11.3. Operations

Understand that you and your vehicle are high profile and you have a responsibility to maintain the professional image of the Australian Lifeguard Service.

Safety

Always ensure you operate your vehicle in a safe manner. Always be aware of the safety to yourself and to members of the public.

Procedures

1. Always follow your Standard Operating Procedures
2. Before driving on the beach:
   1. Ensure your hazard lights are on.
   2. Ensure your amber flashing lights are on.
   3. Ensure the beach access is free of pedestrians.
   4. If you have been stationary, complete a safety walk around the vehicle and check for people and personal belongings under the vehicle.
   5. Drive at walking pace or slower in highly populated areas.
   6. Avoid tight left turns on the beach as field of vision is greatly reduced when turning left.
   7. Always ensure 4WD is disengaged once off the beach.
3. Limit your speed to 20kph or less on designated bathing reserves.
4. Maintain your tyre pressure suitable to the driving conditions. If the tyres have been deflated for beach use, reinflate as soon as practical.
   

Towing

Towing Practice
Towing a trailer isn’t really that difficult but does require a great deal more attention. Remember, that the simple action of coupling up your trailer, your vehicle has become heavier and longer. It will be harder to move and very much harder to stop, so don’t forget to allow extra time and space for all manoeuvres, including overtaking and turning.

Before driving with Trailer

1. Craft is secured to trailer.
2. All objects are secured to craft/trailer. E.g. RWC seats.
3. All removable objects are removed and stowed. E.g. RWC Lanyard, Life Jackets, Helmet.
4. Coupling lock mechanism is firmly fixed. Safety connection chains are attached. Brake coupling / wiring is connected. Signal and light wiring has been connected to the car and the operation of the lights has been checked.
5. Tyre pressure of car and trailer and adequate and suitable for conditions.
6. Jockey wheel is stowed.
   

Note: Failure to abide by the towing standard operating procedure, including maximum loads, may result in a fine, or in the case of an accident, refusal of the insurance claim, and the possibility of further legal action.

Vehicle Recovery

Vehicle recovery isn’t really that difficult but does require attention to detail and some planning to ensure it is done safely. All ALS vehicles should be fitted with a set of MaxTrax used for vehicle recovery. Please see below instructions on how to use MaxTrax safely and correctly.

1. When your vehicle fails to proceed, STOP and retrieve your MAXTRAX.
   Spinning your wheels, particularly in soft sand, will only bury your vehicle deeper.
2. Clear debris and obstructions from around tyres and underbody components such as diffs, axles and sidesteps. Maxtrax can be inverted and used as a shovel.
   It is essential that the wheels are bearing the weight of the vehicle, not spinning freely in mid-air. You may need to use a long-handled shovel to clear beneath the vehicle’s undercarriage.
3. Wedge the Maxtrax FIRMLY against the tyre tread, in front of both front tyres if attempting to drive forward, or behind both rear tyres if attempting to reverse. Ensure that the Maxtrax are pointing in the intended direction of immediate travel.
   The Maxtrax should not lay flat on the ground but protrude at an angle. Lowering your pressures now will greatly improve the available traction to ensure a successful recovery. Using the tell-tale leashes will make finding your buried Maxtrax easier.
4. Clear the area of personnel and climb back into your vehicle.
   Double check to ensure the area is clear of personnel before starting the engine.
5. Engage low ratio, first gear and GENTLY accelerate. DO NOT SPIN YOUR WHEELS!
   The slow rotation allows the tyres to grip the lugs on the top of the Maxtrax and draw them under. Wheel spin will damage your Maxtrax (by generating sufficient heat to melt the material and burn off the teeth), and dig you in deeper. Maxtrax damaged by wheel spin are not covered under warranty.
6. If the tyres do not immediately grip the Maxtrax and drag them underneath, STOP, reposition the Maxtrax so that they are FIRMLY WEDGED against the tyre’s treads, and try again. DO NOT SPIN YOUR WHEELS!
   You may also need to clear more debris to ensure the wheels are bearing the vehicle’s weight.
7. Once the tyres gain traction, maintain the momentum until the vehicle reaches firm ground.
   Repeat the entire procedure if necessary.
8. Retrieve your Maxtrax.
   Our bright orange tell-tale leashes should make them easy to find, even if they’re completely buried.
9. Maxtrax are not indestructible and may be damaged during normal use through no fault of the manufacturer due to, but not limited to, the following factors: terrain conditions; the weight of the vehicle; vehicle fittings such as bull bars, rear bars, tow bars and side steps; suspension design and height; size, compound and type of tyre; and vehicle approach, departure and ramp-over angles.

Please note that some ALS ATV vehicles are not fitted with MaxTrax as they are considered low risk of getting bogged.