Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines and Managing your Beach

National Lifesaving Conference Sept 200723/8/2007

Prepared by Adam Weir and Gary Daly

COASTSAFE

• Intelligent & Strategic beach safety unit

• Collecting data on all Australian beaches

• Establishing methodologies and processes to deliver a safer aquatic environment

• Support for surf lifesavers and lifeguards, as well as land managers and developers

• COASTSAFE can help fulfill the smallest to the largest ‘Duty of Care’

ABSAMP

• Detailed information on Australia’s 11,560 beaches

• ABSAMP will soon be available to selected users online via Surfguard

ABSAMP and its uses outside the SLSA

The Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines

• Designed to inform coastal and beach managers and operators in providing a safer aquatic environment for all users

• Readily available guidance for– Coastal land managers & developers– Government authorities; Local and State– Lifesaving Service Providers– Lifeguards and Supervisors

The Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines

• A total of 9 sections covering:– Coastal Safety Signage– General Operation of Beaches– Lifesaving Services– Lifesaving Equipment & Facilities– Emergency Management– Storage of Handling of Dangerous Goods– Coastal Tourism Safety

The Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines

• The first edition is a Consultative draft that will have an extensive consultation phase.

• Future editions will be released following input from interested stakeholders

The Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines cont..

• Anyone interested in being involved should register before 21st December 2007

• Options for involvement:– General Consultative Groups– Specialist Consultative Groups– Specialty adviser – an interested observer

The Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines

• If you would like to be involved simply fill in the form included with the Guidelines or go to www.coastsafe.org.au to register

Coastal Risk Assessment

• Qualified assessors / auditors and competent in the respective areas of subject matter.

• Using the Guidelines, ABSAMP and other data, provide a report which details risks, and more importantly develop a plan to establish a safer beach environment

What does the ACPSG mean to surf club?

• The Guidelines will provide a valuable resource for all levels of life saving operations

• Now there is a single reference for all your life saving questions

How Surf Clubs can use the Guidelines

• Surf clubs will be able to use the Guidelines to better manage beaches

• As a reference for everyday life saving:– Designating the beach– Aquatic activity zoning– Flags and signage– Required Minimum Service Levels– Surf craft management– Marine stinger management

Using the Guidelines

• Administration and management– Service Operations Manual– Local operating procedures– Equipment design– Design of club & first aid rooms

• Surf Sports– Aquatic activity management

Using the Guidelines

• Emergency Management– Joint cooperation with other EMS– Body retrieval– Emergency closure of beaches– Storage & handling of dangerous goods

The Guidelines and Current SLS Policy

• The guidelines have been developed with input from all levels of SLS and aquatic safety experts

• Policy from throughout SLS has been adapted for use in the guidelines

• Proving valuable guidance• Best practice from around Australia and overseas• They are recommendations for voluntary application to

coastal environments in so far as they relate to public safety

• Underpinned by risk management principles

The Guidelines and Current SLS Policy

The Guidelines and Underpinning Principles

• Risk Management

• Evidence Based methodology

• Continuous improvement

• Stakeholder engagement; consultation and broad input