(P~lI S11) put SJ~I~ P""lutIlO IlIlP'JI' ! ,{11< JO 1I0!lW!P,O-OJ put lI0!ltUUI!
JIll JOJ "1'I'$uo,lsJ, "'. JJIIOO a'lL 'snlfU'" h.:I";'&"UI" "'I' (») 1~W>U"
JpO'" 3.10 uuu;mh.>J) PUt '<luam,",,,,b;,, illll$"»'1 '111.'>\ $J'Id1UO)
JOl'J~u ''II mll l u.uodwl SL" ')3'10<! ~l 0) ~lltll.l"'''P' "p,:.(),d tlu
uO!'t.l!unwwo) 011' .... tPI"<>'l'IV -"""JJ"'''' "'''l''-'~ • U'nulWl OJ IUtjl pUt '~ll'ld lIon:>1: b"~JUlJ 1i"'''I"''\.I .)lOP'I U;H,U;>S
,(:m;,5""",,, "'fI 'IlL'" "'!"I 0) lruu~ $, " "J'I'O" p.»<HI I'V St'9
S3DN3DV lEJlI.lO 1-I.L1It. NOSIVIl
';>, .... "d",dd. :lJ~t" ~IAq iI'"J.>O)uJ
PUt ~\..t-=»u "'''If'' 1UJ1111l,uuod:).J pu' "'''''1'0;'''' lit jj'''~J
:OU"'"') j() {",rUt
JO )U~.'.1 ~'II '" Pl. II..I!,I JI"I'~IUluI :lUI,'.::I
:IUJlud!nb.l In:.sJJ ~1~!.doJddo
JO ~'" .1'11 'III..... no"n ,bu~ffJ~"'J !iu,,,,,,u, pue 'JnJ,JJ IIW SUI,{,U~J
:sdnOJ..'1 !:.sn lu.'J:~U1P lIUl~(OAUl
~lU~p'~JO JO '~l('op "u,rile Su'p.oull
:App",b A:tu~:>tUJ u. AJIlUJPI 01 pile nUJlqrud lu .... \JJd
puo J,rd':>tlue QJ J.JPJo UI Jll~ Jl(l JO UOIlt.\l~ S"lUlfju,ew
\~I1\ J"lf,n rUlI"1 Ie .\:),,-,r<;
S.fety.' Inbnd Wm.·r SlIn
ACCIDENT REPORTING
to.·n C~ruin kind. oL • ...,Kk,," ~nd tbnS"rou.oc'ur..,n<·~' ,m", be
ro:p;>rtcd 10 ,h. ~"forcin!; 'Ulho"tr (m., He.I, .. &: ~f"y Execu ... .., or
.he 001 'Ulhori,y), "nd~r .h~ Ikponlllg of I"J"""'" o. .... ~ • • nd IJ'IlS"NlIS OcCUTT<"ncn Hrglll.UCM1, 1'19; (1H1)l}OR1·
6.48 Shonld" member of .he I'"h.,,, die or be .. ~c" '0 hU'I'".1 for
medlnl ''''' :l'm~n' (ollQ\\-,nj( .Il IIlCld~1It >ri,i,,!; nul of .h~ me
opcU1Or', undcruking, Ihe Of'('r.1Or or pcn.un '" dl'~ "'II>, ,mlnl'dl1fcly no1ll)' m., enfor,mg "",h"",)" by the qmckcs. 1'_"",,1
n~A"'. numull)" b)' felephone. Thi, J1n~l he iol"""'~ up .... "h'"
f~n da)'S by. "Tlllen rcpurt of the ",eidelll on form F2508. ~"Albhk
from I [SE books. SllIn!.>r req,"r.",rm ~XIS" .... her<· em.,"')"""" • ..., kll1w Or .,,(fer ddinw nUJOr IIIJII"O:>O, Whcr~ an ~"'rlo~tt I~ lI,,,,hle
to Clrry 011' Ih,,, nonn.1 "'urk ((lr more .h.n I hr~e daY' .ftn '" m<ldem rC~lIlting 111 nOli-specified mjul)', the F250A mil" .1"" be clIInpktrd, For (Unh~T mf()TIlI.t10n on dUlles IInder d,e ''1.,'1.11.",,,,,. COIIIK' II", Hulll, &. ,\.fcty E.."",,,';vc Inform."oll 1 ... <, (O~I
~55(0).
Safery 21 lnbnd W~!er SltC'$
App endices Appendi.'( I HE.ALTII AND SAFETY GUIDANCE
FU RTH ER READING
Appendix 2 RoSPA NATIONAL WATER SAFElY COMMITIEE
Appendix 3 TI IE REPORT OF Ti lE. WATER SPORTS SAFETY WORKING GROU P -1990 LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Appendix 4 NATIONAL WATER SAFETY SIGNS
Appendix 5 NATIONAL GOVERNING BODlES OF SPORT
Appendix 6 USEFU L ADDRESSES
Appendix 7 SUPERVISION OF SWIMMING _ LIF EGUARDING
Safety at Inland WaIn ~iles
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE - FURTlIER READING
European ~undmh Curnrnnt«: CEN TC/16VWG6 -llfcJX~tlS:
G"i<k fOI Usc!') md Uogisl.tions.
