Safety Boat Services
Safety Boat and Water Rescue Services
Are you an organisation that operates in or around water?
If so, it’s vital that you recognise your duty of care towards personnel who operate in or around bodies of water.
Work completed around open water sources poses significant health risks, including falls, drowning and other hazards.
As an employer or event-planner, you have a legal responsibility to safeguard the well-being of workers or event participants through proactive safety planning.
Here at Severn Access and Rescue Services, we are one of the UK’s leading water rescue companies, offering a range of safety boat services to industries which involve work in or around open water.
The safety of your personnel is our top priority. We are committed to not only mitigating risks on site, but also responding swiftly and effectively in the event of an emergency situation. With Severn Access, you can gain total peace of mind knowing that your team is protected, and that your organisation is compliant with all HSE regulations.
Who Needs Safety Boat Services?
Safety boat services are essential for sectors and industries where work is conducted in or around open water sources. This includes:
- Marine construction: Work involving the construction or maintenance of submarine pipelines, seawalls, dams, and ports.
- Environmental surveys and inspections: both inshore and offshore research projects.
- Civil engineering and Infrastructure: Construction or maintenance projects for bridges, docks, reservoirs, and waterways.
- Oil & Gas & Renewables: Offshore platforms constructed directly over water, including energy sites like wind farms.
- Media production: Films and other media being shot around water sources.
- Water-based sporting events: including sailing, rowing, kayaking, triathlons, and open water swimming competitions.
Because the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires employers and event organisers to provide a safe working environment, organisations in the above industries must put in place effective safety measures to help safeguard lives. This includes having a professional safety boat on site to respond quickly in the event of an accident or emergency.
Here at Severn Access, our safety boats services are designed for both coastal and inland waterways. Whatever your industry, our team of safety consultants and water rescue operatives are ready to help, no matter the size or scope of your project.
What Do HSE Regulations Say About The Need For Safety Boats?
Employers have a clear legal responsibility to safeguard anyone working in or around water.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out strict requirements, most notably those contained within the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
These regulations require organisations to reduce the risks to workers “as low as reasonably practicable” (ALARP).
Water-related workplace accidents are more frequent than many people realise. According to the UK’s Water Incident Database (WAID), 1602 water-related fatalities occurred between 2019-2024, with many of these being work-related incidents.
To reduce these risks, employers are obligated to:
- Provide adequate training for staff who are to work near or over water.
- Plan and enact Safe Systems of Work (SSoW).
- Ensure the provision of safety equipment and its maintenance, including: PPE, flotation devices, grab & throw lines, safety barriers, stable platforms etc.
- Conduct comprehensive risk assessments. These should look to cover hazards such as extreme weather, submerged obstacles, contaminated water, and the risk of waterborne diseases like Leptospirosis.
- Plan appropriate emergency response procedures if a worker was to fall into water and become endangered.
In short, HSE guidance makes clear that safeguarding employees around water is not optional. It is a legal duty that requires proactive planning and emergency preparedness.
Safety Boat & Water Rescue Services UK
Deployable on short notice and available across the UK, Severn Access' safety boat services are a dependable and cost-effective solution for organisations who are looking to remain compliant with these regulations and protect their workforce.
You can be assured that every measure will be taken to mitigate risks, safeguard the lives of your personnel, and keep you fully compliant with the law.
- Safe Systems of Work (SSoW): We help organisations to plan and implement SSoW’s so that they meet their legal obligation to ensure workplace safety over or near open water sources.
- Risk assessments: We can help you to conduct thorough risk assessments, including identifying hazards and recommending suitable safety measures to ensure these risks are avoided or mitigated.
- Work at Height and Confined Space Consultancy: With our years of experience working in high-risk, hazardous environments, as well as our deep knowledge of HSE regulations, we can help advise your organisation on best practices in the workplace to keep your workforce safe, and your business regulatory-compliant.
- Water Rescue Services: We can provide an experienced and highly skilled emergency water rescue team to be with you on site. Our rescue team will be on standby during your operations, ready to act swiftly and effectively in the event of an emergency to safely rescue endangered individuals.
Rapid Deployment Nationwide
Based in the West Midlands, Severn Access are ideally located to offer nationwide coverage for our safety boat services. We pride ourselves on our rapid deployment time across the length and breadth of the UK, making us the local team you can depend on for safety compliance and water rescue.
