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by Ed Schirick
The week of May 19-25 has been designated as National Safe Boating Week.
The theme this year is "Boat Smart from the Start. Wear Your Life Jacket." With
summer almost here, this is a timely reminder for camps across the country,
but there are other safety and risk management issues involving boating.
Let's look at ways to reduce power boating risks (many of these issues
will also apply to other boating programs).
Many campers participate in boating activities safely each summer. However,
boating accidents do occur, and while most are minor, some result in
serious injury and property damage. Boating, like driving a camp van,
is an activity where staff must be vigilant and ready for anything.
Boating Risk Identification
What are some of the risks involved with using power boats at camp?
Following is a quick list of risks for your consideration. You may have
more or less at your camp, so don't allow your thinking to be limited
by this list.
- Damage to the boat from submerged or floating objects
- Injury or death of campers and staff in the boat, being pulled by
the boat, or in the water
- Damage to other boats, collision
- Injury or death of people in other boats, being pulled by other boats,
or in the water
- Damage to docks
- Pollution of land and water from accidental spills of gasoline, oil,
or other petroleum products
- Financial loss, negative public relations, interruption of program,
disappointed campers, disgruntled parents, demand for refunds, or lawsuit
- Noncompliance with state and federal boating laws and regulations
Your Policies, Practices, and the Law
In addition to these inherent risks, your policies and practices influence
risk. For example, will you allow power boats to be used with only one
staff person on board regardless of the activity, or will you require
at least two staff at all times? Using at least two staff at all times
regardless of the activity (waterskiing, fishing, pleasure rides) will
reduce risk and enhance safety. (ACA Standards PA 20 through 35 apply
to watercraft activities.)
Are you in compliance with state and federal boating regulations? State
boating regulations vary considerably, and more states are requiring
boating safety education and certification. Are you familiar with your
state's latest requirements? The Web site www.boatsafe.com offers
a brief summary of state boating laws, as well as other useful information
on boating safety. Take some time to review state and federal boating
laws to ensure your operations and training are in compliance.
Are staff permitted to use your power boats on their own time? If so,
what are the rules and policies that govern this usage? Policies that
permit staff to use power boats increase risk. This doesn't mean you
shouldn't allow staff to use the boats, just be mindful that such a policy
creates additional risks, which must be managed. If you decide to let
staff use power boats, here are some other risk factors to consider.
- What qualifications are necessary to use the boats?
- Is prior experience an issue?
- What about a minimum age?
- What are your rules about personal flotation devices and footwear?
Boat Operator Qualifications
Do you have a job description that explains the duties and identifies
skills needed for driving power boats at your camp? How do you train
power boat operators? Is a valid motor vehicle driver's license required?
If so, do you check the motor vehicle driving record of power boat operators
as a gauge of their driving habits? How do you document their training
and skills? Is defensive driving stressed? Do you give power boat operators
a check ride (test), similar to the van driver before allowing them out
on their own? How do you communicate the rules unique to your program
and site?
Standard PA-27 (Motorized Watercraft Training) specifies that the camp "have
written evidence that all operators and drivers are provided training
prior to use of motorboats and personal watercraft." The standard goes
on to specify procedures and on-the-water training. The level and amount
of training required by this standard is not specified; however, its
intent is to provide boat specific training. But how much?
The answer to this question and possibly to other training needs may
be in some new training tools available on the Internet. Boating safety
courses on the U.S. Coast Guard's Web site, www.uscgboating.org,
include an online basic boating safety course that is approved by the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
The course also meets criteria acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard recreational
boating program.
Other links from the Coast Guard Web site include the Boat U.S. Foundation,
safety and certification courses from www.boat-ed.com,
and an eight-hour boating basics course from the Boating Safety Institute
of America. These courses may assist you in developing a comprehensive
and progressive training program for staff to help reduce some of the
risks involved in boating. How much training becomes a matter of picking
and choosing from these and other resources now available. You might
want to begin adding training and certification requirements in your
job descriptions for boat operators. Training becomes more important
as some programs find it increasingly difficult to find experienced staff
to fill important roles and as state and federal regulations change.
Other Issues
Make sure the boat and its equipment are in good repair and are being
used for the purpose intended. Whether camp staff or outside contractors
maintain the boat, keep meticulous records of maintenance and repair,
as well as safety equipment on board. Make sure the boat is in good operating
condition each time it is used.
In summary, camp boating programs that employ qualified, well-trained
staff, use well-maintained boats, and are in compliance with state and
federal boating regulations will be safer and reduce risks. Find some
time to review how you manage your motor boat operations and consider
how you can improve safety and reduce risk. Use the risk management process
to your advantage and remember "Boat Smart from the Start. Wear Your
Life Jacket."
Originally published in the 2001 May/June
issue of Camping
Magazine.
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