ISS 8800:]996 G\lld~ to Occupatlon.l I le.hh And S.fety
M""h",,,,cn! Sy"r ... ms~
us 5378:1%0 - Safety Sit.'" •• nd Colou!'):
/vbn.>g!""'t'11t of Htlhh and !UfelY. 5 SIC"," 10 SIIC"Ct"M
IND (; 275 ( ..... ) liSE fm: bflct.
$J.fcty Slgn~ .nd S'gl1.ls - The H Nhh and S.fcl)' ($;If,·ly SIgilli :.ud
Sign.ls) RCI\l,I.uo"s 1996.
Guid.nce 0" R'·b~lllliol1' - Booklel L64. 1 [Sf prIced lenel.
Succcssfuilleahh .nd S.fe,y M""gt"mem. J ISG6.S (rev) I-iSE pnecd ~ncs.
M"ug!'rncllt of U,.hh ."d !UfetY'1 Work _ Arpro>..-d Cxk of l'D(tl(t. I~klet 1.21 HSE pneN gms.
] [Sf pubhc.uons ur .'·.lllbk from HSE &lou. Sudhul); Surf ... 1\:
COlO 6FS. Td 0]767 AAll65.
In foTl1uuon .00,,1 Bnll,h SI;",dard5 i~ ,,",liable from d,,·
Brmsh St.ud.rd. h1St11U1l0" (8SI) ."' Henlsh S •• nd.rds Iloosc. 31:19 CI",wick I hgh R~. London W4 4AL.
TcL 0181996?OOO. F .. ~: 011:11 9% 7400
Safety at Inland Water Sitn
RoSPA NATIONAL WAT ER SAFETY COMM ITTEE: MEMBERS I lIP ORGAN ISATI ON S
/'15w<cialion ofCoulIly C,-,ullcils
IkKh s.rely Advisory Conn"IU~, ..,fl)c· ... ..,n ~nd Com"",11
I:!ri!ish Resorts Association
Drili,h Sub_Aqua Club I"" "pp<nd"'1
Ilnu,h W.Hcrwa)" 10<' Appt,l<li. 61
Ch>rlcrc<1 I"Slimtr ofE" ... ironll1crn.llle.hh l"'" "w<,,,j,,, 61
Iftp,. for Educwon ~nd [mploymclll
English Schools S",mmiugAsw<cil!ion
EnSli,h Spuns CUII!],il r,<,AI'J'C'I"Il" 6)
Home OHicc
Local Government Aswciotiun Is<' "-fi><nd" 61
M .. itime and C"''''guAm AgonC)'
Na,iu!UI Assonl.llon ofl<xai C<),",db
Roy:tl Nallon:li LlfehoJ" In,1I"'11U"
Surf Life S.,'lI1g As"",,.,,on ofGrelt Briun'
Welsh Joim Educ31ion Commute<'
A)'llt"ci"
2
THE REPORT O F Til E WATER SPO RTS SAFETY WORKI NG GROUP - 1990
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
t;o .... m"'fl bod,., of .port should Ix- rnconnged '0 arc_pt ~'pun.ibililY for §.Olf.ty acros~ lh~ir acuvny as a w]mic.
2. Go",crIlong 1><><1,., ']U)uk! do "'Ote to c"cour~ the n<t' of
'PP'''Im>l'' ""n""KO p<.>lirin.
J. The Co:tnnl ('''''''K,I of I'h),>,o] Ike", ... " .. , lhroll~h II'> W .. n
R« .... ~lIon D"'i~ion, should dcvdop itl. .Qk III ('Hmliu.uuS
and promo",,!,: g<l''emlng body COIKcnu .1Iot" "''''Cr >pUrtS ~tcr)
~. The [)cpa..,n"", of ,he E"""o""',111 ,hollld eOlmd,. c.ubh.hmS w;ltcr qu.lity .,:",dud. for ,,,,,,,,.lIun.1 ...... 'en:.
S. T he ASSOCI3(lon of DIStrict Co"ncib and the A,......,i.,;"n of
MClropoht." Au,hu.nics should '''''1111110 ,he scope (or furth"r
prom<.>uull and d,<cuss; ... n <.>f the s;l.(cty '§liU ..... ri~Il'" from
w.,cT-~d rccrc.f1on.
6. lo.Jal "uhormcs III .r~lS ",ill, he.,1' r«.'>tioou1 \I>C should OOI'~ldn the rt.......:I to w,.,-elop .n m«'gr.ltro.nd ,tnteg:.c pol.cy 011 \;If~ty "'~uC'5.
7. Water contl'~1tIel should cmlSldcr cst~hh~hm); u,..r 17"up'. c ... ".tlh~uolt (o",mmee. or other "mlu.,h<c'pl",~ry bodies.
8. Leases ~lIowlltg SpOTts cluh .• 10 operate on water tomp. "y
fac,llUes )ho"ld "'qUIre dubs to up<r-.t~ m ];O'"""ng body ufcty f"lUlr""'~!ll~ .nd St;ll1d'Td~.
9. c;.wernms bod...,. of 'J'<>Tb WhKh "'" Iurboo.tr OOtlUII •• h ... "ld halS(" ,.mh harbour aUlhorlUe" and .he port .00 ham...ur
authorities $"hould consider how ~ .. cauonal cant~tgns aImed
at parnctpallu could be tk-,·ck:>pcd.
