Water Safe Working
A practical course covering hazard awareness, risk assessment, and safer working practices for those operating in, on, or near water environments.
Description
Water-related environments present a combination of visible and hidden risks, including unstable ground, cold water shock, restricted access and egress, changing conditions, and limited rescue options. Incidents near water can escalate quickly, particularly where work is carried out in remote locations or alongside routine operational activity.
This course develops a practical understanding of water safety, focusing on hazard recognition, risk assessment, and the application of appropriate control measures. It supports safer planning and decision-making when working near water, helping individuals and organisations reduce the likelihood of incidents and respond effectively should one occur.
Training places emphasis on personal responsibility, dynamic risk assessment, and realistic emergency response rather than prescriptive rules. The aim is to enable safer working practices that are adaptable to different water environments and operational contexts.
Key benefits
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Improve awareness of hazards associated with working near water
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Apply proportionate control measures based on site-specific risk
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Understand the limits of self-rescue and assisted rescue
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Reduce the likelihood of incidents through better planning and awareness
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Support safer systems of work in water-adjacent environments
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
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Identify common hazards associated with working in, on, or near water
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Assess risk based on environment, task, and conditions
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Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
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Understand cold water shock and its implications
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Recognise when rescue is unsafe and specialist assistance is required
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Respond appropriately to incidents and near-miss situations
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Apply safer working practices across a range of water environments
Who should attend
This course is suitable for:
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Land-based operatives working near water
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Grounds maintenance and environmental teams
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Arborists, highways, and estate staff
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Supervisors and managers responsible for planning work near water
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Anyone whose role involves routine or occasional work in proximity to water hazards