Rescue 3

Safe Working

in water

Safe Working
in water

The Course

The Safe Working In Water (SWIW) course is designed for professionals who work directly in water environments and require self-rescue and co-worker rescue capabilities. This includes roles such as construction workers, environmental agency staff, and maintenance personnel operating in aquatic settings.

Spanning 12 hours over two days, the SWIW course delves into topics such as:

Rescue 3 Philosophy
Workplace Legislation
Safe systems of work
Risk assessments
Pre-Planning for Emergencies and Rescue
Cold water considerations
Hydrology & water Hazards
Biosecurity
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Rescue Techniques (Throw bags and Self Rescues)

Upon successful completion, participants receive a certification valid for 3 years.

Who is this course for?

This course is intended for professionals who work directly in water environments and need the ability to perform self-rescue and assist colleagues in emergencies. It is particularly suited for individuals in roles such as construction, environmental agencies, and maintenance teams operating in or around water.

Location

The course is delivered in a classroom setting, providing a controlled environment to effectively cover theoretical components and practical discussions. This super-accessible course is based on the South Coast in Swanage, Dorset. Easy access via road or train. We’ll even pick you up from the train station for free.

Pre-requisites

You have to be able to swim to take complete the SWIN course, making it accessible to all individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge of working near water. This inclusivity ensures that anyone, regardless of prior experience, can gain the vital knowledge offered in this program.

Course Dates 2025

12 – 13 May
22 – 23 September

Require a bespoke date?

Course Content

What's Included

✅ About Rescue 3

✅ Workplace legislation

✅ Safe systems of work

✅ Risk assessments

✅ Pre-planning for emergencies and rescue

✅ Hydrology and water hazards

✅ Cold water considerations

✅ Mud, ice and coastal considerations

✅ Biosecurity and environmental considerations

✅ Medical and decontamination considerations

✅ Lifejackets vs. buoyancy aids

✅ Buoyancy aid and lifejacket maintenance, periodic inspection and transportation

✅ Lifejacket firing mechanisms

✅ Lifejacket accidental inflation risks

✅ Personal and team equipment

✅ Considerations for night/poor visibility working

✅ Communications

✅ Pre- and post-use lifejacket checks

✅ Lifejacket inflation and deflation – auto/manual

✅ Swimming and self-rescue in lifejackets

✅ Swimming and self-rescue in buoyancy aids

✅ Throwbags and other conditional rescues

✅ Shallow water techniques

✅ Tethered shallow water techniques

✅ Strainers

✅ People and equipment entrapments

Qualification valid for:

3 years

Accredited by Rescue 3

More about the course

The training emphasises practical skills and knowledge to ensure safety and preparedness while working in or near water. Participants learn about appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and simple rescue techniques to allow safe rescue from both basic and moving water environments.

Upon successful completion, participants receive a Rescue 3 Europe certification, valid for a specified period, equipping them with the necessary skills to perform self-rescue and assist co-workers in water-related emergencies.

Land & Wave is an approved Rescue 3 provider, delivering a variety of training courses in Dorset. With over 15 years experience in the outdoor industry, our instructors have experienced plenty of training courses in their professional lives – we know what makes a course great. We believe in delivering excellent professional training courses, that are hands-on and engaging.