Fully Accredited & Compliant
As a team of IRATA-certified technicians with ISO 9001 and CHAS-certification, all of our operations are carried out in full accordance with HSE Regulations. This ensures legal compliance at every turn, providing ultimate peace of mind knowing that your project is in safe hands.
Professional Rescue Teams
As a Rescue3 Accredited contractor, Severn Access ensures that every member of our water rescue teams is trained and certified to the highest industry standards. This internationally recognised accreditation means you can rely on us for precise, safe, and legally compliant rescue operations in the most hazardous environments.
Our Training, Equipment & Crew Expertise
At Severn Access, we provide more than just safety boats: we bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project. Our highly trained team of technicians and rescue operatives are incredibly versatile. Using a range of professional-grade equipment, we ensure safety, compliance and efficiency at every turn.
Our Capabilities Include:
- Highly Trained Crew: All of our operatives are highly skilled and certified in rope access, confined space, and water rescue operations, ensuring complete HSE compliance.
- Trained in First Response Emergency Care (FREC): Our safety boat crew members are fully qualified to deliver professional pre-hospital emergency medical support. Holding FREC 3 & 4 qualifications, this advanced training ensures we can deliver the rapid first response care needed in an emergency situation.
- Emergency Water Rescue: Our crew is highly trained in swift water rescue and man-over-board recovery. We are just as capable enacting rescues along inland waterways as we are offshore and coastal environments.
- Professional Equipment: Along with safety boats, our team is fully equipped with everything needed to safely manage your water operations. This includes flotation devices, defibrillators, oxygen kits, and grab & throw lines. We use only industry-standard gear to maximise safety for your personnel.
- Confined Space & Height Safety: As professional rope access and confined space specialists, our technicians are highly experienced in managing hazardous marine environments, including docks, reservoirs, culverts, and offshore platforms.
Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) & Risk Management: Our technicians possess deep knowledge of HSE regulations, meaning we can support you in planning, implementing, and maintaining safety procedures that keeps your organisation 100% compliant.
Rescue3 Accredited Water Rescue Teams
Severn Access is proud to hold the respected Rescue3 Accredited. This is an internationally-recognised mark of excellence that confirms our team is fully qualified to carry out professional safety boat and water rescue operations in line with UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) standards.
This accreditation guarantees that every member of our water rescue crew is trained and certified to manage emergencies on rivers, reservoirs, coastal waters, and other high-risk aquatic environments.
It not only keeps your organisation compliant with UK safety regulations, but also ensures the highest levels of skill, precision, and rapid response when lives are at stake.
Why Choose Severn Access & Rescue Services?
Besides our expert training and equipment, you can be confident that Severn Access are the specialists you need for your project for all of the following reasons:
- Rapid, Nationwide Deployment: Based near Worcester in the West Midlands, we are ready to deploy anywhere in the UK at short notice, providing a first-class service on many marine civil engineering projects.
- Cost-effective Risk Mitigation: By preventing accidents, our safety boat services can save your business thousands in potential penalties and liability costs.
- Comprehensive Safety Solutions: From risk assessments and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) to on-site standby rescue teams, we provide end-to-end planning, consultancy, and emergency response.
- Highly Trained Rescue Professionals: Our crew members are certified in rope access, confined space entry, swift-water rescue, and First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3 & 4) for advanced on-site medical support.
- Specialists in Hazardous Environments: Whether it's the choppy waters of offshore wind farms and oil rigs or expansive reservoirs and rivers found inland, our skilled team of technicians are adaptable to any environment.
Safety Boat & Water Rescue Services UK
Contact Severn Access Today
At Severn Access, we do more than just provide safety boats—we deliver a complete safety solution from start to finish.
From help implementing a SSoW, to risk assessments, water rescue, and the provision of safety boats, our crew works alongside your business at every stage to ensure your workforce is protected, and your project remains compliant.
Having our team in place means that the high-risks associated with work over or near water can be mitigated safely with expert backup always on hand.
From planning and compliance to rapid-response rescue, our specialists provide peace of mind you need that your workforce is protected, and your business is compliant.
With rapid nationwide deployment and a track record of safety compliance in high-risk environments, Severn Access and Rescue Services are the only company you need for effective safety planning and compliance.
Trusted by industries nationwide, Severn Access delivers proven, accredited safety solutions. Contact us today to find out how we can support your next project.
Email Us: info@severnaccess.co.uk
Call Us Now: 07968 967214
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