Industry Consultation
Operator Guidance for the Safe Management of Commercial Open Water Activities - DRAFT Pre-publication

In recent years, a number of fatalities have occurred at inland open water venues providing commercial activities. While swimming pool operators have access to established guidance through the Health and Safety Executive's Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools (HSG179), there is currently limited sector-specific guidance available for operators of inland open water facilities who offer commercial activities.

To address this gap, a group of stakeholders from across the UK inland open water leisure sector have come together to develop free, practical, and industry-led guidance for inland open water operators. The working group, led by RLSS UK, includes representatives from the Aqua Park Association, British Triathlon, Paddle UK, Surf Life Saving Great Britain, Swim England, and several experienced inland open water operators.

The initial draft guidance was prepared by a legal professional with expertise in open water safety, incident investigation, and the management of serious incidents and fatalities. Over the past 18 months, the working group has undertaken a comprehensive review process, considering multiple iterations of the document and contributing amendments, recommendations, and additional content to ensure the guidance is robust, practical, and relevant to the sector.

The guidance has been developed to support operators in understanding and meeting their responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation. It provides practical advice on managing risks and promoting the safety of both employees and customers at inland open water venues offering commercial activities.

The guidance is now at the consultation stage. Before finalising and publishing the document, we are seeking feedback from the wider industry to ensure it reflects the needs and experiences of operators across the sector. We would therefore be grateful if you could take the time to complete the survey below and share any comments, suggestions or questions.
The industry consultation will close on Wednesday 23 September 2026.

All feedback received will be carefully reviewed and considered by the working group during forthcoming meetings and will help shape the final version of the guidance. We intend to officially launch the completed guidance at an industry event, with further details to be announced in due course.

Thank you in advance for your valuable support and contribution.

You can find the draft guidance here: Draft guidance download

Please use the sections below to detail your feedback, questions or suggestions. If you have any questions, please e-mail jotalbot@rlss.org.uk