Where the danger arises

Quays, lagoons, canals, treatment plants and river works combine wet surfaces with changes in level and difficult access. A fall may cause injury before someone reaches the water; current, cold or saturated clothing can prevent the person from getting out unaided.

Assess routine tasks, inspections and journeys around the site. Consider what changes with the tide, rainfall, basin level or unloading operations. A location that looks calm during an initial visit may present very different conditions during the working shift.

Prevent the fall first

Where practicable, move the task away from the edge and provide protected access routes and platforms. Barriers must suit the environment and remain stable; warning tape provides no physical protection against a person falling into the water.

Covering or draining an installation may remove contact with water while leaving a dangerous opening. Drowning prevention and fall protection need to be considered together, including temporary entrances opened during maintenance and the routes used to reach them.

Match flotation to the actual task

A lifejacket and a buoyancy aid do not necessarily provide the same response if someone loses consciousness. Selection depends on the wearer, clothing and other equipment, water conditions and expected recovery time, rather than on a single generic specification.

Check fit, compatibility, condition and inflation arrangements against the manufacturer’s instructions. Equipment kept in a site cabin is not equivalent to equipment worn when required. Training should enable users to recognise damage and understand limitations; flotation never replaces collective protection.

Make recovery achievable

The Emergency plan should specify how a fall is detected, the alarm raised and the person recovered without exposing others. Reaching, throwing or boat-based resources depend on the location and require trained personnel; an improvised intervention can create another casualty.

Check the recovery access, the route for outside assistance and what happens if communications fail. Practising the arrangements reveals physical obstacles that a written plan may miss. Review the conditions before continuing when water levels, visibility or available rescue resources change.