As per the SLSNSW Public Safety SOPs, an SLSC must annually inspect all frontline lifesaving equipment before the commencement of each patrolling season to ensure:
- Gear and equipment is operationally fit to use for Surf Life Saving purposes and is not damaged or faulty
- SLSCs and services meet the minimum patrol equipment requirements as outlined in the SLSNSW Public Safety SOPs
- Gear and equipment repairs, maintenance and upgrade requirements are identified
- New gear and equipment, Public Safety SOPs, specifications and policy update requirements have been implemented
- Correct and current information is updated on SurfGuard
- All gear and equipment is SLSA or SLSNSW endorsed.
As per the SLSNSW Public Safety SOPs and the annual SLSC compliance process, all SLSC gear and equipment shall be inspected through an SLSNSW branch administered Annual Gear and Equipment Inspection Program before each lifesaving season. An overview of the program process is outlined below:
| Step | Responsible Parties | Process Details |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | SLSNSW Branch | Inspection dates allocated and communicated to SLSCs. |
| Step 2 | SLSC DoL and Gear Steward | Pre-Inspection of SLSC gear and equipment. |
| Step 3 | SLSC DoL and Gear Steward | SLSC gear and equipment information updated in SurfGuard. |
| Step 4 | SLSNSW Branch and SLSC DoL | SLSNSW branch inspection of SLSC gear and equipment (ideally using SLS Patrol Operations app). |
| Step 5 | SLSNSW Branch and SLSC DoL | SLSNSW branch re-inspection of SLSC gear and equipment (ideally using SLS Patrol Operations app). |
| Step 6 | SLSNSW Branch and SLSC DoL | Confirm SLSC gear and equipment information is updated in SurfGuard based on SLSNSW branch inspection. |
| Step 7 | SLSNSW Branch and SLSC DoL | Completion of SLSNSW online compliance requirements checklist facility. |
As each SLSNSW branch coordinates the inspection program differently, your local SLSNSW branch will advise your SLSC of their specific inspection requirements, local processes and inspection dates.
Your SLSNSW branch will arrange an inspection date with your SLSC well in advance of the season to ensure that:
- Your SLSC has ample time to conduct pre-inspections on all gear and equipment to guarantee that you can conduct any maintenance or repairs before the inspection dates
- Your SLSC has updated all gear and equipment information in the ‘Manage Gear and Equipment’ SurfGuard menu
- The SLSNSW branch is informed of the completed SurfGuard update before the designated branch inspection dates to make sure checklists are accurate for inspections
- There is sufficient time to re-inspect any pending equipment if needed in addition to completing all administration requirements by the due date.
SLSNSW Branch Gear Inspectors will mark all defective equipment with an SLSNSW gear inspections ‘Defective Equipment’ tag each year. Equipment not passed by the Gear Inspectors is to be recorded in the SLS Patrol Operations app and must not be used by SLSC members on patrol until the equipment has been passed.
As a minimum, SLS clubs and services are required to inspect and update the following lifesaving equipment in SurfGuard annually:
- Automated external defibrillators
- First aid equipment
- IRB motors
- IRBs
- Radios
- Rescue boards
- Rescue tubes
- Resuscitation kits including oxygen cylinders
- Side-by-side and other beach vehicles
- Spinal equipment.
Refer to the latest SLSNSW Annual Gear & Equipment Inspections Program Circular or the SLSNSW Website for more information.