By John Shermack, OSSA Consultant, Thunder Bay
When summer arrives Canadians head for the water. Tourism in Ontario often includes water-related activities and recreational boating is high on the list. Many Ontario workers make their living at marinas and resorts and they are faced with the hazards of working around lakes and rivers. Many more tourists and vacationers include fishing and boating as part of their vacation plans with their families. In both cases, it is important to be aware of the hazards to prevent injuries and fatalities.
About 200 Canadians die each year in boating related activities. Drowning is the number one cause of death and open motorboats have the highest overall number of fatalities.(Safe Boating Council) Almost all boating victims are male. (Lifesaving Society) The majority of fatalities occur on inland waters such as rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. One third occurs during fishing activities. (Safe Boating Council) Not surprisingly, fatality rates decrease significantly when boat operators take a safe boating course.
*Statistics provided from Lifesaving Society and Safe Boating Council.
New boating safety regulations have been introduced to help reduce the number of boating fatalities and accidents that occur each year. Operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor and used for recreational purposes must have proof of competency on board at all times. A Pleasure Craft Operator Card can be obtained by scoring at least 75% in an approved Canadian Coast Guard test. There are a number of accredited course providers and details can be found on the Transport Canada web site at www.tc.gc.ca. These regulations are being phased in, with a final compliance date of 2009. Check to see which ones apply to you.
Whether you work or play on or near the water, plan to keep yourself, your co-workers and your family safe. A boating safety course will increase your safety knowledge, teach you about your responsibilities and make the boating experience more enjoyable for everyone. A pleasure craft operator’s course will include such things as safety equipment requirements, a review of all regulations and emergency response procedures. OSSA can help. Contact the consultant in your area for advice about recognizing, assessing and controlling water-related hazards. Additional information, including safe work guidelines is available on OSSA’s web site www.ossa.com.
If you are a recreational boater, be a competent operator and be aware of all safety regulations. If you work on the water, talk to your employer about maintaining a safe workplace. Do everything you can to guard your own safety and save the lives of your co-workers, friends and family members. And remember...
Using life jackets saves lives.
Boating education saves lives.
Safe equipment saves lives.
Sober boating saves lives.
That contractors you hire should provide you with a "WSIB Clearance Certificate" showing that their firm is registered with the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, and their workers are covered under worker's compensation.