Man Overboard Prevention and Response Guide

The direct answer is to prevent people reaching an unprotected water edge wherever practicable, then support that protection with reliable fall controls, suitable personal flotation devices (PFDs), clear communications and a rehearsed recovery plan. If someone enters the water, the crew must be able to raise the alarm, keep the person in sight, control nearby plant and recover them quickly without creating another casualty.

On building and maintenance jobs, man overboard risk can arise while working from barges, pontoons, workboats, wharves, jetties, bridge structures, temporary platforms or scaffolds beside water. The same principles apply whether the site uses the term "man overboard" or "person overboard".

Main hazards

A fall into water can start with an ordinary site problem and become fatal very quickly. Common hazards include:

open edges, incomplete guardrails and unsafe access between the shore, vessel or platform
unstable or moving work surfaces, vessel movement, wake, tides and changing water levels
wet, muddy or cluttered decks, hoses, ropes, nets, leads and loose materials
poor lighting, glare, rain, wind, rough conditions and reduced visibility
working alone, fatigue, distraction, rushing, inexperience or weak supervision
work from ladders, elevated structures or near moving plant
PFDs that are unsuitable, damaged, poorly fitted or likely to snag during the task
delayed detection, ineffective retrieval methods, cold water exposure, strong currents or an inaccessible bank.

The WorkSafe WA Code stresses that prevention and emergency response need to be considered together. A barrier may reduce the chance of a fall, but the site still needs a workable response if that barrier fails or conditions change.

Sort these matters before work starts

Walk the actual work area with the people doing the job. Confirm who controls the water interface, work platform, nearby marine traffic and emergency response. Identify where a person could enter the water and how they would be reached from each location.

Plan to remove exposure first. Can components be assembled on shore? Can the task be moved away from the edge? Can a fixed platform, guardrail, secured gangway or exclusion zone provide better protection?

Before starting, also confirm:

weather, tide, current, visibility and stop work conditions
safe access, lighting, housekeeping and edge protection
communication and alarm methods that work across the whole area
who will raise the alarm, maintain visual contact, control plant and lead recovery
where throw lines, lifebuoys, reach poles, ladders or recovery systems will be positioned
whether the selected PFD suits the wearer, task and other PPE
how emergency services will access the site and what location information they will need.

Consult workers while planning the task. They often know where transfers, access points, equipment and work methods become awkward or unstable.

Test the recovery method under controlled conditions. A plan that depends on lifting an unconscious person over a high edge, but has no suitable equipment or trained people, is not ready.

Controls and documents that usually support the job

Good controls normally combine engineering measures, safe systems and properly selected PPE. Consider whether one control creates another hazard, such as a snagging risk or restricted access. Review the arrangements when the work area, equipment, crew, weather or method changes.

Depending on the job, site documents commonly include a risk assessment or JSA, relevant safe operating procedures, an emergency and rescue plan, plant and access inspections, PFD inspection records, induction records, drill records and evidence that corrective actions were closed out.

The emergency plan should identify the alarm method, responsibilities, communications, recovery equipment, casualty landing point, first aid arrangements and emergency service access. Train the crew, rehearse the response, and maintain and check emergency and recovery equipment so it is ready when needed.

When a SWMS or another site document commonly applies

For construction work, check before mobilisation whether the activity is treated as high risk construction work under the requirements applying to the site. Where a SWMS applies, it should match the actual task, work area, sequence, hazards and controls rather than relying on generic wording. Confirm the applicable trigger and required content against current regulator material and the principal contractor's arrangements.

Where a SWMS is not called for, the water exposure may still warrant a task risk assessment, JSA, safe work procedure, permit, emergency plan or dedicated rescue procedure. Link the documents so the controls, responsibilities and recovery method remain consistent.

Practical warning signs

Pause and reassess when:

the gangway, edge protection or retrieval equipment differs from the plan
nobody can explain the alarm or their role in a recovery
a worker is alone near the edge without the planned communication and rescue arrangements
throw or recovery equipment is blocked, unsecured or out of reach
conditions have worsened beyond the agreed limits
workers are stepping onto rails, bollards, materials or unstable surfaces
PFDs are not being worn as planned or have not been checked
a near miss, slip or unexpected movement is treated as normal.

How Blue Safe can help

Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. This can include task-specific SWMS, risk assessments, procedures, emergency plans and supporting records that fit the way the work is actually organised.

Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence, creating a clear operational trail from planning to site delivery.

Official sources

The WorkSafe WA Code is written for commercial fishing vessels, but its prevention, risk management and emergency response material provides useful orientation for other work over or near water. Local requirements vary, so check current regulator material for the jurisdiction and industry. A national Model Code, where relevant, should be treated as general orientation rather than automatically applicable law.

Information current at 8 August 2026.

Man overboard prevention and response