8.1 Beach Management Principles

Purpose

To define the minimum operational principles and patrol management expectations for SLS services operating patrolled areas.

Overview

Effective beach management requires active risk assessment, continuous surveillance, clear task allocation, and proactive public safety measures. This procedure outlines the minimum operational expectations for SLS services operating patrolled areas in South Australia.

Procedure

Beach Operations

1. SLS personnel must ensure the flagged primary patrol area is located in the safest practical area for swimming. The patrolled area must remain under continuous active surveillance for the full duration of the patrol.
2. Patrol flags, patrol infrastructure, and the minimum personnel requirements defined in the Lifesaving Service Agreement (LSA) must be maintained during patrol operations unless modified due to operational risk or adverse conditions. Where beach based operations are unsafe, alternative surveillance positions should be considered where practicable.
3. Patrol shelters, tents, and operational bases must be positioned to support effective surveillance, public accessibility, and operational response.
4. The flagged patrol area should be appropriately sized based on prevailing conditions, hazards, available personnel, and operational requirements.
5. Patrol flags and rescue equipment must be positioned as close to the water’s edge as practical.
6. SLS services should provide public information signage identifying relevant hazards and operational information where practicable.
7. Hazard and warning signage should be positioned at relevant access points and identified hazard locations where required.
8. SLS personnel should identify and manage obvious hazards within the patrol area prior to commencing operations, including hazardous debris or unsafe objects where reasonably practicable. Particular attention should be made to hazardous items such as broken glass, bottles, syringes, branches, floating debris, etc.
9. Where multiple personnel are operating, patrol duties and surveillance tasks must be allocated appropriately e.g. Patrolling water’s edge, tower surveillance, roving SSV patrols duties etc.
10. SLS personnel should rotate operational roles regularly to minimise fatigue and maintain effective surveillance.
11. SLS personnel assigned to surveillance duties must not use personal devices in a manner that distracts from operational responsibilities, except where required for operational purposes.
12. Where practicable, elevated observation positions should be utilised to support effective surveillance of the patrol area (e.g. mobile tower/facility tower/high point on sand dunes etc)
13. Water’s edge patrols with rescue equipment should be considered where operationally appropriate.
14. Operational radio channels must be monitored in accordance with SOP 7.5 - Zones and Channels. Channel 1 should be monitored as a redundancy option.

References

• Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue training manual, 35th Edition, Module 10 – Patrol Operations