COASTSAFE

1. Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines and Managing your BeachNational Lifesaving Conference Sept 200723/8/2007Prepared by Adam Weir and Gary Daly

2. 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’

3. ABSAMP • Detailed information on Australia’s 11,560 beaches • ABSAMP will soon be available to selected users online via Surfguard

4. ABSAMP and its uses outside the SLSA

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Using the Guidelines • Emergency Management • Joint cooperation with other EMS • Body retrieval • Emergency closure of beaches • Storage & handling of dangerous goods

15. 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

16. The Guidelines and Current SLS Policy The Guidelines and Underpinning Principles • Risk Management • Evidence Based methodology • Continuous improvement • Stakeholder engagement; consultation and broad input