EA to remove lockside safety ladders and fire extinguishers

[kremmen]

1st .... Not all of the built in steps go down as far as the lock empties and it is nigh on impossible in those locks to clamber out.
2nd... If the lock is full of boats those steps may be difficult to move a person to as they may be behind boats.
3rd... Most importantly a person who falls in the water often manages to hold onto something on the way down or after surfacing . The alternative method of getting them out of a lock is to get whatever long pole hook / loop and manoeuvre them to the ( possibly blocked / out of the water steps ) . I can assure you that unless there is something substantial as an alternative to whatever they have hold of ( like a step ladder firmly standing on the lock bottom and held by someone at the top ) then they will not let go so can't be manoeuvred. Cast your minds back to any lifesaving courses you may have seen .... getting to a panicking person in the water may not be the problem for any rescuer.. it is surviving the grip of the person in panic . Same applies to the grip on anything they have hold of

 

[bumperdump]

Just to throw a little oil on the water. do not like those staircase type steps one little bit.
Become very slippery with the least bit of growth on them,plus require a large chunk of lock chamber wall missing to accomodate them.
Give me a nice iron ladder anyday.

walls and steps are better if the locks, were not left full up.Over night

 

[hartcjhart]

Ask yourselves two questions:

1/ Are lock keepers paid enough to risk their lives putting out a fire on somebody elses Boat?

2/ Are you prepared to pay more for them to be trained and fully equipped to do this?

Given the constant moaning from various forumites about 'The cost of everything' I suspect a fair few of you want something for nothing.

I also suspect some of you would consider a fair rise in the annual fee, but probably not given the normal amount of freeloaders who are already complaining about having to lock through without assistance.

Frankly (and I'm not going to make friends here) I think the apathy with regard to demands/real costs is rather treacherous with regard to boat owners who are too useless/helpless/lazy/arrogant (Delete as you wish) to undertake pressing a couple of buttons in order to negotiate a fully powered lock as it is, let alone wanting fully trained firefighters at each and every lock.

I like lock keepers, and wouldn't want any of them messing around with hand held extinguishers knowing what most boats have on board!*

*That odd gallon of Petrol most of us have on board for outboards/ Generators, even on Diesel boats, the 1-4 gallons of LPG nearly every boat has on board for cooking, and thats before we get to the fuel tanks, which contain enough power to propel 5 tonnes of boat from one end of the Thames to the other...

No they are not paid to do that,BUT,a lockie could possibly delay the spread of fire from the lockside to give time for the crew to get off

AFAIK all employees are/should be trained in basic firefighting ways the same as they are trained for COSSH/heavy loads etc


I dont think anyone is expecting the lockies to turn into 'Red Adair'