The aims of the National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP) are to:
- Equip anyone working in, on or near water with essential knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about managing safety
- Enable group leaders to deliver safer activity at open water sites
- Develop occupational water safety skills for employees working around the water margins
- Facilitate compliance with Statutory and Civil obligations, especially the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 with related regulations and covering Safe Systems of Work
- Develop effective Emergency Response Skills for those working in a water-based environment
The NWSMP is as relevant to a school teacher as it is to a member of the emergency services, countryside ranger, construction worker or outdoor pursuits instructor.
The Programme has been endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive, Outdoor Education Advisory Panel, Expedition Providers’ Association and was developed in close consultation with a number of relevant and key leading bodies