Aquatic Risk & Safety Services

Coastal Safety Services

LSV delivers tailored coastal risk management and consultancy for land and waterway managers. Our services are grounded in research and aligned with recognsied best practice in coastal safety and risk management.

Beaches, headlands, and foreshore areas are exposed to changing conditions such as rips, tides, swells and erosion. These hazards, combined with high visitation and varying levels of supervision, demand a proactive and coordinated approach to safety planning.

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Local Drowning Profiles

A local drowning profile is the first step in understanding coastal waterway safety. It provides a structured analysis of current circumstances and risks, helping to inform future planning, investment and prevention strategies. Each profile includes:

  • A review of available visitation and accident/incident data and patterns.
  • Identification of key aquatic locations, users and activities.
  • Analysis of local drowning risk and key contributing factors.

This evidence-based approach supports a deeper understanding of the unique local context and promotes informed, coordinated actions to reduce drowning risk while supporting safe, active recreation around coastal waterways.

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Coastal Risk Assessments

Risk assessments include the identification, analysis, evaluation and treatment of risks at a specific coastal environment. 

In line with best practice principles these assessments consider environmental conditions, user behaviours and activities to assist land and waterway managers understand and manage risk. Risk assessments include:

  • Alignment with national drowning prevention and risk management models/principles.
  • Consideration of recognised Australian and Victorian Water Safety Strategies.
  • Customisation to the site-specific environmental, usage and activity factors.
  • Empowering land and waterway managers to understand and provide safe aquatic environments.
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Signage Assessments

Signage Assessments provide a comprehensive review of aquatic safety and emergency warning signage to ensure compliance with recognised standards and best practice in drowning prevention.

Signage is a recognised communication and risk treatment tool, and is often the focus of critical incident investigations, making accurate, compliant and consistent provisions essential. Each assessment includes:

  • Review of access and egress aquatic safety signage design and installation.
  • Assessment of signage across all aquatic areas and unique features.
  • Review of land and waterway manager by-law provisions.
  • Clear identification of current compliance and improvement opportunities.

In addition to assessments, LSV offers a safety signage design, manufacture, and delivery service to ensure signage meets community needs and compliance obligations.

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Local Waterway Safety Plans

A Local Waterway Safety Plan is a comprehensive plan coordinating actions for drowning prevention and water safety at coastal aquatic environments.

Developed in line with the best practice water safety, drowning prevention, emergency preparedness and community engagement provisions, each plan is tailored to the local aquatic context and created in collaboration with key community, government and emergency service stakeholders. Key benefits include:

  • Clearly structured and evidence-based direction for improving water safety.
  • Identification of local context, risk assessments and improvement opportunities.
  • Improved coordination across government, industry and community stakeholders.
  • Enhanced support for vulnerable and at-risk populations.
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Public Rescue Equipment

Public rescue equipment, such as rescue tubes, throw ropes, and emergency call points, provides vital early intervention capability - particularly in unsupervised and/or high-risk environments. Its presence is often referenced in coronial inquests and incident reviews as a reasonably practical risk treatment provision.

Start with a Risk Assessment

A Risk Assessment is the critical first step in determining the need for and design/installation details of appropriate public rescue equipment. 

The Risk Assessment will identify the environment specific risks, usage patterns, and activity levels - guiding decisions on what equipment is required, where it should be placed and what support resources will be the most effective.

Case Study: Venus Bay

In response to the high inherent risk identified through a Risk Assessment, LSV partnered with South Gippsland Shire Council and Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club to implement a comprehensive public rescue equipment strategy across key locations. Key features of the initiative included:

  • Rescue equipment and instructional signage installed at each beach access point.
  • Emergency call points linked directly to Triple Zero (000).
  • Emergency markers to support rapid response from emergency services.
  • Community education to ensure public understanding and empower safe use.

This system has already supported real-world rescues, including a case where a 13-year-old successfully used the equipment to save two swimmers in distress, days after the equipment was installed.

Support Services

In partnership with local land and waterway managers, LSV provides support to ensure public rescue equipment is properly implemented and integrated into local emergency response systems.

  • Equipment selection/placement - Guided by site-specific risk assessments/profiles.
  • Signage and emergency markers - Designed to guide bystanders and aid emergency services.
  • Integration with emergency services - Including call point setup and response coordination.
  • Maintenance planning and tools - Checklists and support for inspections, servicing and replenishment.
  • Training and public awareness - Resources for lifesaver training and community engagement.
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