A real safety briefing?

[RupertW]

I acted as paid skipper for a corporate day out in the Solent on Frday. First time I'd done that after years owning a couple of boats, chartering, doing the odd delivery trip.

Now I found myself making up quite a different sort of briefing to what I'd do with friends coming sailing with me - more like something out of a safety book - "Here's how you do Mayday, here are the fire extinguishers, here are the flares etc."

With friends it would be more like - "Don't get your fingers caught in the winches, here's how you use the loo, here's a safety harness to put on if I tell you - anything else, call me and I'll sort it out".

Any thoughts on what should really be in a safety briefing for novices who plan to drink their way through a day on the water, and who are paying to put their safety in your hands?





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[Talulah]

Extract from the Codes of Practice Annex 9
SKIPPERED CHARTER - SAFETY BRIEFING
1 Before the commencement of any voyage the skipper should ensure that all persons on board are briefed on the stowage and use of personal safety equipment such as lifejackets, thermal protective aid and lifebuoys, and the procedures to be followed in cases of emergency.
2 In addition to the requirements of 1, the skipper should brief at least one other person who will be sailing on the voyage regarding the following:-
.1 Location of liferafts and the method of launching;
.2 Procedures for the recovery of a person from the sea;
.3 Location and use of pyrotechnics;
.4 Procedures and operation of radios carried on board;
.5 Location of navigation and other light switches;
.6 Location and use of firefighting equipment;
.7 Method of starting, stopping and controlling the main engine; and
.8 Method of navigating to a suitable port of refuge.
Safety cards will be considered to be an acceptable way of providing the above information


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[dralex]

I was thinking about this issue this weekend as I seem to be taking out more and more novice family and friends. I think there is a limited amount of information people can take on board for a first trip on the boat, but I usually tell everyone certain things, then single one out for other things like engine starting, dropping sails and how to get back. The things I tell everyone;

Lifejackets and harnesses and how to use them
How to use DSC radio- also have a laminate next to it
Locatoin of flares, EPIRB and Handheld VHF
Liferaft
How to read the position from GPS
How to steer the boat and how to make it go forwards and backwards
How not to block the toilet
Gas valves and cooker safety.

I then show one other person how to engine start, control the boat under motor and also how to drop the sails.

This all sounds like a lot, but it's my back up if **** happens and I go overboard or injured. It doesn't actually take very long and the boat handling stuff can be taught on the way out.

This all makes me a happier skipper and I also feel the novice crew have mmore confidence whether they be paying guests or just friends and family.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[andyrome]

Safety briefs are very important, and I have laminated a copy of mine, which I use as a crib sheet each time I give the brief. I would recommend doing this to eveyone - its very easy to miss something important without the crib. Please email me if you would like me to send you a copy of mine (its a bit long in its original version)

A



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[Dominic]

Do As I Taught You

If that is the same Rupert W that attended a course with me,

Then ; As I showed you.

But I have some good "aide-memoires" for you if PM me.


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