10. l{oSI'i\ should c"n~idcr WI)'S 11\ whICh the Nau""al W>.et ~.fClY CUIlmll1tcc uught ""ngtl",n n. role III .dentlfy"'g public
5.r~ty .""e. which .lTeet Sp<lrtinj: .e.kiti" •.
Safety at inhlld WJter Sites
NAT IONAL WATER SAFETY SIGN S
l'IWHII~ ITlON SIGNS WARN ING SIGNS
(BI.ul! & Rrd C" W/li,r) (Rlalk & IfilmOi 010 WI,i/r)
- lcll you !::dill 10 do ",,,,ell,,,,,;
~ ~ DANGER OANGER
s"-<_ DhP WOl e<
~ ~ DANGER DANGER
Sudden "'''''
S ... _ _
& ~ DANGER ,-~ Th. ~ -~ ~ Wlnd, urllllg
D"""sI . ... . -
MANIJATORYSIGNS (BI". a" IVI,i/.)
- !;]VC ",,,mellon. '" d" wlllelhi"g
INFORMATION SIGNS
- &"'c general inform";ul1
Snorkaliing area
Fishing area
Swimming araa
Sub-aqua area
Safety it Inl:md WUe, SilO:'
NATIONAL GOVERN ING BOOlES OF SPORT
Amote", 1~0"'1ng ","", .. "on, 6 l-ov,,,,, M~II l.ondo," W69D1-
Tet Uitil 748 3632. n.;; OIHI 741 -16511.
,",umeur Swimmini; A5!iOCi:l\ion. I bruld Fern House.
Derby Squon:. Loughhomllgh LEII SAL.
Td: 01509 (;11:1700.
An,,:hng Tudc .... wci;llion lirnilro, Fcdc,~uQ" 11<J\I!>e. Nallo,,~l
t\grlcuh"r~1 uum:, Sloncleigh Park. w..rwICh]m .. CVlI2HF. Tel: OIW3 414999. F.1."C 01203 414990.
U.,ush 0..10<: Umon. Nmooul W~lcr Sport!< C .. nt,..,. Adbohon
Llllc. UI(,~I Ilfldgdord, Holme l'iCTTC"pom. Nonmglum NG2 5.0\5.
TcL 0115 982 1100. F.1.'I' 0115 982 1797.
Ilr;I;~h Sub-Aqu~ Club. Tdf"rd', Qu~}: Ellcsl1Icre POT!, South Wiml, Chcsl ll rc l6; 4FY Tel: 0151350 6..?QO. Fa.'" 01513506215.
Ilriush Walcr-SI:.i Fcdcr:uion. 390 Cit)' H""d. t..ondon ECIV 2QA. Tel: 0171 tOJ :?tG5. r"", 0171107 5879.
N~"o".1 F«I"""OI1 of Angkr;. H.o.llilb), HOl'~, 2 ESI.~"!;Ion JluKl;on, Hihon, Dc-rby DE65 6GU. Td 01283 734735. Fu; 01283 73.17'J<}
RO)"ll Y~chnns Aw">c1~"O". RYA I touse. lIm",cy HoW, Eas!lcIgl •. H.mp,I"rc S050 <fYA. Td, 01703 627400. F.~; 0170J (0)<)24,
Roy.1 Y""h""g A,!iOCi,,,on ofSco!l~"d. C.l~o",.1 touse,
SoUlh Gylc. Edmburgh EH 12 9DQ. Tel: 0\.31 317 731!g, F.1.~ OUI 317 8S66.
Sromsh Am .... ur 1Igy,1ng Nsoc;'IKm. George'ithe.
71 Gilbrac CrCSCelll, G~lQ\O."JI, DUmrr~i DGI4DJ.
Td: 01387 26-t2JJ.
SconlSh Amatcur S,,~mm".s .... soci~uo", llol",l"n. r~r"'. G.e~11 1...,.' ].t""d. C~",b\lsb"g, Gb~g<.>W (;72 BDT. Tel: 0141 641 l1l:I111. F;uo:: OH \ (H \ 4HJ
Sarety at Inbnd Water Sites
¥otush Callo,; Associ.,;on. Caledoni. HOll"'. South Gylc, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ.
Td 01313177314. Fv<: 0131317 7319.
Scottish Sub-Aqm Club. Cockburtl CCIl!'e. -iO l-Iogllloo, "ll(~. Gl.;;gow G5 \ 4TQ. TeL 0\4\ 425 \021.
Scottish \V-m',-Ski As'iOCi.[[<)It. 15 \ \"dy G.rdens. fhthS''', £1148 INH. Tel: 0131661 1455.
Swimming -k.,h.;rs Association, Anchor HOUle. ll",:h Strttt. W.I",II WS2 8112. Tel: 0\<)22 645097.
Wdsh Anmeu, Rowing A<soci"iotl, Lyndhurst. 17 I IN.ford Way. Monmouth NP5 4J2. Tel: O\6(Q 714244.
Wdsh A~"",i",ion ofSub.Aq,,. Clubs. 10 Nc,culd !t".d.
Gw~c" C.e Gu,,",'en. Amm. niQrd. C.rm'l1hcnshirc SAI8 I ua Td: 01269 82M27.
