The Course
The Safe Working Near Water (SWNW) course is tailored for individuals who work near water bodies and are equipped with life jackets but are not expected to enter the water intentionally. This includes professionals such as construction workers, road and bridge maintenance personnel, and employees of environmental agencies.
Spanning 6 hours over a single day, the SWNW course delves into topics such as:
- Rescue 3 Philosophy
- Workplace Legislation
- Safe systems of work
- Risk assessments
- Emergency pre-planning
- Water hazards
- Cold water considerations
- Biosecurity
- Life jacket maintenance and usage
- 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 designed for professionals who work near water and wear life jackets but are not required to enter the water as part of their duties. It is ideal for those in roles such as construction, road and bridge maintenance, and environmental agency work.
The Safe Working In Water (SWIW) course is recommended for those requiring a higher level of rescue capability.
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
There are no prerequisites for enrolling in the SWNW 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
- 07 November 2025
- 24 November 2025
Require bespoke dates?
Course Content
✅ About Rescue 3
✅ Workplace legislation
✅ Safe systems of work
✅ Risk assessments
✅ Pre-planning for emergencies
✅ Water hazards
✅ Cold water considerations
✅ Mud, ice and coastal considerations
✅ Biosecurity and environmental considerations
✅ Medical and decontamination considerations
✅ Lifejackets and PPE selection
✅ Lifejacket maintenance, periodic inspection and transportation
✅ Lifejacket firing mechanisms
✅ Lifejacket accidental inflation risks
✅ Pre- and post-use lifejacket checks
✅ Lifejacket inflation and deflation – auto/manual
✅ Swimming and self-rescue in lifejackets
✅ Throwbags and other conditional rescues
✅ Exiting the water
✅ Considerations for tethered working (if used by agency)
Qualification valid for:
- 3 years
Accredited by Rescue 3
More about the course
This course is designed for professionals who work near water and need to understand the risks and safety measures associated with their environment. While participants are equipped with lifejackets, they are not expected to enter the water as part of their role. It is ideal for those in industries such as construction, road and bridge maintenance, and environmental agencies.
The training covers key topics including water-related hazards, risk assessments, emergency planning, cold water exposure, and biosecurity. Practical elements focus on lifejacket use, self-rescue techniques, and throwbag operations. The course runs for six hours and provides a Rescue 3 Europe certification valid for three years.
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.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about our training courses please get in touch
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