Plan the Water Rescue Before Work Begins

Controls to confirm

• Prevent the fall: provide barriers with sufficient strength and stability at exposed edges and agree safe access to the work position. Assess the route as well as the task itself. Check weather, water levels, tides or flow where relevant, and reassess the arrangements when conditions change. Keep people away from an inadequately protected edge until the controls are ready.
• Provide suitable lifejackets: where people remain at risk of falling into water, select appropriate lifejackets and ensure they are worn, maintained and used by trained workers. Selection must consider the possibility of an unconscious casualty. A buoyancy aid may not turn a face-down, unconscious person over. Confirm that workers understand their equipment before approaching the work area.
• Prepare a prompt, safe rescue: agree how to raise the alarm, locate the casualty and call emergency assistance. Have suitable maintained rescue equipment and trained people ready for the actual location and water conditions. Where the assessment requires a rescue boat, provide a suitable craft and competent crew. Brief everyone on their role and the agreed recovery method; do not leave the response to improvisation after someone falls.

Today’s action

Before the first task beside water, walk through the alarm and rescue arrangements with the team. Identify the equipment, responsible people and recovery location, and resolve any missing control before work begins.

Source guidance

Authoritative guidance checked 28 October 2026. Apply the legal requirements and approved procedures for your location.

• HSE — Prevention of drowning: barriers, lifejackets, alarm arrangements and suitable rescue equipment
• CITB — Working over or near to water: trained rescuers, equipment, weather and water conditions, and emergency planning