IW1 - Aquatic Risk Management Framework for Inland Waterways

Purpose

To provide guidance on the management of aquatic risk in inland waterways based on established risk management practices and principles.

Scope

This guideline applies to entities and/or individuals who own, operate, or control inland waterways; or own, operate or control public access to inland waterways; or have a responsibility / duty of care for the use of the associated inland waterway, such as land or water managers or inland waterway program or activity operators (hereafter referred to as the ‘responsible person’).

There are many examples where access to inland waterways is via land owned or operated by a variety of stakeholders, and where the inland waterway is owned or operated by a third party. A shared responsibility between stakeholders to each do what is reasonably practicable to reduce the risk of drowning or serious injury arising from use or access to the waterway should be adopted.

This Guideline does not include guidance on water quality management in inland waterways which is covered in the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (National Health and Medical Research Council 2008).

Description

The responsible person should develop a risk management framework, which provides a basis for integrating risk management into activities, and details the way the responsible person addresses risk.

The framework is recommended to be consistent with the AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Principles and Guidelines and its amendments. For practical guidance on how to manage risk, conduct risk assessments, treat risk, consult and communicate about risk, please see AS/NZS 31000:2018.

In circumstances where the inland waterway is owned by a statutory authority or where access to the inland waterway is via private land, the responsible persons (to the extent reasonably practicable) should inform users of risks associated with use or access to the inland waterway.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

The responsible person should individually identify the legislative and policy requirements that they are required to comply with and should document how these obligations are met and by whom within their risk management framework.

The responsible person should understand their legal and regulatory requirements, the relationship between them and how they influence and/or must be adhered to within the risk management framework for the inland waterway.

Background

Risk is defined as the ‘effect of uncertainty on objectives.’ In other words, risk is the potential for either a positive or negative deviation from what is expected or desired to achieve. Risk is often expressed in terms of an event’s consequences and the likelihood of its occurrence.

Risk is inevitable and all responsible persons must take action to manage it. Risk management encompasses all organisational objectives and should address all uncertainties, both negative (threats) and positive (opportunities).

Risk management in the context of inland waterways could be defined as ‘coordinated activities to direct and control resources to reduce or eliminate risk’.

Risk management should occur in a systematic, transparent, and disciplined way to reduce the  likelihood of risk events occurring and the subsequent consequence.

Aquatic risk management:

• provides a framework for addressing risks at an aquatic location in a systematic and recognised manner
• creates an environment where informed decisions about aquatic risks are made in an open and transparent way
• gives confidence in reducing uncertainty by effectively managing threats to an acceptable/tolerable level.

Context of an Aquatic Risk Framework

The responsible person should individually identify the context of an aquatic risk management framework and consider the internal and external aspects of the inland waterway including but not limited to:

• the frameworks, legislation, policies, procedures, contractual arrangements, and rules that have an influence on the inland waterway and its management
• the political, cultural and economic influences of the local community and visitors to the inland waterway
• drivers and trends that have an impact on the inland waterway locally, regionally and/or nationally
• the relationships, values and perceptions of internal and external stakeholders
• the natural and physical elements of the inland waterway (i.e. type, flow, structures, access to and from the waterway, and weather systems)
• the responsible person's governance and structures
• the responsible person’s capabilities in terms of knowledge, skills and resources
• the responsible person’s staffing, roles, and responsibilities

Integration of the Aquatic Risk Framework

The responsible person should ensure that the risk management framework is embedded into the organisational processes and plans. Such plans may include:

• Strategic plans
• Infrastructure plans
• Development plans
• Emergency plans
• Sustainability and/or continuity plans
• Local water safety plans

Communication and Consultation

Expert Advice

In developing and reviewing a risk management framework the responsible person should give consideration to any advice and recommendations given by:

• Emergency service organisations with responsibility (part or full) for the inland waterway
• Government departments or agencies with a regulatory role in relation to the inland waterway(s)
• Non-statutory authorities or organisations with expertise/experience in inland waterway safety
• A recognised inland aquatic risk management facilitator or auditor endorsed or employed by an inland water safety or drowning prevention peak authority

Staff, Contractors, Volunteers, Community Groups, Statutory Agencies

In addition to those identified in 1.8.1, the responsible person should consult, so far is reasonably practicable with staff, contractors and volunteers, community groups, users, statutory agencies who carry out work or activities in, on, or around the inland waterway or are directly affected by the risk management framework in its development or any proposed changes to it.

Staff, contractors and volunteers should be given a reasonable opportunity to contribute to the risk management framework and be advised of the outcome of those contributions in a timely manner.

The risk management framework should be available (either electronically or in hard copy format) with measures in place for communication of feedback.

Document Control

The risk management framework should be covered by document control and records management procedures including at a minimum:

• Identification of the inland waterway(s) to which it applies
• Descriptions of the context of the inland waterway(s)
• Identification of those who developed and authorised the risk assessment and any associated plans including any dates and signatures of relevant officers
• A description of the consultation with entities or persons that:
  • occurred in the preparation of the Risk Management Framework and/or;
  • will occur in the preparation of the Risk Management Framework;
• Reference to or attachments of insurance policies which identify the level of indemnity for each person or entity involved in the development of the framework
• A record of the extent of the distribution of the risk management framework including specific plans for resourcing and/or consultation
• The date of issue or amendments
• The validity period, when it was last reviewed, and will next be reviewed
• The obligation to periodically review and continually improve the framework following a major accident event.

References:

• Australian Water Safety Council (2021). Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030. Australian Water Safety Council, Sydney, Australia.
• International Organisation for Standardisation (2018). Risk Management – Guidelines (AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018). International Standards Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland.
• Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (2006). Guidelines for Managing Risk in Recreational Water. Australian Government, Canberra, Australia.
• Outdoors NSW & ACT (2023). Risk Management in the Backcountry. Outdoors NSW & ACT, Sydney, Australia.
• Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (2023). South East Queensland Water Safety Strategy. Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, Sydney, Australia.