Land Owner Safety
The first consideration in a strategy for accident prevention is always to try to remove, or separate, the public from the hazard. At sites such as water treatment plant, where only authorized visitors are permitted, complete restrictions are necessary. However, at many inland water sites, it would be neither practical, reasonable nor desirable to attempt to prevent drowning by denying access to water, or by providing supervision along every waters edge.
Land Owner Safety
Open water, like our road network, is an integral part of our environment with which we must learn to live safely, whilst those in positions of responsibility play their part in controlling the risk to a reasonable practicable level.
Where access restriction is not appropriate, steps must be taken to control risk to an acceptable level using the risk assessment process described above and identifying appropriate risk control measures, some of which are outlined below. It is important that operators responsible for adjacent sites (e.g. sections of riverside), do, where possible co-operate in the task to ensure consistency for visitors passing between sites.
Edge Protection
Whilst the profile and nature of the water’s edge is a fundamental factor in risk, addressing the edge in isolation will not address all the safety issues. Protective measures should always be supplemented by adequate information and warnings; education of visitors; and, where appropriate, rescue equipment and supervision. Some physical measures to prevent public access are outlined below.
Grading
One critical feature of water edges affecting the outcome of accidental entry into the water from the bank, is the gradient above and below the water line. Research undertaken by the RLSS UK in the 1980s (“Drownings in the British Isles” 1982, 1983), demonstrates that many people who drown, do so in water which is near their own standing depth. Maintaining or regaining standing balance whilst ‘in their depth’ is very difficult for weak or non-swimmers.
Therefore, where risk is considered to be high, but an open aspect to the water is required, it is preferable to maintain a gentle underwater gradient from the edge. This should be such as to allow a person to stand with their head above water, at a distance of two body lengths from the shore. This section of shallow water will provide protection from the deep water. Grading above and below the water line, can, at some locations, successfully control the risk of falling in.
It is recommended therefore, that shallow water (less than 0.66m) should extend a minimum of 2M from the water edge, via a 1:3 gradient, and a further protective margin of 1:75m with depths from 0.65m to 1.36m via a 1:2.5 gradient.
Planting
In addition, or as an alternative to grading, and where access to the water’s edge is required, but either a steep gradient (falling risk) or very shallow gradient (swimming temptation) exists, the planting of bankside or emergent marginal aquatic vegetation, particularly with sharp foliage, can provide adequate yet aesthetic protection, with additional environmental benefits. Mud at the water’s edge is also unappealing and acts as a deterrent.
Suitable plants which will deter access to the water include:
- Emergent Planting
- Phragmites australis
- Typha angustifolia
- Carex riparia
- Scirpus lacustris
- Iris pseudacorus
Inhospitable Planting
Salis spp – Willow
Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn
Crataegus manogyna – Hawthorn
Rubus fruiticosus – Bramble
Rosa Canina – Dogrose
Footpaths
A further protective measure (where public rights of way permit), is to define footpaths away from the water’s edge, creating a ‘margin’ of vegetation between the two. This option is particularly appropriate where views over the water feature are required, and the natural beauty of the site is to be retained. Where a particular section of water has been assessed as higher risk, the footpath can lead visitors away from the water altogether. Alternatively, where risk is deemed low, due perhaps to the shallow depth of the water, (as found at some duck ponds for instance), a painted yellow line can be a useful means of clearly defining the boundary between path and water.
Fencing
In some circumstances, where the risk is high due to the nature of the edge, the hinterland activity or a combination of the two, then fencing may be necessary.
The level of assessed risk will affect the choice of barrier. At low risk sites, the function of the barrier might be merely to ‘deflect’ the public from the water’s edge, therefore a post and chain or a single rustic rail might be adequate.
Where overall risk is identified as moderate but where a particularly sensitive location is identified i.e. deep water or pinch points, a section of more substantial fencing may be required. A high level of risk may lead to the installation of balustrade, combined with warning signs, to exclude members of the public from gaining access to the water edge.
The balustrade or fencing will require regular maintenance and inspection, it may be subject to vandalism, and it will usually remain scaleable. The effect of barrier erection on other user groups, such as boaters, will also have to be taken into account, to ensure that landing points are provided and that there is no risk of crushing.
Pond Safety
Water holds a particular fascination for young children under the age of five. Whether the water is held in a garden pond, a rainwater butt, a paddling pool or a bucket, a young child will invariable investigate.
Due to this natural inquisitiveness, 111 children under the age of five have drowned during the last decade, within the space of a few minutes of the supervising adult being momentarily distracted.