WeI,h C.noeing As,,,.;i.,i,,,,, C,llolf.n Tryw'ryn. Frongoch. a,b. GW',ll~dd I.t23 7NU. Td: 01678 521 \W.
Welsh Federatiun of Coo,,", Angl"I';, t! Qu:m)' !tow, C"", Cdy". Rbi". NI'J 61X '1l-!: 01495 2'Xl914.
Welsh S.lmon and Trout Angling A,s"';i>\i<l", S"')'" Tetr..
['ontrhydfendtpid. YStud r>.1cllng. Cardigan'hire.
Tel: 01974 831316.
Welsh Water Ski Asso.:,allou. \ 17 I 13n-i. A,'''''''';, RUIlln,"}". C,rditTCF3 8QO. Tel: 0]222 211193.
Wel,h y.elning A.soci .. i"l1. S LI)'s Y MOT. I'll, MCllJ.i,
lb"f, i,i\g.>er. C.emarfon. Gwynedd tL55 1 UE. Tel: 01241\ 6707Jt!.
SJfcty ~ I In lmd W~I<'r Siles
USEFUL ADDRESSES
A<k"mu.c AcII\~IICS l,c~,u"'g Aud".l11tl. 17l.JlllhounlC C"'SCtIll. U.III.hclI. C~rtllfrCF'" 5GG. Tel: 01222 755715. f.l),; 01222 755757.
llnlllh \Va!crv.';l)'S. WiliowCnn!\", Church RoW. W.!ford.
I lens WDI 3DA. TeL 01'123 221W22. F-~~; 01923 2260fll
llrwds AlIlhority. Tholll:l5I1a,,'CY House:-. HI c.:.1~pl~, Norwich.
Norfolk NlU I BQ Tel: 016U3 610734,
Ch.;mercd ImmlllC ofEIl"ironmcm .. 1 I le.lth. ChJ(hl;d: COlln.
]5 I lalfoelds, london S[I SOJ.
Ttl: Ul7] 928 fJOO6. F;ll<: 0171 827 5865.
Con"cnnon ofs.c.:.llIsh ,--«.1 Au,honl1c'. 9 I b)1nnkJ:-, Tern«.
Edlllhurgh, £11 12 5XZ. Tel: 01314749200. F1X.; (J131 47492')2.
l>Cpar!l1ll'1J( nflhe EIl\'ironntcm. Transron ~nd Ihe HeS'o" •.
Grut MII151er I Iou..:. 76 M.rsh,n, S'reet.london SWII' 4DH.
Tel, 0171271 4644. F:I.:(: 0171271 4961.
£n~ish Sport< Co"ncil. ]f, Upper Woburn 1'1.Kc.
london Weill OQW Tel: 0171 Tl3 IS(JU. f.lX: 0171 31!11 ~74(1,
Ennrulll11em i\gL'nC)~ Rio Ilousc:-. W.tcrsKk On\,\:,. !ute.: We>!. Almondsbl1ry. Bns.o1l1S32 4UO.
T~l 0145462076, F;ax; 014>4 624033.
Ilnhh and S~fcIY Ext-.;utl''<:, I'unlie [nqUlry l'omt/lnforrn.uon
Sen·'c,. B~d l~llc. Shdlidd SJ 71 IQ. 1 l1fonll~ltult line 0,:)41545 SOO.
loul C.o"trnmcnI A'l<Xi~li("" 2(; Cl"plcr SII«,I.
wndon SW] PoiND. Tel: 0171 66--13000. F.;ox, 017] 6601 3OJO
"opl En\"roInm:nt>11 Ic~l.h 1",,",utt of""OI1>nd. J M~nQf !>!xc,
Edmbut);h. EI U 701-1. Tel: 0131 :US 6'J'-N Fa~ U131 22; J993
Ropl L.fe Sl\~ng SonNy UK, R"'t-r II011~, I IIgh $1, Broom,
w",w,ck.d11rc BSO ~IIN. Td: 017~ 7739':14. hx; U17'IY 773'J95.
!loy.,1 Society (or Ih~ I'~vctl!io" of ACCldc,"". RoSI'A ll()usc.
Edbol>"\Oll 1'''):,353 Un,wl Ro:>d. Hirnllllgil .. II, liS 7ST
Tel: 0121 241121')00. Fa.,.. 0121 2411WUI.
S~ (elY 31 Inland W31<'r Siws
Soon;sh EnvironlllnH l'rOlect;on AIl<ncy, Erllin~ Court,
Th~ C~s!l~ tlmme's Par~. S"rl"'g FK') 4TH.
Td: 017S6 4S7700. hx: 01786 446885.
T he Scoll,sh Na!Ur:l l lkrlu~. 12 1 [ope Terrace.
Edinburgh EI-I9 lAS. Td: OUI -147 471)-1.
ScottISh Spons Aswci;ui"". {:lkdonilllousc. Somh Gyle.
EJ;ul,mrgh EI [12 <)[)Q. Tel; 0131339 87C!S. fJ..~ ' OLlI 339 Sl6!:l,
Scomsh Sports C""nci l, uledonia I IOll~. Somh Gyle. Edlllburgh EI 112 9Dq, Tel: 013 1 3177200.
