10. Surf Risk Rating
The Surf Risk Rating Tool offers qualified users several tools to assess the risk of the surf environment.
The Patrol option assists patrol captains and other beach managers in assessing risks in their patrol aquatic environment.
The Water Safety option allows Water Safety Supervisors, Trainers, and other parties to assess risk when conducting sport and award training, junior activities, and other sanctioned activities.
The Sport Events options allow for risk assessments to be made both before and during a sports event, as well as collecting data on any incidents that may occur during the event.
The aims of the Surf Risk Rating Tool include:
To enable water safety managers, officials, and others to be advised of a Surf Risk Rating in a timely and efficient manner.
To have a consistent process for the evaluation of a surf risk rating.
To provide key decision makers with information to enable them to make informed decisions.
To provide key prompts associated with safety and risk management.
To enable officers to reduce level of risks levels through mitigation.
To act as a tool for the collection of key data that may assist in determining future safety practices.
The Surf Risk Rating tool is accessed by opening the Operations App, selecting the 3 lines located at the top-left hand corner to display the menu and choosing Risk Rating.
10.1 Gaining Access
To access the Surf Risk Rating tool in the Operations App you will be required to hold the SRR App Access award in SurfGuard.
This is typically awarded by completing the Surf Risk Rating course or module online.
The Surf Risk Rating eLearning module is also used by other SLSA eLearning courses, such as the Silver Medallion Patrol Captain courses.
Follow these steps to complete the necessary eLearning:
Log in to the Members Area and progress into the eLearning system
From the ‘Training Library’, locate the SLS Surf Risk Rating course and click ENROL (this course is free)
Once you have completed the eLearning course, the ‘SRR App Access’ award will be allocated to you.
NOTE: You may not get immediate access to the Surf Risk Rating tool in the Operations App after completing the eLearning. You will need to wait until the weekly sync between Surfguard and the Operations App occurs.
10.2 Patrol
The Patrol Risk Assessment assists users to risk assess their patrol aquatic environment.
Select the + New button in the Patrol Section to create a Patrol Risk Assessment
Beach, Patrol method, and Weather information
Select the beach you wish to perform a Risk Assessment on.
The drop-down menu will display beaches within a 5 KM radius of your location.
If you are conducting patrols in flat water, see the Flat Water Activities topic for information on how to create a risk assessment for this environment.
Select the type of patrol you are conducting the risk assessment for.
Weather data can be pre-filled in some fields using the feed from BOM for the given beach. Click on the Auto button to load data. All weather fields are compulsory and must be filled in to complete a Risk Assessment.
Note: The SRR Tool utilises information provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). If you have allowed the Operations App to access your location settings, it can populate the weather data using ‘real-time’ data supplied by the BOM. If you have not allowed access to location services, you must manually input weather data.
If the app has automatically populated weather data and you do not believe it reflects the current conditions, you can manually override it.
Complete the Conditions section. All fields are compulsory.
Review the eLearning course if you need more information on entering surf conditions.
Additional information
Complete the Hazards section if conditions present.
Add General Notes if applicable.
Once you have filled in all the required fields select the SRR Level button to finalise the Risk Assessment
SRR Level
The following screen will then display your Risk Assessment Score and Level.
The Patrol Assessment will be assigned a risk level and number determined by the information entered into the Patrol Risk Assessment.
Comments can be added to the Risk Assessment by typing in the comments boxes. Additional boxes may be present depending on the Risk Level of your Assessment.
Photos can be added by selecting the ‘Photo’ icon.
Once satisfied with the Risk Assessment, select the Acknowledge and Save button to finalise the assessment.
Finalised Risk Assessment
The details of the Patrol Risk Assessment will be displayed on the screen as per the image below.
The Export PDF via email button will send a PDF copy of the Risk Assessment to the email address associated with your Members Area account for storage or forwarding to other appropriate parties.
10.3 Water Safety
The Water Safety Risk Assessment assists users to risk assess their aquatic training activities, including
Junior activities
Sport training
Award Training
Other sanctioned events
It replaces the previous Water Safety Risk Assessment App.
Select the + New button in the Water Safety section to create a Water Safety Risk Assessment
Beach, Activity, and Weather information
Select the beach you wish to perform a Risk Assessment on.
The drop-down menu will display beaches within a 5 KM radius of your location.
Note: if you are conducting activities in flat water, see the Flat Water Activities topic for information on how to create a risk assessment for this environment.
Select the type of activity you are conducting the risk assessment for.
Select the number of qualified (SRC or Bronze Medallion holders) and unqualified participants for the activity. Do not include your water safety personnel in these numbers.
Indicate whether a patrol is currently signed on in your location.
Weather data can be pre-filled in some fields using the feed from BOM for the given beach. Click on the Auto button to load data. All weather fields are compulsory and must be filled in to complete a Risk Assessment.
Note: The SRR Tool utilises information provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). If you have allowed the Operations App to access your location settings, it can populate the weather data using ‘real-time’ data supplied by the BOM. If you have not allowed access to location services, you must manually input weather data.
If the app has automatically populated weather data and you do not believe it reflects the current conditions, you can manually override it.
Surf Conditions
Complete the Conditions section. All fields are compulsory.
