Public Safety Standard Operating Procedures

PSS 7.5 Lifesaving Activities on Closed Beaches

Purpose

To provide clarity for lifesaving activities that can be undertaken during a Closed Beach Patrol.

Policy

To ensure that members have the required skills and abilities to safely work in surf conditions that constitute a Closed Beach Patrol refer to PSSOP 4.3.

Training can occur in large surf conditions where the Patrol Captain judges it is safe to do so having undertaken a risk assessment.

Endorsed surf lifesaving competitions/events shall continue to be guided by the specific event safety plan.

No in water lifesaving activity is to be undertaken on closed beaches affected by the following hazards:

  • Dangerous Marine Creatures
  • Debris in the water
  • Marine pollution
  • Electrical storms

This policy refers to beaches under the control of Surf Life Saving. Should the beach be under the control of another agency (i.e. Council lifeguards), the lifesaving service should communicate with the appropriate person responsible and agree on the training area to be used. This may result in training and activities whilst there is no flagged areas for public swimming

Procedure

For the purposes of this SOP, lifesaving activities are separated into the following areas:

  1. Training of members for the Bronze Medallion
  2. Training conducted for maintaining the skills of lifesavers in SLSA awards currently held
  3. Training of members for Powercraft awards
  4. Training conducted for surf sports

1. Training of Members for the Bronze Medallion

If a Closed Beach Patrol is operating, water-based training of members for the Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate (i.e. the award is not currently held) cannot be undertaken.

2. Training conducted for Maintaining the Skills of Lifesavers in SLSA Awards Currently Held

Members who are undertaking lifesaving activities for the purpose of maintaining or improving skills must adhere to the following procedure:

  1. Members must be financial members and be proficient in the award (minimum Bronze Medallion).
  2. Patrol Captain must conduct risk assessment to ascertain if the conditions are suitable for training.
  3. Prepare appropriate water safety
    1. If swim or board rescue training is being conducted there is to be a minimum of one fully operational IRB, on standby as water safety.
    2. The crew of the water safety IRB must be briefed on the training to be undertaken and must be ready to respond.
    3. The services’ IRB on duty can be used with approval from both Patrol Captain and IRB Driver.
  4. The relevant training signage should be positioned near the training area
  5. Patrol Captain to advise SurfCom that the service is conducting training on a Closed Beach. e.g. “SurfCom this is South Narrabeen, be advised we are currently conducting board training for the next 2 hours, over.”
  6. Should conditions or circumstances change, the Patrol Captain has the authority to suspend the training activity.
  7. At the completion of training, the Patrol Captain is to advise SurfCom that training is now complete.

3. Training of Members for Powercraft Awards

Members who are undertaking Powercraft training for new or existing awards must adhere to the following procedure:

  1. Members must be financial members and be proficient in the prerequisites (minimum Bronze Medallion).
  2. Patrol Captain/Trainer must conduct a risk assessment to ascertain if training is suitable.
  3. Prepare appropriate water safety.
    1. There must be a minimum of one fully operational IRB, on standby as water safety. The crew of the water safety IRB must be briefed on the training to be undertaken and must be ready to respond.
    2. The services’ IRB on duty can be used with approval from both Patrol Captain and IRB Driver, but it cannot be used for the training, i.e. if one IRB is on the water the second IRB must be on standby and capable of responding.
  4. The relevant training signage should be positioned near the training area.
  5. Patrol Captain to advise SurfCom that the service is conducting training on a Closed Beach. e.g. “SurfCom this is South Narrabeen, be advised we are currently operating IRB training for the next 2 hours, over.”
  6. Should conditions or circumstances change, the Patrol Captain has the authority to suspend the training activity.
  7. At the completion of training, the Patrol Captain is to advise SurfCom that training is now complete.

Training conducted for Surf Sports

Refer to SLSA Policy 1.01 – Water Safety

Last modified: 25/07/23