Scouish TOllrl,! Ilo:trd , ::'> Ib"d<ton T"Tr.IC~, Edinburgh ET M 3EU.
Tel: 01]1 JJ2 243J.
~porl> C'",,'e,1 f", WJb. Sophia Gardem. Cardi{fCF l <)$\V
Tel; 01222 300500. f:L~: (11222 3U06OO.
SurfL i f~ S.vI1lg A.«.>ei,u"n nlGrNI Itril.in. Marine lluikling.
Victor;. Wharf. P[),111omh PL-I OLl~
Td: 07000 757242 .Ild IJI752 253<)11.
' 1'1 " ",I"
7
Safe!Y n Inbnd Waler SiK"!o
SUPERVISION OF SWlMMING - LIFEGUAHDING
I ImruJu«,,,
Many ",I.nd "';U~r .ltes. I .. ,·c ... wid~ r;"'g~ of acm"II~. ",duding .. ,IoIIB, f1n~nlg. ."b.aq,,~, ",,,neT <ki -ing, $.1,]boudmg, .nd angling,
.11 of willeh pre~1H .orn,' cle",!'nt of rollo., $wlln,,"ng III opt:n Wltt"
prc.~ms panlcullr ml., Th~ purp<>$(; of ~h" .ppcndl" IS to provid.,
Slnd.nc .. 10 opcr.l~on on ~he .np<:rvis,on of SWUIIIl1Ulg al IJilCll ..... \lcr
site" foli(M'Hlg 1 mk .UCSS1l1em,
,,, ",.ny IOQuom U IS common kI1O"-lnI!."I: Ihlt duklr .. ll, alld l11dccd
.>dulH, COInn>Oldl UiI(' KCCSSlblc ,Ue> fur ,WUU111111g ('\'CI1 dlOU(:h
d",re 'S 110 pro' .. ,,,,,,n for supen'l,lon. III Ihc", CircUlll'U'ICr.. (;treful
<"<.>" .. <krauon ,,«d~ ~o be given to ,he ..... y 111 wluch d,e risks are
m.n~b..-d·
There.re many snc oper •• or< who do no. w,sh .0 P<'nlm >wi"""ing
on .heir 'ne. They ",,,il "uk~ tlo is dear .nd 1>kc me.sure> 10 prcwm would-be USC" If .Ioey .rt ." discharge .heir 'dUly of c.rc' wilhou.
prm.·"I"'K supen'lS'O'l, h " ''''porum ror .ne OJ'<'r.lIOrs who .rc .w,.rc .h,., d'cIT propelI)' IS u",d for swunn"ug, '0 be dc.r .bou, how
.ht-)' m.,ul,eC the "m.l1on
\XIlICrc r«rc.11011.1 ~w'1lln""g i. ""derulen wuh pe"l1lss,on, or .em'\: enCOUUjI;('11IC!lt 11 open w"t~r .it"., therc " a necd for mk
.~:;e~,mel\l .nd wrmen operating procedure, UJ b" I'md",,~d ;md rev,,,w,,d 011 ;> rtgu l.r Nsis.
3. Nom»J orcT>t1ll" procrdorcs On inc, where hl'l.'l" .. d. , ... ,".:
w.t<kn_\ r1net"" pAtrol
Whcre hfCl,'l.lnds, 'w;>rdcns or r.ngers .rc cmplo)'Cd, ""her '" ;>
full-Inne paid C1PK'{)~;> p,1rr.ome C1pKlt')', or as;> ,'Ohm'crr tulll of
an RLSS UK rksi~tercd lif"I'J,. rd (:1uh, Ihcre .T<: ;> nomber of
pr"'C1ple~ which "'USt be understood ."d '"phed
Safny at Inland Water Sites
Th~rc must be:
~ nup shu"'i,,!!; where b.thinl> will be ",p~rvi.5Cd;
ddinitiOIJ of trallllllS .nd qu~lifk:llions which suffm"';t haw:
• specificd mimmum number of lifeguards, """dens Or r"'b"'"
for (",h arc. of the <lie when swinunllll:l will be super"i~"d, ,md
,b" d"ys and times when cover w,11 be pruvided:
• (kar ,,'diuuon ofh()W dK f"ihnes arc hnked with cmeft;cncy
",.vi", "".I ,rne!}:cnq' ,all-out procedures:
line; of r",nll"",i(~lion and opt'ratinl> authomy 011 the siu::
o]><"f>liUIl uf "Hmnl Ce11tr~s and patrol points: m .. ,imulI'
"1S.b,l"y klC~.ion.; .he p<>sitiflJ, ingof rele"ant flags, buoys, s'gus,
,nd" clear ",d,c".iu11 Ii,,,, SWill)111l"g;S nut ]><"rmitlro when the
arc .. " 11m sn.rded or pa.rulbl:
'pc,ifiution, .nd dell' ]' of 'Y><c'"S for ;"<p~clion and
",."'t,'nancc of cq"'pmem:
incident rcporuus proccdurn: and
an cmrrgcncy action plan (EAP) _
~ . El11erp:rncy dCt;011 pl,n
Where,'cr swi",,,,juS i< p<'r111l1tcd ... n open W •• et sitc, III
emergency 'Clion pi,,, (EAP) ""," k produced and held ill '''';';''!;> m .ddillull '0 ,he nonu.1 opn.ting procedures (NOP)_ In
cmtrgenc), sHu.tions, i, ,_< 11llpon.<11thc COTITClac.iolls.re Ilken in
th,. right urder SO Ii", ,he em"g<"ncy is no' compounded.
