Berkeley Homes (Oxford & Chiltern) is working with the Royal Life Saving Society UK, the leading body for water safety, as part of its commitment to promoting safe work practices.
The construction company, which is currently working on seven active developments, is working in partnership with RLSS UK to ensure the safety of staff and contractors working around water.
The RLSS UK has developed a water safety policy for Berkeley Homes (Oxford & Chiltern), which covers crucial areas such as risk assessment, emergency planning and rescue skills.
In addition, the charity has conducted a risk assessment of 10 key sites at their Taplow Riverside development, which is located on the waterfront along the River Thames and Jubilee River in Berkshire.
Nadine Hodgson, Regional Health & Safety Manager for Berkeley Homes (Oxford & Chiltern), said: "Our new development in Taplow has the largest land to water interface that we have had to deal with and whilst we have had previous experience with managing water risks, they have not been to this scale.
"RLSS UK has provided us with excellent support, guidance and training so that we can put appropriate controls in place that are realistic and practical. Working with RLSS UK has been an invaluable experience and it has highlighted to me that the construction industry needs to focus more on the risks of working around water."
Dr Cliff Nelson, RLSS UK's Head of Water Safety Management, added: "Berkeley Homes is at the vanguard of providing water safety policies to protect its employees who work around the water margins.
"The company's commitment to health and safety is admirable and sets an example to other companies in the building sector, which I hope will be encouraged to adopt similar water safety measures to ensure the safety of their workers."
For more information on NWSMP, please visit the website at www.rlss.org.uk.
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Notes to Editors -
IQL UK is the trading subsidiary of The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the drowning prevention charity.
RLSS UK is the leading provider of training and education in lifesaving, lifeguarding, water safety and life support skills in the UK. It is also the governing body for Lifesaving Sport.
Through IQL UK, there are nearly 90,000 RLSS UK Pool Lifeguards in the UK trained in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). Around 95 per cent of all pool lifeguards are trained by the RLSS UK. IQL UK also offers the National Pool Management Qualification and First Aid at Work qualifications as part of its portfolio.
The RLSS UK is one of three governing bodies involved in the development of a new qualification framework for the Aquatics industry. The Register of Aquatics Professionals (RAPs), owned and operated by SkillsActive, provides a system of regulation to ensure that individuals working in the aquatic industry are appropriately qualified and have the competence to perform their specific roles.
Around 400 people drown in the UK every year and the charity aims to prevent drowning through water safety education through campaigns and also programmes.
RLSS UK awards and programmes teach a range lifesaving skills from life support (CPR) to water survival and rescue skills. Programmes include Rookie Lifeguard (for eight to12-year-olds), Survive and Save (for 12years+) and Save a Baby's Life (a free course aimed at parents and carers of young children).
Drowning Prevention Week is the national campaign run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to cut down the number of accidental drowning that occur each year and support families affected by drowning. Drowning Prevention Week 2016 runs from June 18 - 26.
For more information and interview/spokesperson opportunities contact Porcha Treanor by emailing porchatreanor@rlss.org.uk or calling 01789 774495.