WAT/Specific/TBT-WAT-013

Tidal Working and Coastal Hazards

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Tidal working requires planning around the rise and fall of sea levels that occur twice daily in UK waters.
Tidal range varies significantly around the UK coast — the Severn Estuary has a range exceeding 14 metres.
Work windows on the foreshore are often limited to two to four hours either side of low tide.
Rising tides can cut off access routes, trapping workers on structures or foreshore areas.
Spring tides produce higher highs and lower lows than neap tides, changing available work windows.
Wave conditions, swell, and wind interact with tides to create unpredictable water level surges.
Soft mud, quicksand, and tidal channels on foreshores create additional entrapment hazards.
Cold water immersion from unexpected tidal inundation causes cold water shock and rapid incapacitation.
Tidal predictions are available from the UK Hydrographic Office and must be checked daily.
All tidal work requires a site-specific risk assessment including access, escape, and rescue provisions.

Drowning risk	Rising tides trap workers on foreshores and structures — drowning is the primary cause of death in tidal work zones.
Access cut-off	Tidal access routes flood rapidly, stranding workers without a means of return to safe ground.
Unpredictable surges	Wind and swell can push water levels significantly higher than predicted tide tables indicate.

Don't

Check tidal predictions daily and plan work windows around low water periods
Brief the team on tide times, access routes, and the evacuation trigger level
Wear personal flotation devices when working in the tidal zone at all times
Position rescue equipment at the work location before accessing the foreshore
Monitor water levels continuously and begin withdrawal well before the tide returns
Account for spring and neap tide variations when planning weekly work schedules
Assess foreshore ground conditions for soft mud, channels, and entrapment hazards
Maintain a communication link with the shore team throughout the tidal work window
Identify and mark safe escape routes to higher ground from every work location
Allow a safety margin — leave the foreshore earlier than the minimum safe time

DON'T enter the tidal zone without checking today's predicted tide times
DON'T extend the work window to finish a task — tides do not wait
DON'T access the foreshore without a personal flotation device and rescue plan
DON'T ignore wind and swell forecasts — they push water levels above predictions
DON'T walk across tidal mud or sand channels without assessing the ground first
DON'T rely solely on tide tables — monitor actual water levels at the site
DON'T work alone on the foreshore during any tidal work operation
DON'T assume yesterday's safe access route is safe today — conditions change daily
DON'T leave plant or materials where the tide will reach them and cause pollution
DON'T wait until water is visibly rising to start your withdrawal — begin early

See also: Drowning Prevention and Water Safety | Marine Works Safety Awareness

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