It is vual thlt the EAP is .d<:qu>lc1y co"veyed to ,11 staff through
training and appropriate written "'3I"i.1.
The EAr should pro\',de step_b),_ltcp procedures for e>eh ",ember
ofthc tCam and should usu.lly COllUm the (ollow;"g nCnlS:
rescoe ",.,ugc-mcm sYStCm for all ",c,dents:
continui,y of super"i<ion of Ih~ Water arca, Or the .... "'0""1 uf
SWImmers lrom Ihc w>ter dllring.n ,ncident:
.~ . .
.
/\I'I',lldl\
7
Safety at Inlmd Wale'r Slies
con"mlll,c~uon procedure during ~n IIlcidml bolh wnlHIl the
l~alll ~nd with ~,,"(crna] agencies and scr"ic(':
~flerc>re ~nd u.nsporllllon to ,m'd;u] .~'lSl~I1CC of ~II
cHualucs. and any necessary cOlillselling .• nd <upport for
reSCucl'>: and
C"1'«lcd lewl of performance for hfq;nards/rcscurrs and
support 'tafT.
Adeq\1ate dl5t"'cnnn should he made 111 th~ EAP bem"clI maJ(>r
"",,,rgeneic. (incident' r(,uhing ;n s(r;ou<, urgell' or !ifc
,hrclIcn'"gsituations), and minor (mnuncic.!; (in(iden" wl,i"h will
nO! prove life .hrtalcning if dealt with promptly), and 5ep">le
proccclurc5 drawn up fur nch.
11 is important thaI leSSOn! .. c learned frum the specific incidellls. A Ih<.>r<.>ngh examination of coch incident is n"""s,ary and are •• of
''''pro'-em,,''' shonld be: idenlified, aclionM and wrmcn IIltO the
EA!'.
The police ar~ rt<ponsitlle rnr ,he 'n";~IIO" ~ nd co-crdlll'lion "fanr i"ddelll on i"bud w;u~rs ~Ild r~n "[<:<'>1""" ~allllp<Jn a",hnl~",c. fi", ~nd resclle ",rvic~, to a~si" the ,itt l>p<T~tOT whe.-c appr"pri,lC.
The lox31 eunt:KI n~lnCS and Il\lInocrs "f ~n :;erv,,;<;-> sh<.>uld Ix" read,lr .,,~t1~tllc .Ild posted at.11 signifiunt ~omrul point~.
Th~ kry duties WIt! be m:
mamt.in ob<cr"." i"" Ilfh"h~r$ ~"d ',-,"'"l1l11i'OI;<.>1) with olhe, staff on ,he Sile in o rder 10 .nticipate ,nd prevent problems and
idemifY an nnngen<;y qllictJy;
comrol ar".s dcsit:'''Icd ror nther "'aler sports to j,,'\Llrd .gainS! ,c.;idems wInch nughl in,ul",,, conUet oc""ccn swimmers and
olhcr w1ICr users:
nrry <.>u, "''''Ue>. and ill" ... e cmcrgcn<;y .etioll ... and when
""",ssary:
Safny ~( Inland Walt'. Sil~'~
pr01l101~ a\v,m'ncss ,,[ ,petltic and general hnards through
educatlon!1 program"'''s. and give assist.nce to membe ... of d,~
public . nd othe, ''''<;["$ to ""'''''' "fc """vity,
7, Compelencc ofhfc!!-""rd" ".rdens and r."se"
Suff ""''' be phy.iCllly fit . • len. SC'lf-disciplined ."d hold CUnt:m
.nd r..ic""'lt qu.ltfic,tion,. They should be continually awa~ of
.em·tl)' on the .ite. OS well as in Ihe waler '" ord~r to respond to
circum.un",. Wdl -Ir:nned sut)\,ill be able to 1-1"" decisions meh as
-,cmov",& swttnmcr:s- from the ".Icr by .if;!llllttll> pot"",i.1
danb'i:rs, "r if condttlons d"te"or:tlc,
In sornc CtTCUmSI:"''''', snpplemenury site speCIfic tr~ttun!: will need
to I", ""t~rnally lSS<: .... 'ro. particularly where spe.:ial;'ed equipment is
being used - (or cumpie, the u~ nfrcS('uc boots,
A11.I:ill"should h:l"" r.k·",n! knowl.odsc and skills wbich wtll ",elude
the follow"'g'
• gene .. 1 uudcr:s1>ndillS of .. fNY provision ' l inland "p,:n w.ICr
SlItS:
the general prinnpks of ha,ard .wacness .nd potctl!i.1 risk at
tnbnd water sties connected with the pr~!e"ce :I"d use ofnalural
and man-tn,ld~ feamrc'l:
the dfcc1' of still and flowing watt •. the dangers fmm Currrnt,
