Location of the River Nene through the Waterside Campus presents the opportunity for access to deep water with the risk of drowning.
Around 85% of accidental drownings occur at open water sites. Many of these drownings occur due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of open water safety.
The basic principles of open water safety, combined with knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can increase the enjoyment of open water and significantly reduce the number of incidents that occur each year.
Risks to consider in open water include:
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the shock of cold water can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water
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lack of safety equipment and increased difficulty for rescue
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the height of the fall or jump if tombstoning
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the depth of the water – this changes and is unpredictable
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underwater objects and hazards may not be visible
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obstacles or other people in the water
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strong currents can rapidly sweep people away
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uneven banks and riverbeds
- water quality, such as toxic algal blooms and industrial / agricultural pollution.
There is also a homepage that lists the range of Health and Safety risks identified as relevant to the University's activities and facilities, together with information on the University's policies and arrangements on how these risks are to be managed and controlled.
