Water Safety Equipment Provision

While the prevention of accidents should always be the focus of a water safety strategy, well-maintained rescue equipment that is fit for purpose can frequently avert a tragedy.

Equipment Safety Checks & Replacement

According to official guidance by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), regular inspection and maintenance are pivotal in ensuring water safety equipment stays functional when it’s needed most.

Safety Checks

• Daily Visual Check: The RLSS recommend a quick visual check to ensure equipment hasn't been tampered with. This is especially important in areas of high use or prone to vandalism.
• Regular Inspections: Harsh elements, particularly sun exposure, can affect equipment. Here’s a guide:
• In Weatherproof Housing: If stored in a protective housing and not tampered with, most equipment can last 5+ years with minimal checks.
• Exposed to Weather: It is recommended to inspect for fading and fraying ropes every 6 months, and to increase frequency during extreme weather.
• After 3 Years (Fully Exposed): More frequent inspections are recommended for fully exposed equipment.

Buoyancy Check

• Submerge the floating part of the lifebuoy and check for air bubbles coming from the moulding. This could indicate a fault.

Replacement

• With proper maintenance and no visible marks of deterioration, equipment can last 5-10 years.

Remember! While daily checks are ideal, how often and to what extent you inspect your equipment is up to you and should be established via a risk assessment completed by a competent and qualified individual. Regular inspections, especially for exposed equipment, help ensure water safety equipment remains functional.

Equipment Siting Guidelines

One of the most common questions about water rescue equipment is how far apart the units should be sited. There are no fixed rules for this:

• The National Water Safety Forum recommends siting units in areas where people congregate or are at a higher risk of falling into bodies of water.
• The Forum also states that one unit every 100 metres is acceptable under normal conditions. This ensures any potential rescuer is never more than 50 metres away from life-saving equipment.

Key Water Safety Resources

Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)

The RLSS UK (https://www.rlss.org.uk/) is the country’s leading water safety charity. Glasdon is proud to be an RLSS UK Water Safety Partner.

• Access RLSS UK's essential water safety guidance here: https://www.rlss.org.uk/inland-and-coastal-water

GoodSAM App & Water Rescue Equipment Register

RLSS UK and GoodSAM have joined forces to develop a Water Rescue Equipment Register and Life Saving Map.

• Life Saving Map: Use the locator map to find fixed water rescue equipment anywhere in the world: https://www.goodsamapp.org/locator
• Equipment Register: Help save lives by uploading a photo and the precise location of fixed water rescue equipment so others can find it in an emergency. You can also report damaged equipment.
• Step-by-Step Guide: www.rlss.org.uk/step-by-step-guide-to-registering-water-rescue-equipment

Other Resources

National Water Safety Forum (NWSF)

The NWSF provides UK-wide guidance and data on water safety: http://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/

RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)

The RNLI are more than happy to help with any queries you may have, and have developed a beach safety risk assessment procedure they can assist in conducting. Contact your local branch or visit the website for more information: http://www.rnli.org/