Working near water
According to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, it is an employer’s responsibility and a legal requirement to ensure the health and safety of its workforce.
Health and Safety in Construction HSG150 covers working near water. Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the welfare of employees at work and provide a safe working environment.
If employees must work over or near water, they must be professionally trained to do so. A safe system of work will need to be in place, including education about Leptospirosis (Weil's disease).
As an employer, you must provide proper equipment and suitable emergency procedures. You must also provide information and training in using the equipment safely and responding effectively in an emergency.
Working near water: the risks
Falling into the water
You should try to prevent falls by using adequate barriers and working platforms on walkways. In some cases you may need to provide safety footwear.
Extreme weather conditions
Wind, rain, ice, heat and fog all have implications for incidents involving water.
Hidden hazards in the water
Hidden debris or underwater hazards like rocks or rubbish can cause injury. People can get entangled in plants and vegetation.
Working at height
You must conduct a site-specific risk assessment if your employees are working at height over or near water. For example, they might be working on platforms or scaffolding, on steep embankments and alongside docks and in quarries. After you’ve assessed the risk of a fall from height and the risk of drowning, you should then find out what controls need to be put in place to mitigate these risks..
Contaminated water
Contaminated water poses a risk to anyone working near water. Employees operating in areas where rats or other rodents might be present are at risk from Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease). You must ensure these employees are provided with appropriate protective gloves and clothing. After encountering water from rat-contaminated areas, workers should wash exposed skin thoroughly.
Drowning
If an employee falls into water, they're at immediate risk of drowning. This can be caused by cold water shock, weight of waterlogged clothing, incapacity following injury by striking objects during the fall or in the water, fatigue or hypothermia while waiting for rescue. To prevent a tragedy like this, make sure buoyancy aids, flotation devices and grab and throw lines are readily available at all times. You should teach your employees to Float to Live.
Poor visibility and night conditions
Poor visibility and night-time work can impact on people’s safety when they are working near water. These also add additional complexities in taking accurate risk management measures.
Confined spaces/h2>
Working in confined or restricted spaces near water presents substantial risks. Factors such as challenging access, potential entrapment, depth, and flow must be carefully assessed across various scenarios, including vehicles submerged in water, operations at locks and culverts, and specific floodwater situations.
In an emergency
Call 999
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Risk Assessment Training
Gain an in-depth understanding of risk assessments, their importance and how to effectively perform them.
PPE and training
Whether it’s coastal or inland, if you’re responsible for a body of water, you need to provide the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Water safety audit
RoSPA consultants will perform comprehensive safety audits tailored to each indoor and outdoor water location, as well as various leisure and recreational sites.