and nn~xpcc!Cd cold. l"b •• "h~r with the effect of w id wind and
"d,..,= wearher conduions:
ct)mmuuic~tion wilh. and dtstance frolll. emc'b":"C)' service,
:Iud q":llificd medic:tl ~"j ''''"ce_
., .. ilability and u.c of b'l:llt .. 1. .nd s!,<,ci.hS! wMer rC~lle
c(jll'p,nCTlt ",dudiug rescue brutts .• nd of other people trained in
rh~ \l~ Oflhi, cquiplllcm:
basic life .uppor! and tim-aid,
comlllutliotion ~ysIC"'. public rcl.lt(lTlS, and crowd
lIl.n ' scment: . nd
\1'1" ,,,I,,
7
Slfety It Inbnd Water \ue~
8, Equipmcllt ~nd d!>tluUIl;
[quipnK'111 supplied ",,11 de"""d nn thc number of suff, ,hetr du,," and ,he f:ICiliucs a"a1ilblc. Special considen.iol1 must bee !l""C" tU the
equipmcl11l1tcded by suff W()rlin~ wlthom i'lIIlledwc bJCkllp from
a control point. Equ.pment might include:
!hrow",!: line/throw b.gs, rcsc!.c pole$:
to<pc:do boo)" ',nd <1Ihcr bUU)':I!lt ~ids;
C<;lnun"mc~tion syst~ms (r3diO$, mc~phone" tdcphon~s);
fir~t-~ld ~nd rCSmCIt.l!1011 tquipmrm;
resc.~ cnft;
p.lrol h~,c, (hut. porlacabm, etc); and
"n,form ~ppropn~tc t(I \\"l'alher conditi<;lns ~nd uuge. O""ntors
m.)" wi$h to ehoo'(' ,he to!vurs <;If .<'<.1 and ~"l'l1ow, th~
intNn~non3l1y recogniscd ,,,lours for Irf~l>u'lrd" for Iht,
umfo.m ~nd prOl~mT clothing used by the,r 1rf~S1>~.ds,
Pru!CTlion from tlK' ~"" uC'C'ds 10 b.o con,lW:r<'<.l 3S well as
keeping Ihc Irft);uJTtI "':Irm and dry alld c~>lly r«owu>~bk by
w:uer usen,
'J. '>",IT numbers llid tuumg
Gi\'en the wid~ r.rngr of inbnd "'~tcr tnO'S it IS nl){ possible to "uk!,
ddiru",'~ r«o",ru~nd~uOlls for s",ffing In ... 1s. ru • grn~nl g",d~ >1
is sUg&"'Slrd rhlt CerUm ",bnd ~n~s ~ idclUiti~d a, palrol1~d 1rr~s
wh~r~ sw"nming uk!" pl~c~. The ~.~., )hould (umpri"" no more
th~n 200 melr~s ofb.oxh Of b.,lIk and, in tM l~rlee of rO'SCuc ~!S.
buoys or booms, should llonn~l1y 1>0.. lirnir<"t! ~ mUUlIluu of
20 metre~ from !Ire sho~. Such 111 >rea c", ~ m~n:l£cd by 2·)
IifcS\l~rds ~r.rung from one controlled po!!u ~"he ", .. Hcr's cdb"C,
The ,lIe 0pt:n,or mllSI ,dcnlify the haurds, nob. and l"cr Ullmhe-rs
~, ,heir bU>lcS! time>, ~"d spcrify thc n"n,beer of suIT r«Julrcd 10
CU\"Cr Ihe area. !<:w.her \\llh Ihe IIC'CCSsary mu S),Slem for hr('g"ard~_
The palrolled .",a of Ihe S!lc ~ho"ld be COIlum<,-d to nuuh the
IIllm~r uf UJIT cmplO)'L"t!_
Safety ~t Inland Water Sites
Wherc lifcguords arc deployed they should operate in p>ir~ to eHSUr, .. rc response 10 .n e",erg.."er UfCSH"d. sI,oul,1 only be d~ploycd
singly when radio cont:l.el can pru\'i d~ b>.ck~np "~Ih;n three m;nmes. It IS csS<'nu~1 that Staff dUly huurs OTC indicated ot acce55 point •.
111. Mobile units
At some locations, ",,,bile \lIlItS "'3y be the I1105t cfli',uv, ""y uf
p.troll ing ;nl.nd " .. tcr.
At some inland w31er meso where II ;, kn" ... ", swirnrnin8 tok" piKe.
" "»y nut be 'ppropriOlc Or roSt clTcetive to employ full_u"'e ut indeed volunteer units. The duties of ,,-arden. or ralll:,'crs mUSt be
cle~rly defined. EWIl where that duty ,s to .... i"furee !lutiecs which prohibn ,wltl""ItIg. 11 j, highly dcsi .. blc ,h" such suIT >TO flllly
tnincd i" ucicicrn pre\"~ntiOn mca~urc~. r<."i(\IC tcchniques. fir.l aid . • ud blliic life suppntl
12. lncidcm repottlng
It is iruporunt 'h" i ncid~nt report form, ore pruduced and <ompleted for ~I I accidwlS and occnrfc llccl.
