Safe Working In Water (SWIW)

The Safe Working In Water (SWIW) course is designed for people tasked with working in the water who will need a self- and co-worker rescue capability using conditional rescue techniques, eg throwbags, wading techniques and reach poles. The target audience is EA, SEPA, NRW personnel, construction industry workers, road and bridge maintenance workers.

This course offers a higher level of rescue capability than the Safe Working Near Water (SWNW) course.

The course standards, learning outcomes and key teaching points are provided as pre- and post-course reference for people involved in the delivery of Rescue 3 courses (eg Rescue 3 training providers, instructors and students). They are not to be used for any other purpose without the express written permission of Rescue 3 Europe.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 days (12 hours contact time)

PREREQUISITES: To be able to swim

ACCREDITED BY: Rescue 3 Europe

QUALIFICATION VALID FOR: 3 Years

1. 18 years+
2. Confident swimmers

Clothing Requirements

As part of the practical training, all candidates will be required to wear a dry suit. To ensure your comfort during the course, please bring the following items to wear underneath:

1. Spare pair of socks
2. Spare underwear (optional, but recommended)
3. Moisture-wicking long-sleeve top
4. Moisture-wicking trousers/leggings
5. Swimwear
6. Towel

Additional Guidance

1. Avoid wearing cotton clothing beneath the dry suit, as it retains moisture and can become uncomfortable during training.
2. Ensure all clothing is suitable for outdoor activity and varying weather conditions.

1. About Rescue 3
2. Workplace legislation
3. Safe systems of work
4. Risk assessments
5. Pre-planning for emergencies and rescue
6. Hydrology and water hazards
7. Cold water considerations
8. Mud, ice and coastal considerations
9. Biosecurity and environmental considerations
10. Medical and decontamination considerations
11. Lifejackets vs. buoyancy aids
12. Buoyancy aid and lifejacket maintenance, periodic inspection and transportation
13. Lifejacket firing mechanisms
14. Lifejacket accidental inflation risks
15. Personal and team equipment
16. Considerations for night/poor visibility working
17. Communications
18. Pre- and post-use lifejacket checks
19. Lifejacket inflation and deflation – auto/manual
20. Swimming and self-rescue in lifejackets
21. Swimming and self-rescue in buoyancy aids
22. Throwbags and other conditional rescues
23. Shallow water techniques
24. Tethered shallow water techniques
25. Strainers
26. People and equipment entrapments