9. LGOM 009 – Local Laws Communication and Education

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines to assist lifeguards with effective management of local bylaws through communication and education of the public. Preventing the infringement of Surf craft, including body boards, into designated swimming areas and Dog and animal management are integral parts of beach management and local law application. These are the two main bylaw issues faced by Lifeguards. Councils may have additional local laws that lifeguards are required to assist with, for example educating the public on vehicle movements or the restrictions on drone usage.:

• Improve safety and enjoyment of swimmers and surf craft riders.
• Reduce the risk of injury.
• Reduce the chances of litigation.

Definitions
For the purpose of this document “surf craft” means:

• a surf ski; or
• a surf board; or
• a sail board; or
• a surf boat; or
• a kite surfer; or
• a body board; or
• a stand up paddle board; or
• Another device (non-motorised) for use on or in water to carry a person or thing across or through water or for recreational use in water.

Control Program

A comprehensive management program should include the following components, which may be applied so as to suit local conditions:

• Education
• Signage/Notification
• Application of Regulation / Warning Procedures
• Penalties
  

Education
A comprehensive education program provides a basis for a long term control program so that individuals can competently utilise their surf craft and enjoy the aquatic environment without endangering themselves and others. The SLSA Surf Survival program is recommended as a suitable education program. Education programs should include (but not be limited to):

• Personal Safety
• Surf Awareness
• Surfing Etiquette
• Beach Management Practices (i.e., signage zoning etc)
• Environmental Issues
  

Signage/Notification
Clear and accurate signage is an important part of an overall control program, serving as an ongoing educational guideline and a key aspect of good beach management. Effective signage will guide individuals and groups to the appropriate locations for the use of surf craft and may serve as a warning to those who may infringe either accidentally or purposefully upon the bathing area.

Examples of Australian Standard best practice signage:

Swimming Permitted

Swimming Prohibited – Can be used in conjunction with red flag. Closed beach.

Surfcraft Riding – Used in conjunction with black and white quartered flag to identify surf board riding area.

Generic Signage Beach Setup

Establishment of distinct separate zones is identified as a significant hazard where a conflict between different beach users (including Body Board users).

Surf Craft Management

Establishing a buffer zone is an effective way to reduce hazards and potential conflicts between beach users. By designating specific areas for swimming, body boarding and surfing it reduces the risk of accidents or collisions.

The size of the buffer zone is determined by assessing the level of risk to the general public. factors include but are not limited to:

• The number of patrons
• The area available
• The type of equipment (i.e. hard hull, sharp edges, etc)
• The skill level exhibited by patrons
• Surf conditions
  

Local Law Management

To enhance public safety and uphold bylaw regulations Lifeguards are required to assist in local law management strategies. The basic procedure to follow is listed below. It is important that Lifeguards are up to date with relevant bylaws at their rostered locations.

The basic procedure for the application of all regulations follows the same basic format:
Lifeguard
Communicate: Identify yourself and authority (if required by your region)
Inform/Educate: Provide information
Advise: Identify preferred course of action

If there is no change of behavior, lifeguards are to escalate to local law officers, or relevant authority via Surfcom and are not to engage with the individual or group.

Local Laws Officer
Issue Warning(s): Warn patron of possible consequences
Apply Penalty: Apply penalty within authority

Local Law Advice Procedure:

A preventative approach should be taken by all lifeguards. Wherever possible, information should be provided to swimmers and surf craft users before they enter the water.
The two most common methods are either by utilising the public address system or through direct communication by a lifeguard entering the water or approaching a surf craft user upon their return to shore. It is essential that lifeguards aim to preserve the integrity of the safe swimming area and avoid any physical or verbal confrontation. Lifeguards are to ensure the correct signage is also displayed for surf craft and dog signs (where provided).

Public Address System
Warning procedures via a Public Address (PA) system can follow these steps:

General PA warning i.e. -
“May I have your attention please? For public safety I remind you that surfboard riders shall remain outside the black and white quartered flags and swimmers shall remain between the red and yellow flags. Thank you for your cooperation”.
Specific PA warning i.e. -
“May I have your attention please? To the board rider in the yellow wet shirt, just a reminder to remain outside the black and white quartered flags. Thank you for your cooperation”.

Personal Approach
The personal approach should include general advice and an explanation of the relevant local law. Lifeguards have the option to utilise their work mobile phone to record the interaction should they feel like the need to. This can be used as a record to pass on to local laws or police after the interaction.

Single Lifeguarded beaches
Lifeguards main role is water supervision. Other lifeguard job roles such as public relations and local laws are always secondary to water supervision. Lifeguards working alone are not required to approach members of the public for local bylaw engagement, however it is a requirement to advise where appropriate, using the PA system or directing the member of public with a whistle or by hand signal. It is recommended an approach should only be made where a second lifeguard, Duty officer, Patrol captain, rove or supervisor is available to assist or back up. However, a lifeguard may approach for local Law engagement if they feel safe to do so from a safe distance.

Lifeguards at single lifeguard locations have access to other lifeguards at other beaches (where at a reasonable response time away) if assistance is required. Lifeguards are encouraged to utilise their rove lifeguards, supervisors and roving jet skis where possible to assist.

Dual Lifeguarded beaches
Lifeguard job roles such as public relations and local laws are always secondary to water supervision. An approach by a lifeguard may be either in water or on the beach. Personal approach by Lifeguards should only be made when a second Lifeguard is able to witness the exchange, or to escalate the incident if the Lifeguard or Public’s Safety is compromised.

Record Of Local Law Interaction
Details of all Local Law interactions should be recorded. This may be through recording the number of and types of preventative actions in LIMSOC or notes in the diary, such as board rider PA’s. Any more serious interactions should be accompanied by an IRL/ incident report.

WARNING: Lifeguards should not become involved in a physical or verbal conflict. In the event of a patron becoming abusive and/or violent towards the lifeguard, the lifeguard should (As per PSAR35):

• Remain calm
• Remove self, and bystanders from danger
• Alert SURFCOM (Call QPS, Advise Lifeguard Supervisor of incident)
  

Beach Closure due Local Law Infringement

• Remove red and yellow flags
• Advise public that beach is closed for public safety due to Local Law infringement and the inability to maintain a safe swimming area
• Advise Surfcom of beach closure and request Supervisor and/or Local Law/QPS attendance
• Keep beach closed until safe swimming area can be reestablished