Inshore Safety Course
Safe Pass for the Water. One-day, shore-based water safety training for people who work on, beside or around water.
The course is designed for people who need to work safely around water but who are not necessarily boat operators or marine specialists.
It provides participants with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to recognise water-related hazards, use appropriate safety equipment correctly and respond appropriately in an emergency.
One day. Shore based. Practical. Professionally delivered. Think of it as: Safe Pass for the Water
Why water safety training matters
Working near water presents risks that can change rapidly. Cold water, currents, weather, unstable banks, slips and falls, moving vessels and difficult access can all create potentially serious situations.
Providing a lifejacket or other PPE does not, by itself, ensure that a person knows how to use it correctly or what to do if they enter the water.
Irish workplace safety legislation places duties on employers to provide appropriate information, instruction and training to employees. Where PPE is provided, the General Application Regulations specifically require employers to provide information and instruction on its use and to arrange training, including demonstrations where appropriate.
The exact training required will depend on the work being undertaken and the risks identified through the employer's risk assessment.
Our Inshore Safety Course provides a structured, practical way for organisations to develop the water-safety knowledge and skills required by their staff.
What does the Inshore Safety Course cover?
This one-day course combines classroom-based learning with practical exercises.
Participants learn how to identify hazards, select appropriate safety equipment and respond effectively to water-related emergencies.
Course content includes:
Understanding the water environment
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Recognising hazards associated with inland and inshore waters
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Understanding the effects of cold water, currents, weather and changing conditions
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Identifying hazards associated with working near the water's edge
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Understanding how incidents can develop and escalate
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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Selecting appropriate PPE for the task and environment
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Understanding different types of water-safety PPE
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Correct fitting and adjustment of lifejackets
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Correct use of PPE
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Understanding the capabilities and limitations of PPE
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Recognising when equipment is unsuitable, damaged or incorrectly fitted
Working safely around water
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Safe working practices near the water
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Identifying hazards before starting work
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Personal positioning and safe access to the water's edge
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Avoiding unnecessary exposure to water hazards
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Working safely as part of a team
Rescue equipment
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Identifying appropriate rescue equipment
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Understanding when and how rescue equipment should be used
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Practical familiarisation with rescue equipment
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Understanding the limitations of different rescue methods
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The importance of avoiding creating a second casualty during a rescue
Water emergencies
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What to do if someone falls into the water
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Immediate actions following a water-related incident
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Raising the alarm and communicating an emergency
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Self-rescue principles
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Assisting others safely
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Understanding when to call the emergency services
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Basic water-rescue principles
Practical exercises
This is not simply a classroom awareness course.
Participants have the opportunity to work with the equipment and apply the principles covered during the day through practical exercises.
The emphasis is on developing practical understanding and confidence, while reinforcing the importance of following the organisation's own risk assessments, procedures and emergency arrangements.
Training Delivered by Frontline Industry Professionals
The Inshore Safety Course is delivered by experienced professionals who bring real-world operational experience to the training environment.
Our training team includes professionals with backgrounds as:
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Search and rescue operatives
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Swift water technicians
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EMT's, Paramedics and advanced paramedics
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Commercial and offshore skippers
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Professional coxswains
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Marine instructors
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Rescue and emergency response personnel
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Experienced water-safety and marine professionals
This means participants are not simply being taught from a textbook. Our instructors bring frontline experience of working in challenging environments, responding to emergencies and managing real-world water-related risks.
That experience allows our trainers to explain not only what the correct procedure is, but also why it matters and how it applies when conditions are less than ideal.
Who is the course for?
The Inshore Safety Course is suitable for organisations whose employees, contractors or volunteers may work on, beside or around water.
This includes:
Construction & Civil Engineering
For personnel working on projects near rivers, lakes, canals, reservoirs, coastal areas or other water environments.
Local Authorities & Government Agencies
For staff involved in inspections, maintenance, environmental work, infrastructure, waterways, recreation areas and other activities around water.
Fire & Emergency Services
For personnel who may encounter water-related incidents or operate around the water during emergency response.
Search & Rescue Organisations
For volunteers and personnel who require an understanding of personal water safety, PPE and basic rescue principles.
Fisheries & Environmental Organisations
For staff working on or beside rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.
Utilities & Infrastructure
For personnel working around reservoirs, waterways, treatment facilities, drainage infrastructure and other water environments.
Outdoor & Adventure Organisations
For staff and volunteers working with participants around water.
Any organisation providing water-safety PPE
If your organisation expects staff or volunteers to use lifejackets or other water-safety equipment as part of their work, appropriate training should form part of the overall safety system.
You don't need to be a skipper, sailor or experienced boat operator to benefit from water-safety training.
The course is specifically designed for people whose job may take them near water, rather than people whose primary occupation is operating a vessel.
That makes it particularly relevant to organisations where employees may only occasionally encounter water but still need to understand the risks and know how to use the safety equipment provided to them.
A course for people who don't consider themselves "boaters"
Developed by Safe Water Training
The Inshore Safety Course has been developed by Safe Water Training using our experience in commercial marine operations, search and rescue, emergency response, powerboat operations and professional marine training.
The course has achieved accreditation through Irish Sailing, providing organisations with confidence that the training is supported by an established Irish national governing body for marine training.
The objective of the Inshore Safety Course is not simply to put another certificate in someone's training file.
It is about helping people understand:
What are the risks?
What equipment should I use?
Does my PPE actually fit and work correctly?
What are its limitations?
What should I do if someone enters the water?
How can I help without becoming a casualty myself?
When should I raise the alarm and call for professional assistance?
Those are the questions that matter when something actually goes wrong.
More than a certificate
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Suitable for organisations and groups
We deliver the Inshore Safety Course for groups of employees, volunteers and operational teams.
Training can be delivered at a suitable shore-based location and, where appropriate, can be tailored to reflect the specific water environment, equipment and operational risks encountered by your organisation.
For organisations with multiple teams or locations, we can also discuss a programme of training designed around your operational requirements.
Make water safety part of your safety system
A lifejacket is an important piece of safety equipment.
But a lifejacket is only effective when the person wearing it understands when it is required, how to select the appropriate equipment, how to fit and use it correctly, what its limitations are and what to do when an emergency occurs.
The Inshore Safety Course helps organisations bridge that gap with practical, professionally delivered water safety training.
Safe Pass for the Water
Give your people more than a lifejacket. Give them the knowledge to use it.
Enquire about Inshore Safety Course training
Contact Safe Water Training to discuss your organisation's requirements, group training and site-specific water safety training.
