National Standard Operating Procedures - Jul 2022

- it is deemed unsafe to do so.
All attempts should be made to minimise exposure to the body
recovery to SLS personnel. This includes excluding under 18 members
from the incident, and only using as many members are required for
the task, limiting exposure of excess personnel to the incident.
If the recovery is occurring during patrol hours, normal patrolling
activities must be taken into account before undertaking the task.
If the recovery is occurring on land:
• Don elbow length rubber gloves, as well as a face mask, eye
protection and a disposable apron/overalls if available and
appropriate.
• Do not interfere or move the body unless instructed to by Police. The
only exception to this is if the body and/or scene is going to be
immediately disturbed by the immediate environment, e.g., incoming
tide, in which case, move the body as little as required to secure the
scene.
• Use tarpaulins, sheets or other coverings to shield the scene from the
public – taking into account the privacy and wishes of any friends or
family members present.
• If the body is required to be moved, open a body bag on the ground
next to the body, and roll or lift the body into the bag.
• Transport body to a secure place to wait for the Police/coroner’s
representative.
If the recovery is occurring at sea:
• Ensure appropriate resources and qualified personnel are able to
respond. If necessary, this must take into account the crew’s ability
to lift a body from the water into an IRB.
• If Police request to be involved with the on-water response,
evaluation of their water competency and compliance with SLSNZ’s
IRB and RWC policies is required.
• Don full length wetsuit and rubber gloves, as well as elbow length
rubber gloves and a face mask if available and appropriate. PPE may
be carried on the IRB for on-water journey and donned when location
is reached.
• Crew should take a full body recovery kit with them.
• On arrival at the body’s location, crews should try and take note of
the condition and location the body is in, including any items on
surrounding land/rocks. This information can be passed on to Police.
• Physical water recovery will be dependent on the surf conditions, and
condition of the body.
• If surf conditions are appropriate, the body bag can be opened and
zipped around the body while it is in the water.
• When a bag is being lifted from the water, zips at the feet should be
left open enough for water to run out of the bag.
NSOP
BODY RECOVERY NSOP_FINAL 117