Practice Note No. 15 - Water Safety - Division of Local Government ...

8. WATER SAFETY SIGNSIn response to a number of tragic drownings during the summer of 1997-98, the Premier established aMinisterial Taskforce on Water Safety and a supporting Water Safety Taskforce Sub-committee to encouragesafer swimming on beaches and in other waterways. A Water Safety Signage Working Group was alsoestablished. The Working Group is chaired by the Department of Local Government, and includesrepresentatives from the Local Government and Shires Associations, Surf Life Saving NSW, the AustralianProfessional Ocean Lifeguard Association, The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, the WaterwaysAuthority, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.All local councils were surveyed in March 1998 about certain aspects of their water safety signage. Asummary of findings from the survey was attached to Council Circular 98/40 dated 20 May 1998. Adetailed report on the findings is available at the Department’s web site on the internet. The survey foundthat many councils were not complying with the Australian Standard on water safety signs. As a result, theWater Safety Signage Working Group undertook a review of existing standards and policies regardingwater safety signage. The purpose of the review is to investigate the feasibility of developing a consistentapproach to water safety signage in NSW. The review is to be completed in 1999.The Working Group has provided input into a best practice manual for local councils concerning signage.The manual, Information Signs as Remote Supervision, has been developed by the Jardine Group for StatewideMutual, which is the insurer for most local councils in NSW. It outlines a risk management process forcouncils to use to select the most appropriate type, number and location of information signs for theirbeaches, public swimming pools, other waterways and public reserves. A CDROM version of the manualhas been distributed to those councils insured with Statewide. A copy of the manual is also available on theinternet at www.statewide.nsw.gov.au. Those councils not insured through Statewide will need to contactthe Jardine Group to obtain access to the manual (see Section 11 Further Resources for contact details).Practice Note 15: Water SafetyThe manual also provides information about relevant legal decisions regarding public liability. Councilsare encouraged to use the manual. Statewide Mutual considers that by adopting the approach outlined in themanual, a council will be taking reasonable measures under its duty of care to warn patrons of hazardswithin their reserves, beaches, swimming pools and other waterways under its control.Councils are also encouraged to use The Royal Life Saving Society Australia publication, Safety in SwimmingPools – Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation in relation to water safety signs at public swimming pools (seeSection 11 Further Resources for contact details).9. CHANGE ROOMSThis section of the Practice Note has been prepared in the context of public swimming pool change rooms.However, councils should consider it in relation to other change rooms they provide, for example at beaches andsporting ovals, particularly in light of the findings from the Wood Royal Commission concerning paedophilia.12