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

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4. A RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO WATER SAFETYCouncils are encouraged to adopt a risk management approach to water safety, or some other approachwhich is systematic and comprehensive in identifying water safety risks and developing strategies to addressthese risks. Many councils have adopted a risk management approach based on Australian Standard AS/NZ4360 – 1996 Risk Management. This publication is available from Standards Australia (see Section 11Further Resources for contact details).A risk management approach, or any other approach concerned with water safety, will need to consider anumber of factors.In regard to public swimming pools, factors that should be considered include:ØØØØØnumber of patronscharacteristics of patrons, for example, age and swimming abilitydesign of the facility and the impact this has on visual surveillance of patronssize and shape of poolsnature of activities available such as diving towers and water slides, aquarobics, and learn-to-swimclassesIn regard to beaches and other waterways, factors that should be considered include:Ø number of usersØ characteristics of users, for example, age and swimming abilityØ location, for example, its proximity to emergency services such as ambulanceØ geographic layout and the impact this has on visual surveillance of usersØ number and size of patrolled and unpatrolled areasØ characteristics of beaches, such as rips and other surf conditions, and the location of rocks and otherhazards. Councils might find the publication Beaches of the New South Wales Coast. A guide to theirnature, characteristics, surf and safety useful as it describes such characteristics and allocates a safetyrating for each NSW beach. The publication is available from Surf Life Saving NSW (see Section 11Further Resources for contact details)Some councils use computerised risk management programs, for example:Ø Wollongong City Council has developed a comprehensive system called Corporate Asset ProtectionSystem (CAPS) which is also used to assist the council in carrying out its water safety functions (seeSection 11 Further Resources for contact details for Wollongong Council for further information)Practice Note 15: Water Safety5
Øthe Australian Beach Safety and Management Program. This program, established in 1990, is a jointSurf Life Saving Australia and University of Sydney initiative based at Surf Life Saving NSW. Thepublication mentioned above, Beaches of the New South Wales Coast, was produced as part of thisprogram. To complement the publication, a computer disk to enable local councils determine the levelof staffing and the equipment appropriate for beaches is also available from Surf Life Saving NSW(see Section 11 Further Resources for contact details). The disk is available free of charge with thepurchase of the Beaches of the New South Wales Coast publicationCouncils may find The Royal Life Saving Society Australia publication, Safety in Swimming Pools –Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation NSW useful in incorporating public swimming pools into their riskmanagement program (see Section 11 Further Resources for contact details).The implementation of any risk management or other program concerned with water safety, should be monitoredto ensure that the program remains appropriate and effective. Monitoring should be regular and ongoing, and theprogram revised, if necessary. The council remains responsible for the effective implementation of any riskmanagement program regardless of whom council has delegated the life saving function to.5. TRAINING OF WATER SAFETY PERSONNELRegardless of whom the life saving function is delegated to, it is the council’s responsibility to ensure thatthose carrying out the function have the life saving skills necessary to adequately address the risks associatedwith the characteristics of the public swimming pools, beaches, and other waterways under council’s control(see Section 4 A Risk Management Approach to Water Safety).Practice Note 15: Water SafetyThe Practice Note sets out recommended minimum standards. This does not preclude councils from adoptinghigher standards if these are considered appropriate. Indeed, because of the characteristics of their publicswimming pools and/or beaches, many councils have adopted higher standards. For further informationabout the recommended minimum and higher standards of water safety training, it is suggested that councilscontact the Aquatic and Recreation Institute or The Royal Life Saving Society Australia in the case ofswimming pools; and the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association, Surf Life Saving NSW orThe Royal Life Saving Society Australia in relation to beaches (see Section 11 Further Resources for contactdetails). Contact details for other organisations mentioned in sections 5.1 and 5.2 below are also providedin Section 11 Further Resources.Councils should be committed to the ongoing training of water safety personnel. Training certificates onlyremain current for a short period of time as skills need to be practised continually. Consequently, councils shouldensure that personnel are provided with frequent opportunities, for example monthly, to practise their skills.Separate standards are set out below for public swimming pools and beaches because staff require somewhatdifferent qualifications.6
Page 1: PRACTICE NOTE NO.15December 1998Wat
Page 4 and 5: 1. INTRODUCTIONThis Practice Note r
Page 6 and 7: Ø Pricing and Costing for Council
Page 10 and 11: 5.1 Public swimming poolsA number o
Page 12 and 13: 5.2 BeachesIn determining the appro
Page 14 and 15: Øa first aid kit and a first aid r
Page 16 and 17: Concern has been expressed by membe
Page 18 and 19: National Heart Foundation (NSW)Leve
Page 20 and 21: APPENDIX 1REGULATORY ACTIVITIESPowe
Page 22 and 23: APPENDIX 2CHANGE ROOM OPTIONSSwimmi
Page 24: Øpool staff to be available to acc

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

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