Insight
How Public Entities Can Strengthen Water Safety Programs
By Julie Waller, Alliant Public Entity
Public entities often associate water safety with large bodies of water, boating operations or aquatic facilities. However, water-related exposures can exist across many departments, including:
- Public works
- Parks and recreation
- Utilities
- Stormwater
- Police
- Fire
- EMS
- Facilities maintenance
Equally important, these risks can emerge from several types of bodies of water, including retention ponds, drainage ditches, golf course water features, water treatment facilities, flooded roadways, bridges, docks or streams.
Drowning remains a serious public safety issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings occur in the U.S. each year.1 For public entities, the risk is both operational and human. One overlooked exposure can lead to devastating consequences for employees, families, coworkers and the organization.
In this article, we’ll explore how public entities can identify water-related hazards, strengthen training and build a practical water safety program.
4 Strategies to Strengthen Water Safety for Public Entities
Water safety programs should begin with a clear understanding of who works on, in, over or near water. From there, public entities can assess hazards, provide appropriate personal protective equipment and train employees based on the specific work being performed.
Use the following steps to improve water safety across your organization.
The first step is identifying all employees and non-employees who may encounter water-related risks. This includes:
- Public works crews
- Parks and recreation staff
- Water and wastewater employees
- Stormwater crews
- Police, fire and EMS personnel
- Contractors and consultants
- Interns, volunteers and temporary workers
- Community cleanup participants
Public entities should assess where work is taking place, what type of water is present and what duties are being performed. A small pond, drainage channel or flooded roadway can present serious hazards depending on conditions, depth, weather and visibility.
A job hazard analysis can help determine the risks tied to each position. This process outlines job tasks step by step, identifies related hazards and determines what training, equipment and controls are needed.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be based on the hazard, not assumptions. OSHA requires employers to assess the workplace to determine whether hazards are present that make PPE necessary.2
For water-related work, PPE may include:
- U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices
- Slip-resistant footwear
- Gloves
- Hard hats
- Fall protection or fall arrest systems
- High-visibility safety vests
- Communication devices
- Rescue equipment
The type of personal flotation device should align with the work environment. The U.S. Coast Guard evaluates and approves personal flotation devices for different applications, meaning public entities should ensure the equipment selected is appropriate for the type of water and job being performed.3
PPE should also be inspected, maintained and replaced when needed. Issuing equipment is only effective if employees know when to use it, how to wear it and how to identify when it should be taken out of service.
Water-related work should not be treated like routine fieldwork. Employees collecting samples, inspecting water systems, mowing near ponds or responding after storms may face rapidly changing conditions.
Public entities should evaluate:
- Whether employees are permitted to work alone near water
- How crews check in throughout the day
- Whether cell service is reliable in the work area
- Whether radios or other communication tools are needed
- Who is responsible for monitoring field crews
- What conditions require work to stop
Clear communication procedures are especially important during storms, flooding or emergency response. Employees should understand when conditions are unsafe and supervisors should reinforce that safety decisions are supported.
A water safety policy should be specific enough to guide departments with different exposures. Police and fire may focus on rescue response. Public works may focus on sampling, stormwater and flooded roadways. Parks and recreation may focus on ponds, lakes, docks, pools or community events.
Training should be provided:
- During onboarding for employees assigned to water-related work
- Annually for affected employees
- Whenever a policy or procedure changes
- When new equipment is introduced
- After incidents or near misses
Training should cover job-specific hazards, PPE use, communication expectations, health risks, contaminated water exposure and procedures for stopping work when conditions become unsafe.
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Why Water Safety is Critical for Public Entities
Many public entities already provide PPE such as hard hats, gloves, safety shoes and reflective vests. However, water-specific risks may not be included unless the organization has assessed the exposure directly.
This can create a dangerous gap. A public works employee collecting samples during a storm, a parks employee mowing near a pond or a volunteer cleaning up a stream may face water-related hazards without being viewed as part of a “water safety” program.
The cost of prevention is often far less than the cost of inaction. Beyond potential claims or litigation, a serious incident can affect employee morale, public trust and the organization’s reputation.
Water safety is a process that begins with awareness. Public entities should identify who works near water, assess the specific hazards, provide appropriate equipment and train employees before an incident occurs.
How Alliant Strengthens Water Safety and Risk Management Programs
Alliant Public Entity works with public organizations to evaluate risk exposures, strengthen safety programs and develop practical strategies that support employee protection and operational resilience.
Taking the time to assess water-related work today can help prevent serious incidents tomorrow. Connect with an Alliant Public Entity specialist to review your current safety practices and identify opportunities to strengthen your water safety program.
Sources
[1.] CDC. “Drowning Data.” Drowning Prevention, www.cdc.gov/drowning/data-research/index.html.[2.] Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Personal Protective Equipment - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.” www.osha.gov, www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment.[3.] United States Coast Guard. “Personal Floatation Devices (PFD’s).” www.dco.uscg.mil, www.dco.uscg.mil/CG-ENG-4/PFD/.
This document is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, insurance, brokerage, risk management, or other professional advice. You should consult your own legal counsel or other qualified professional advisors regarding your specific circumstances, and receipt of this document does not create any client, advisory, fiduciary, brokerage, or other professional relationship with Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. This document is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, and Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. disclaims any liability for any loss or damage arising out of or relating to reliance on this document.
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