SLSA’s Water Safety Policy and Procedures outline the risk management procedures and minimum requirements for the provision of water safety for surf lifesaving aquatic activities. This information should be read in conjunction with the SLSA Water Safety Policy and Procedure 1.01. Access to these documents is via the SLS Hub.
Where possible, Nipper activities shall be delivered during the scheduled patrol season and during the hours of a scheduled club patrol. To facilitate any in-water Nippers activities, all minimum patrol personnel requirements must be present where a rostered patrol is not in operation. Should the patrolled area be closed due to dangerous conditions, or for other reasons, no in-water Nipper activities shall take place at this location. Please refer to the Public Safety SOPS – Nipper Activities and Patrols.
Prior to any water activities taking place, a risk assessment is to be conducted via the Surf Risk Rating App. Please refer to the Water Safety Risk Assessment Guide on the members area for more information on accessing the SRR app.
The Water Safety Supervisor is to complete the Risk Assessment, and work with the Patrol Captain (when operational) as they have overall authority in regard to beach safety. The Water Safety Supervisor should ideally have a radio to liaise with the Patrol Captain in case conditions change or new hazards develop.
Water Safety Process for Nipper Activities
Note this process is carried out alongside the patrol captain who is the final decision maker on the risk assessment.
- Appoint a Water Safety Supervisor (WSS)
- Water Safety Supervisor and/or Patrol Captain to complete and sign off the risk assessment
- Mitigate risks as required under advice from patrol captain
- WSS to apply supervision ratio of 1:5 or 1:10 (water safety: activity participants) based on risk assessment
- WSS to continuously monitor the activity, participants and conduct ongoing risk assessments.
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