Pond Safety
It is impossible for any parent to supervise a toddler one hundred percent of the time, therefore it is essential that steps are taken to remove the hazard from the garden where the child will play.
Causes
Children aged between one and two are particularly at risk, with risk decreasing as age increases. There are probably three reasons for this profile.
1. Between the ages of one and two, infant’s mobility increases at a terrific, but irregular rate, such that they can escape parents’ supervision and get into difficulties unexpectedly quickly.
2. Whilst mobility may increase, stability and co-ordination remain poor.
3. It is not until the age of four or five that children begin to understand the concept of danger, and begin to heed warnings given to them.
Even the shallowest of ponds, can be lethal. From a child’s perspective, a 500mm deep pond is equivalent to an adult falling into 1800mm of water, but the child would be unable to climb out of the water.
Advice
Parents are advised to check the garden regularly. Containers holding rainwater should be emptied or sealed to prevent children gaining access, paddling pools should be emptied and turned upside down after use, and garden ponds should be temporarily filled in with sand. If parents wish to retain a pond, then rigid mesh can be used to create a secure cover.
The rigid steel mesh must be firmly secured and regularly checked for signs of deterioration. Because of the wide variety of shapes and sizes of ponds, purpose made covers do not exist. Security grille suppliers can, however cut mesh to size on request. The mesh must be heavy duty (8mm diameter wire), and have a grid size of no more than 80mm x 80mm this would ensure against entrapment. Depending on the size of the pond, a frame may be required to provide stability and anchor points, the frame needs to be sited so that it is clear of the maximum water level height that the pond can reach taking into consideration any deflection that could occur. Any method used to secure and lock the frame in place should ensure that there is no risk of entrapment between any moving parts. The cover should be left in place until the child can recognize and understand danger.
Fencing materials, such as chicken wire, are unsuitable as they will sag in the centre with the child’s weight. A number of tragic accidents have also occurred when children have managed to crawl beneath wire, or pull wire aside. Drowning incidents have occurred in less than 300mm of water.
Fencing off the pond is only a partial solution, and can often lead parents into a false sense of security. Gates, to provide access for maintenance, can accidentally be left open, and at three years many children can climb an unsuitable fence within 30 seconds.
School Wildlife Ponds
Schools have a duty of care towards their staff, pupils and other who may be on their premises. A school is required to carry out a risk assessment and implement reasonable practicable measures to ensure an acceptable level of safety. When considering safety issues, and in particular the risk of drowning in a school pond, there are a number of factors to assess:
What are the hazards?
Primarily the water itself, but also how it interacts with features such as: steep banks, silt, and overhanging branches.
Who might be harmed? And how?
Young children, particularly under fives; the elderly; children with special needs; teenagers (peer pressure often leads to risk taking); lone workers; members of the local community. The prevention of slips, trips and falls should be considered, and hygiene issues such as the risk of Weils’ disease.
Evaluate the level of risk
Decide whether existing precautions are sufficient, or whether more can be done. Assess factors such as; function, location, depth, edge gradients, supervision, user groups, information provision, effects of weather i.e. ice, summer swimming.
Record findings and policies
Create a normal operating policies which detail how the pond is operated, the measures which have, or not, been implemented, and the reasoning behind any decision. Also, create an emergency action plan. This should be distributed to all staff, to let them know what to do on the event of an accident.
Monitor and review
The safety policy should be monitored, as should the pond itself e.g. if signage is damaged, it must be replaced, and user behaviour should be monitored and the operating procedures altered accordingly.
The same principles should be applied to the assessment of pond dipping activities organized by schools. Reach poles, details of the risk assessment, and emergency action plans should be available to teachers supervising the activity.
Methods of Risk Control
Every pond and every school will be different, therefore overall guidance cannot be given, this is why individual site-based risk assessments are required. However, in most circumstances the following will apply:
- Access should be controlled and the pond effectively closed when not in use. This may be done with fencing, or vegetative barriers, or for smaller ponds, steel, rigid mesh fixed over the top of the pond. Fencing should be 1.1 metres high, with either 100mm spaced vertical bars, or steel mesh with an aperture of 25mm x 25mm.
- Pupils should be supervised
- Edges that are open for access for pond dipping should be gently sloping, or flat and well defined. Where access is not required, or where the edge is steep, a protective barrier either in the form of marginal aquatic vegetation or fencing may be required.
- Clear signage should be used at the access points to the pond. For example, as sign stating ‘No unaccompanied children’, or, if ace forms during the winter ‘Danger: thin ice’.
