Coordinating Group: Terms of Reference
Name
1.1 The name of this body shall be the National Water Safety Forum Coordinating Group.
Status
2.1 The National Water Safety Forum Coordinating Group, hereafter referred to, as “the coordinating group” is a voluntary association of organisations selected to provide a broad cross section of water safety interests. It is also an advisory body to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, hereafter referred to as “the Society”.
Aim
3.1 The aim of the coordinating group is to co-ordinate agreement on national approaches to drowning prevention and other water related accidents and incidents in the U.K. Whilst providing an authoritive voice to government on all water safety issues. In support of this aim it shall:
3.2 Review the safety systems that relate to water risk management and develop a consensus on the best solution.
3.3 Keep under review the model terms of reference and other arrangements for the National Water Safety Forum group Advisory Groups.
3.4 Maintain an overview of, and seek to ensure a coordinated approach to, the work of the Advisory Groups.
3.5 Consider reports from the Advisory Groups and establish procedures for dealing with any points raised which cannot be resolved at Advisory Group level.
3.6 Seek the views of Advisory Groups on relevant matters referred to the coordinating group by the Government Interdepartmental Group (GIG) or from other sources.
3.7 Take account of significant safety developments in other fields and draw relevant developments to the attention of Advisory Groups as appropriate.
3.8 Determine a consensus view on water safety issues discussed by the Advisory Groups, and make recommendations as appropriate to the Government Interdepartmental Group (GIG) or other bodies at a national level.
Objectives
4.1 Information Objective: To assist in and actively encourage the gathering, monitoring and evaluation of drowning and incident data, and assess the need for intervention and or the need for better information.
4.2 Environments Objective: To consider the design and construction of products and environments with the potential to influence water safety and assess any need for change.
4.3 Behavioral objective: To consider the behaviour of people and organisations involved in, or associated with drowning accidents and assess the need for education, training or other physical, cultural or legislative influences on behaviour to reduce risk.
4.4 Regulatory Objective: To consider and where appropriate make recommendations about the law, regulation, standards and guidance with the potential to influence water safety and to assess the need for revision or change.
4.5 Functional Objective: To review the information, environments, behaviour and regulation relating to water safety and make appropriate recommendations and representation having consulted the Advisory Groups and GIG on the issues that they might pursue to eliminate or reduce risk.
Version 1
July 2005
The Terms of Reference and Constitution of the Coordinating Group can be downloaded in full in 
PDF version (49 kb).