Ce",i" kill,.!, ,,( uddcllrs .nd d .. ,,~ ... rOllS <X(l"r~IICC, IIII1St Ix· reported to tht ~nforcj"g .uthority (the llolth & Sar,·!)· Exeeum·c or the joe.1 ,uthority). "ndcr lh~ Reporting of ltlJurj~,. DiscasC"S ,,,t! n''''g~rou~ O«;IIIrClKC Regul ~liol\~ 19')5 (lUDDOR). (~ee m3111 bodyoft~~"( . )
It is sUggt"stcd th.! pertormanee le.,els should be cstabhshcd for lifeguards ond ,h .. , these be spccifird with", the NOI'/EAP .,,,d
incorpor.tcd into tr .. ining progr,mmes. Only by scltingpcrfom"nc~
standards Coil levels of safcty be monitored ,nd improved. Hcco"uuended f",rfor",aucc s'~nd.rds arc:
from" ,t.l,io"ary poi'" tI,,· lifegnard muSt ollo;e".., tbe whole "r" cwry 20 second,;
Co"u"",,ic:I!ioni response 10 incidctll within 1 minute;
, 7
S~fe'ty at lnbnd Water Site's
Inn,,1 phY!'Kal COllUCI wnh a cnu~II}' "mh", 1110 "'~t"') of th~ shorehne, wilhlll J IlIInUteS: ;md
Nek-up f.onl utht. iUltlbly [rained sUIT ymhm J minutes.
Wlli',c tlm I~ nut f,,;!SlbLe b(;(~u~ of IIii' n.1U1'<' of th~ sn .. , th ..
open tor should ~t •• "awn.blt Urgel lime,
H Wo.k 'l('hed\ll~\
Lifcguml co,'Cr IS hkdy to be from AI'"I to Oclohc:r ymh specific
dlt1.'S IlIIh,,1 to lIauOII11 hohwys. IluwC\'er, a sudden wu'" 'pell .t
Iht1xglllmng or <'lid orthe 'l('a$On m~)'wdl dClcmline an .dn"cc or ('>o:I .. n$IOIl t" Ih" UnK'. Thc opcr:otOl'" nmSt akc tlm 1111" COIhldc.lllOn
wh .. ., pl>IlIlUlIl' 11lt pe'lOds .nd hOIl1"5 of ... rel)' Co\'C'T )houki be
clu'ly signed .t th .. <lte
Allhollgh there h~s been no specific rC'I('arch I'datl"); 10 ""nnc".nc~
of cotlCemr.nlOll dllnng oll5Crva,ioll wurk ufdlis IWllre, .truC(ur",s
of dUlles should e,,'\lre that:
1irq~mrd~ are not rcqulrl'<] 10 elIn1' Out an)' OIlier task!; wludl
d,.t=1 them from their prime dlnicso(sl1l't'"vi<ion o(dle Y":II~r
.ne .t .ny 1II"cil 1111"';
the U\d"'ldn~1 rot:l penuel .huuld be overlapped I<.> ,,,.,nt,lI,,
continuity o(,upervi5ion; and
I"L.,>d W;OI ... snc~ nuy n-gululy be used dunn!: th~ ",Iller penuel (,I'
• r.tn~ of><:I"'Il"'~. ~tKh :as <: .. I"'g and n .. ....,"'g. hut most ~II~. w,1I
strongly diK<.lul7ob'.: swinllmllg (,IUl'iI<k Ih~ " .. mila OI1"nth •. :'I""-,~l
cons,dc.~non n«<!5 t(,l be gr.."n prio. \Q !;I"IIl!; ]lCnIllSSH)1l {(,I'
'fr<.l'!ilbllc· club, .nd Ih~ Lo~ to u~ (.(Ihues Out o(S<~$I)TI, unlcs!! Ih~
arc al1le IU pTl')\'lde thclr own lif .. gu~rd c()\'Cr a .. d ,;I(ct)' .. r~IIj.,'t"ncn~
to copt' with the cXJX:,,,'d condmons.
Safety 31 In land W,lICt Si tes
!6, Vohlm~r lif~1:lIard servicc!
Th~r~ or~" number ofregi«croo voh""c~t !i(cl':u"d duhs opera""!':
on mbnd <lte •. fur Ih~ muSI p"n Ihc~ .re supponing Ih~ >cciden! prn'clllio" ,ud reSCUe focility of Ih,1 site.
In m.ny e.ses . lhey supplement the work of p>.rk r:ll1ger< and
w3rcitns employed by the sne optra!ur whu m.y only pra,·ide ,
gt'n~r:l1 sllp"rvi~ry "O\'<:r. llowcvcr. rxrmission 10 palrol" parileul"r jnlond Sltc should ,"" h<: I""cn hghdy 103 ,'Ohnmrydub. nor be Seen
I" ,b.<olve Ihe OJ'<'r:lt<Jr from hi, T<'spousibiliry for sofc!y-
'11" \'ol"'''c<:r 1""1 muSt prov;dc cover 10 the ",me 'I.nd"d ... ny plld hfegll>rd servicc. >nd mU,llu,'c
• de.rly ,retined rok in ,ddl;on 1<> Ihe opcr:m"g
proccdnrcs Oflhe Stlc. The beSI 'ppm"h is I" enSure
Ibal "olun"')' hfeguud clubs have a Colltr",1
ddil1il1!; d'cir 'ule :lnd reSpI)""hlhue! Wlthm the wrincn 0p"'-tinl! procNlm ....