Rank: Forum user 
|
One of the areas I manage is a private/company golf course which includes a number of lakes/ponds. We currently provide personal buoyancy aids/lifejackets which our staff are required to wear/have available when working close to the water e.g. mowing/tree cutting etc. on an island in the lake - this is based on our risk assessments.
We also provide a number of life rings around the site for use either by staff or by the public/visitors (as the site has public footpaths running through it and is also used as part of entertaining prospective clients). It has been suggested by a senior executive that the orange life rings do not look nice and in keeping with the overall image of the golf course.
My question is, based on risk assessment we feel that these items should be provided, however, does anyone know what the actual regulations are around this and are there any suggestions as to how we can provide them but keep them in such a way that they do not destroy the aesthetics of the site?? I'm sure this must be a common problem for those of you out there responsible for areas of beauty!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Push him in then ask his views :)
|
 1 user thanked Spacedinvader for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Remove the hazard. That will remove the need for the unsightly life-savers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
There is no legal duty to provide buoyancy aides for passers-by. On your own site for your own employees and customers there might be. I was told some years ago that the Environment Agency (which looks after most of the UK’s rivers) that they are getting rid of buoyancy aides as they do not actually provide any sort of additional protection. Essentially they have looked at it from the risk assessment point of view and decided that they should be preventing people falling in the water rather than trying to rescue them from the water.
|
1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
We've got rid of most of ours. Think about what they are designed for - dropping off the side of a ship for someone in the water. They are not designed for throwing. They have a use in a dock or lock where the application is similar, but if someone is in the middle of a lake the chances of throwing one far enough is slight. Or the unlucky drowner gets clunked on the head. Throw lines may be more appropriate, but I would argue they are not for public use and the user would need training. As others have said prevention is the key. But think about the type of water, topography, remoteness, proximity to footpaths etc. It is likely that the bosses would not like fences either. But are they needed? If the water is shallow with gently sloping margins it is unlikely anyone would drown as they could climb out. Reed beds and bushes can be planted to prevent access, for example. The National Water Safety Forum has good, sensible advice.
|
2 users thanked Ian A-H for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.