Workers Near Water
The Working Near Water course develops the basic knowledge and skills needed to recognize drowning risks associated with working near a swimming pool or artificial pool and to take appropriate preventive measures.
It also prepares participants to respond to an accidental fall into the water, whether it involves their own safety or that of a co-worker.
Regulatory Context
The Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (ROHS) establishes specific requirements for work involving a risk of drowning. Under section 312.93, a person is considered at risk of drowning when working above or within 2 metres of an area where the water is more than 1.2 metres deep over a width of more than 2 metres, or near an area where the water flow could sweep a person away.
The course is also consistent with the preventive measures presented by the CNESST for work involving a risk of drowning. Working in an open boat or on the deck of a decked vessel is also considered work involving a risk of drowning.
The CNESST also specifies that risk identification must be used to determine the preventive measures and rescue equipment appropriate to the working conditions and body of water.
When a drowning risk is present, appropriate preventive measures and rescue equipment must be provided to protect workers.
The course covers how to:
Recognize situations involving a risk of drowning in the workplace;
Identify risks associated with working near a swimming pool or artificial pool;
Understand measures that can help prevent an accidental fall into the water;
Adopt safe behaviours when working near water;
Develop techniques for responding to an accidental fall into the water;
Safely assist a co-worker in distress in the water.
Participants are strongly encouraged to complete the in-water exercises while wearing their regular clothing or work uniform to better simulate the conditions they could experience during an accidental fall. However, this is not mandatory to obtain certification.
The course is intended for workers who perform tasks near a swimming pool or artificial pool and may be exposed to the risk of falling into the water.
Prerequisite: None.
Teaching the Course
The Working Near Water course is taught by a Lifesaving Society Lifesaving Instructor who has completed the required training.
Aquatic facility managers interested in offering this course to their staff, as well as Lifesaving Instructors interested in teaching it, can contact the Lifesaving Society.