Posted By Chris Jerman We run a series of 'hotels' within our business for employees to have the opportunity to stay somewhere nice, but very cheaply. It's part of their benefits package. One of these is on the banks of the Thames where we have rowing boats for guests to use, free of charge. Now, clearly we have a duty to maintain the boats - they're work equipment. But how far should be go in enforcing the use of life jackets and buoyancy aids? No-one is at work here and actually guests using a boat isn't covered by 'our undertakings' so other than the above mentioned maintenance what else should we do? We have set rules that say no under 16's can take a boat out on their own; that we can enforce through controlling access to the oars. However, other than making aids available and advising boaters to use them, I don't think that we can enforce them. Once they're round the bend in the river, we have no way of supervising the users anyway. I know that there is no way to make private boaters wear jackets on the river, but just how far does our duty of care extend to our users? I stress again that they're on holiday here - not at work. All thoughts appreciated. In essence just looking to see if I've overlooked anything - not looking for advice on how to get people to see sense, not what to put on the signs etc. C

Posted By Chris Jerman Cheers Phil, just what I was after. Not sure on distinction between the two devices. I shall follow that lead. C