Review the eLearning course if you need more information on entering surf conditions.
Additional information
Complete the Hazards section if conditions present.
Add General Notes if applicable.
Once you have filled in all the required fields select the SRR Level button to finalise the Risk Assessment
SRR Level
The following screen will then display your Risk Assessment Score and Level.
The Patrol Assessment will be assigned a risk level and number determined by the information entered into the Patrol Risk Assessment.
Comments can be added to the Risk Assessment by typing in the comments boxes. Additional boxes may be present depending on the Risk Level of your Assessment.
Photos can be added by selecting the ‘Photo’ icon.
Once satisfied with the Risk Assessment, select the Acknowledge and Save button to finalise the assessment.
Finalised Risk Assessment
The details of the Water Safety Risk Assessment will be displayed on the screen as per the image below.
The Export PDF via email button will send a PDF copy of the Risk Assessment to the email address associated with your Members Area account for storage or forwarding to other appropriate parties
10.4 Sports Events
Select the View button in the Sports Events section to see additional options.
There are three options for the Sport Events Risk Assessment
10.4.1 Sport Events – Initial & On-going
Sport Events (Initial & On-going) is used to determine the risk rating for the event as an overview. This can be conducted as many times during the day as required.
SRR is a reflection of the most hazardous observations of the surf characteristics
Measured over a given time period (approx. 20-30 minutes).
Measured ON the Beach
Note: It is better to err on the side of safety than to risk the chances of a serious under-estimation of a hazard’s potential. Always defer to the higher rating if unsure.
On the Sport Events Screen select the +New button for Initial & On-going
Select the beach you wish to perform a Risk Assessment on.
The drop-down menu will display beaches within a 5 KM radius of your location.
Select the arena that you are performing the Surf Risk Rating.
The drop-down menu will display the standard carnival areas along with ‘other’ options.
Note: The SRR app, utilises information provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). If you have allowed the app to access our location settings, you can simply click “auto” and the app will automatically populate the weather data using ‘real-time’ data as supplied by the BOM.
If you have not allowed access to location services, you may manually input weather data. Similarly, if the app has automatically populated weather data and you do not believe it reflects the current conditions, you can manually override it.
Click on the Auto button to load data. Fields marked as red are compulsory and must be filled in to complete a Risk Assessment.
Complete the Conditions section. All fields are compulsory
Complete the Hazards section if conditions present. Add General Notes if applicable.
Click on the SRR Level Button to proceed to the SRR Risk Assessment score.
The risk assessment will be assigned a risk level and number determined by the information entered into the Risk Assessment.
If you need to, you can review your water safety service requirements and controls by clicking on the button. Comments & Photo can be added to the Risk Assessment by typing in the comments box.
3/4. You can also review participant number per event and PPE for the event.
Once satisfied with the Risk Assessment select the ‘Acknowledge and Save’ button to finalise the assessment.
Below is a table below that outlines the increase in warnings as risk increases.
All the details of the Risk Assessment will display on the screen as per the image below.
The Risk Assessment can be reviewed later by selecting the assessment from the home screen.
10.4.2 Event/Discipline – SRR
Event/Discipline data is similar to Initial & On-going, however it requires the ‘conditions data’ to be populated when competitors are both on the way out and on the way in from their race. It determines a rating level for athletes heading out and returning to shore and is also ‘discipline specific’.
Select the +New button to create a new Risk Assessment ( within the SRR – Sports Events section)
Use the drop-down menu for each option to specify the event you wish to create a Risk Assessment for. The drop-down menu for beaches will display beaches within a 5 KM radius of your location.
Use the drop-down menus to record the event area Conditions (all fields are compulsory)
Select the Out and In tabs to add Conditions data reflecting when competitors are going out through the surf and back in through the surf.
Specify if any hazards exists and add general notes if required. Select the SRR level button to see your Risk Rating.
The Risk Assessment will calculate a score for the event’s out and in legs.
After saving, the Risk Assessment will be displayed.
The Risk Assessment can also be reviewed from the Sports Events page
10.4.3 Event/Discipline – Incident
The Event/Discipline Incident section is linked to the Event/Discipline SRR. The incidents line up with the event rating to assist in collecting data.
Select the +New button to create a new Event Incident
Use the + button to add Incidents and the – button to remove Incidents. Incidents can be added to both
out and in legs.
Multiple items can be selected for one race:
Fall Offs (by wave)
Falls Offs (by collision)
Back-shoot/Nose dive
Craft is driven back/forwards by a wave
Broaches
Sideways slewing of the craft
Flying Craft
Lost Craft
Need to swim to regain craft
Did Not Finish
Injury
Injury caused by interaction with the surf
10.5 Flat Water activities
If you are conducting activities in a Flat Water Environment, you can still use the Surf Risk Rating tool create a Risk Assessment.
When creating a Risk Assessment for your activity (Patrol, Water Safety etc), instead of selecting a Beach, scroll to the bottom of the list and select ‘Other Location’
Two additional fields will appear:
Location
This is a free text field that you can use to enter your location.
Flat Water
When Flat Water is selected, a number of surf conditions will be removed from the Risk Assessment as they are not applicable to a flat water environment.
You will need to enter the following conditions manually as the Auto function is not available when using the Other Location option.