Rank: Forum user 
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Good morning and a happy Monday to everyone on here!
I have a query on a Policy that I am reviewing for a new client. The Policy states 'ideally only individuals that can swim should work close to or over water.'
My question is this, are they allowed to write into their policy that 'only individuals that can swim are permitted to work over or close to water' ???
I think that this would be a sensible suggestion, as they would be more competent at carrying out 'self rescue' than someone who is unable to swim. They have included the sort of collective control measures that you would consider when working at height as well.
Can anyone advise further on this topic please?
Thanks in advance
DHM
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I think this is nonsense to suggest 'ideally only individuals that can swim should work close to or over water.' Are the company going to assess individuals' ability to swim? Of course not.
What type of controls are suitable does depend on the type of water course, e.g. river, lake, dockside, etc. It may be possible to erect barrier, such as Jersey barriers, provide inflatable jackets, or any number of other controls. Will plant and machinery be operating within the vicinity and if so, what controls are in place...the list of questions is endless.
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Rank: Forum user 
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I don't know about the legalities but I think its a common sense control measure providing it isn't the only one. And what constitutes someone who "can swim"? Someone who can swim a breadth/length/specified distance of an indoor heated swimming pool, someone who possess a certain level of swimming certificate or another criteria dervied by goodness knows who.
As someone who was a swimmer in their youth and trained by the RNLI in lifesaving techniques (some of our training was in open water), it is a very different experience swimming in a nice indoor heated swimming pool as opposed to being unexpectedly plunged into cold open water whilst fully clothed. An individual may be perfectly able to swim 200m + without a lot of effort in the right conditions but could really struggle in the type of circumstances you suggest.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The hierarchy of controls should emphasise prevention of falls into the water, then proper clothing and flotation devices (that enable even a non-swimmer to survive and perhaps self-rescue), then effective means of rescue, and self-rescue by swimming alone a long way down the list!
Also anyone who has tried to move through water wearing a life-jacket knows that ability to swim makes not much difference, so I suggest you and your client should be able to find enough reasonable practicable higher-level controls to ensure risks are ALARP without needing to add assessment of swimming ability!
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks both, that is the good, sensible and proportionate advice.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Are they going to make it CPD by holding a life saving qualification?
Seriously there is a great deal of difference between going to the local temperature controlled pool and falling in to a water course at its ambient temperature wearing all the associated PPE required to be at work in an external environment.
Temperature shock, heavy water logged clothing, safety footwear or worse flooded wellington boots mean that even the best swimmer may not be capable of self rescue especially if they have been concussed or otherwise injured during the fall in to the water.
When selecting a flotation system (e.g. self inflating life vest) you should also consider that it needs to support not only the individual but the additional weight of soaked kit.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Are they going to make it CPD by holding a life saving qualification?
Seriously there is a great deal of difference between going to the local temperature controlled pool and falling in to a water course at its ambient temperature wearing all the associated PPE required to be at work in an external environment.
Temperature shock, heavy water logged clothing, safety footwear or worse flooded wellington boots mean that even the best swimmer may not be capable of self rescue especially if they have been concussed or otherwise injured during the fall in to the water.
When selecting a flotation system (e.g. self inflating life vest) you should also consider that it needs to support not only the individual but the additional weight of soaked kit.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The environment agency insists that all personnel, even subbies, working near water wear auto-inflate lifejackets.
Not much good being a good swimmer if you are rendered either unconscious or unable to swim because of temperature shock.
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