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Title / Apply safety intervention techniques for river safety activities
Level / 4 / Credits / 4
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people supervise, lead or instruct shorebased water activities in river environments
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of safety intervention management, demonstrate shore-based safety intervention techniques for river safety activities, and demonstrate in-water safety intervention techniques for river safety activities.
Classification / Outdoor Recreation > Outdoor Management
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Recommended: Unit 427, Cross rivers,or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard may be assessed against actual or simulated conditions.
2Grade 2 to 3 water must be used for the practical elements of this unit standard.
3All activities must comply with any relevant environmental, legislative and/or regulatory requirements set out in the New Zealand Environmental Care Code, New Zealand Water Care Code, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001, and their subsequent amendments. The New Zealand Environmental Care Code and New Zealand Water Care Code are available from the Department of Conservation, Head Office, PO Box 10420, Wellington6143,
4A recommended resource for this unit standard:
Ray, S.(1997) Swiftwater Rescue – A manual for the rescue professional. United States of America: CFS, ISBN 0964958503 available from
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of safety intervention management.
Evidence requirements
1.1Search and rescue procedures and resources are identified.
Rangeresources include but are not limited to – search and rescue, police, air rescue, river operators.
1.2Safety intervention action plan phases are identified.
Rangephases include but are not limited to – size up, pre-rescue, rescue, termination.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate shore-based safety intervention techniques for river safety activities.
Evidence requirements
2.1A reach type rescue to a moving and floating victim is performed.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – flotation aid, paddle, pole, inflated hose, water kite, tube or float on tether.
2.2A throw bag type rescue to a moving and floating victim is performed.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – overhand, underhand, dynamic belay, rope positioning, alerting victim, aim, re-throw (20 metres twice in 20 seconds), pendulum victim to safety.
2.3A shore-based entrapment rescue is performed.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – stabilisation line, snag/drag line, cinch line.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate in-water safety intervention techniques for river safety activities.
Evidence requirements
3.1An in-water spinal roll on a victim is performed.
3.2A towed swim to retrieve a victim to shore is performed.
3.3A non-compliant victim in moving water is managed.
3.4A contact rescue in moving water is performed.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – tethered swimmer, un-tethered swimmer assisted to shore with shore-based throw bag, personal flotation device quick release operation.
3.5An in-water entrapment rescue is performed.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – V lower, underwater strainer clearing, mechanical advantage.
Planned review date / 31 December 2012Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 27 March 2006 / N/A
Revision / 2 / 26 January 2007 / N/A
Rollover and Revision / 3 / 20 August 2010 / N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0099
This AMAP can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Consent requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Skills Active Aotearoa Limited if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Skills Active Aotearoa LimitedSSB Code 101576 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018