8.5 Activities in Closed Patrol Areas

Purpose

To provide clarity for SLS activities that can be undertaken in a patrol area which has been closed to the public or in response to SOP 9.1 – Emergency Patrol Area Closure and Evacuation.

Overview

There may be circumstances where patrol flags are not erected, patrol operations are withdrawn, or public swimming is not advised due to prevailing conditions or hazards. This does not automatically prohibit all lifesaving training or operational activities.

Appropriately supervised training and operational activities may continue where a Patrol Captain, Senior Lifeguard, or responsible operational leader determines that the activity can be conducted safely following an appropriate risk assessment and implementation of suitable controls.

Training or operational activities may continue in elevated surf or hazardous conditions where an appropriately qualified operational leader determines the activity can be conducted safely following completion of a Surf Risk Rating (SRR) and implementation of suitable controls. Endorsed SLS competitions/events must continue to be guided by the specific event safety plan and Surf Sports Manual 38th Edition.

No in-water lifesaving activity may occur where conditions present an unacceptable risk to members or where identified hazards cannot be effectively controlled.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Dangerous marine creatures. Refer to SOP 9.5 – Shark Incidents,
• Debris in the water,
• Marine pollution or unsafe harmful algal bloom conditions. Refer to SOP 8.9 – Marine Pollution and Environmental Contamination and SOP 8.11 – Adverse Weather and Environmental Conditions,
• Electrical storms or lightning activity. Refer to SOP 9.6 – Lightning and Thunderstorms, or
• Other significant environmental or operational hazards identified through the Surf Risk Rating (SRR) process.

This procedure refers to beaches under the control of SLS. Where beaches are controlled by another organisation or patrol authority (e.g. local government lifeguard services), SLS services must coordinate activities with the responsible operational authority prior to commencing training or operational activities.

This may result in training and activities while there are no flagged areas for public swimming.

Procedure

For the purposes of this SOP, lifesaving activities are separated into the following areas:

1. Training of members for the SRC / Bronze Medallion
2. Training conducted for maintaining the skills of lifesavers in SLSA awards currently held
3. Training of members for Powercraft awards
4. Training conducted for surf sports

Training of Members for the Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate

Water based training for members undertaking Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate awards must not occur where patrol operations have been withdrawn due to unsafe conditions or where patrol flags are not erected due to operational risk.

Training Conducted for Maintaining the Skills of Lifesavers in SLSA Awards Currently Held

Members who are undertaking SLS activities for the purpose of maintaining or improving skills must adhere to the following procedure:

1. Members must be financial members and be proficient in the award (minimum Bronze Medallion / SRC).
2. Patrol Captain must conduct a SRR to ascertain if the conditions are suitable for training.
3. Prepare appropriate water safety.
4. If swim or board rescue training is being conducted there is to be a minimum of one fully operational IRB, on standby as water safety.
5. The crew of the water safety IRB must be briefed on the training to be undertaken and must be ready to respond.
6. The relevant training signage should be positioned near the training area.
7. The Patrol Captain must advise the SOC that the service is conducting training in a closed patrol area. e.g. “SurfCom this is Glenelg, be advised we are currently conducting board training for the next two hours, over.”
8. Should conditions or circumstances change, the Patrol Captain has the authority to suspend the training activity.
9. At the completion of training, the Patrol Captain must advise SOC that training is now complete.

Training of Members for Powercraft Awards

Members who are undertaking Powercraft training for new or existing awards must adhere to the following procedure:

1. Members must be financial members and be proficient in the prerequisites
2. Patrol Captain/Trainer must conduct a SRR to ascertain if the conditions are suitable for traininge.
3. Prepare appropriate water safety.
4. Where possible one fully operational IRB should be on standby as water safety. The crew of the water safety IRB must be briefed on the training to be undertaken and must be ready to respond. The services’ IRB on duty can be used with approval from both Patrol Captain and IRB Driver, but it cannot be used for the training i.e. if one IRB is on the water the second IRB must be on standby and capable of responding.
5. The relevant training signage should be positioned near the training area.
6. The Patrol Captain must advise the SOC that the service is conducting training in a closed patrol area. e.g. “SurfCom this is Glenelg, we are currently operating IRB training for the next two hours”.
7. Should conditions or circumstances change, the Patrol Captain has the authority to suspend the training activity.
8. At the completion of training, the Patrol Captain must advise SurfCom that training is now complete.

IRB

The service’s operational IRB may be utilised as the designated water safety IRB with approval from both the Patrol Captain and IRB Driver.

The operational IRB must not be used for the training activity itself.

Where one IRB is being utilised for training operations, a separate fully operational IRB capable of immediate response must remain available as water safety.

Training Conducted for Surf Sports

Refer to SLSA Policy 1.01 – Water Safety.

References

• Surf Sports Manual 38th Edition