- Children and adults should wear appropriate footwear.
- For ponds which are too deep for an adult to perform a wading rescue, suitable rescue equipment such as a reach pole, or a throw line should be provided.
- Any adult acting in a supervisory role should have read the operating policy and the emergency action plan. Training should include the opportunity to use rescue equipment.
Ice Cover on Inland Water Sites
Every year during the winter incidents occur where members of the public go through the ice on frozen areas of inland water, often with tragic consequences. In response to this all water operators and those with responsibility for water sites should develop a strategy for managing the problem of ice. This strategy should identify those at risk, usually children playing on ice, but commonly also adults attempting to rescue others in danger. There have been many instances of people getting into difficulty attempting to rescue dogs.
Ice cover on inland water sites
Generally Operators should make themselves aware of: where the public go onto the ice and when these bodies of water freeze over.
Once determined the following steps and controls might then be implemented:
- Raise awareness of the risks of frozen water, publicise the dangers through media warnings on radio, TV and through the press. Carrying out educational initiatives in local schools
- Look to re-deploy additional staff during cold weather spells and ensure that they are trained to carry out the tasks required of them
- Develop an Emergency Action Plan so that, staff, know what they should do when responding to an incident
- Liaise with the relevant rescue and emergency agencies to ensure that they are familiar with the water body you manage and ensure their access to the water at all times.
- Where appropriate position Danger-Thin Ice’ signs, such as the main approach routes around the water body and where the public are likely to gather (such as wildfowl feeding areas etc.)
- Develop a policy* on whether to break ice around the edges of a water body.
- Try to patrol water areas where a problem exists
When patrolling ensure that:
1. Life-saving equipment if used at the site is in place
2. That signage is in position and promptly removed following a thaw so that its impact and relevance is not lost
3. The public are discouraged from going onto the ice and
4. Those patrolling are trained and equipped to summon the emergency services and provide assistance in case of an emergency
Weil’s Disease
Water Safety Ireland and Friendly Systems – promoting water safety by combatting Weils Disease
IWS has in the past issued advice through various media about the dangers of Weils disease, which is an acute infectious disease spread by infected wild and domestic animals. Because the bacteria thrived in wet and moist conditions, all swimmers should aware about this infection.
What Is Weil's Disease
Weil’s Disease also known as Leptospirosis is an acute, infectious disease. It is caused by different types of one bacteria of which there are over 200 known strains. Weil’s Disease is spread in the urine of infected animals (wild and domestic) and in water or soil contaminated with infected urine. The bacteria thrive in wet and moist conditions and can survive for months in stagnant water or wet soil.
CONTRACTING THE DISEASE
The infection enters through broken, grazed or cut skin especially on the hands and feet
and sometimes through the lining of the mouth, nose and eyes. It can also be picked up while wading or swimming in infected water.
SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms may include fever, headaches, chills, severe muscle pain in the calves and thighs, vomiting, diarrhoea and bloodshot eyes. Sometimes the fever may fluctuate and other symptoms such as a rash, jaundice, confusion, depression, kidney failure, liver failure and meningitis may occur. The incubation period is usually 10 days but can range from 4 to 19 days. If Symptoms persist please contact your G.P.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Effluent Treatment Plant Workers, Sewer Workers, Refuse collection and processing, Underground Cable Laying and Maintenance Workers, Miners, Farmers, Gardeners, Abattoir Workers, Animal Care Workers, People who use water for recreational purposes, Fishermen, Boating and Canoeing enthusiasts, Outdoor pursuits activities,
i.e. Hill walking, camping, Scouting Associations, Rescue Services, Fire Services,
Army and Garda Personnel.
PREVENTION:
Adhere to a rigid hygiene policy. Cover all cuts, scratches and abrasions with a waterproof dressing. Wear protective clothing especially gloves when handling soil, vegetation, animal feeds, tools or equipment that may be contaminated. Avoid touching mouth and nose. Food stuffs should not be consumed in the work area
SOLUTION:
USE FRIENDLY SYSTEMS’ APPROVED PRODUCTS
Spray all suspect work areas with VI RID. On completion of work decontaminate all protective clothing, tools and equipment with a solution of VIRID.
Sanitise hands thoroughly with Healthy Hands before eating and on completion of work.
For further information on Approved Products & Educational Seminars, contact:
Friendly Systems
Unit 10
Brookville Business Park
Ardee Road
Dundalk
County Louth
Tel: 042 9395504
Fax:042 9395501
[email protected]
Website: www.friendlysystems.ie