SafetyBriefing

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Contents 1 Safety Briefing and Checklists 1.1 Briefing 1.2 Boat Checklist 1.3 Crew & Safety Gear Checklist 1.4 Provisions Checklist 1.5 References 1.6 Forum Discussions 1.7 External Links

Safety Briefing and Checklists

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Briefing

A good, precise, and easy to understand briefing of the crew, before leaving the dock, is extremely important for both their own safety and the safety of the vessel. Each of the items listed below must be explained in detail.

Issue a copy of the boat "plan" to each crewmember. This "plan" must clearly show the location of all skin fittings, fuel lines, water lines and stowage compartments for ALL safety equipment.

• Lifejacket (PFD) - Show adjustments and brief on when they should be worn.
  What are the legal requirements and what are the recommendations? e.g. in Australia, lifejackets are legally required to be worn when crossing a river bar, and in open boats under a certain size (varies from state to state). However you should always where a lifejacket at any time it makes you feel more safe doing so.
• Harnesses and Lanyards - Show exactly how the harness is worn, where it is clipped to and when it must be used.
  Harnesses need to be worn:
  • At night, while on watch.
  • At sea, whenever leaving the cockpit or going forward of the dodger/mast.
  • At all times on deck when in certain (known dangerous) seaways -- the two examples closest to me are the Bass Strait and the Cook Strait.
  • Whenever it makes you feel more safe to do so.
  • Harnesses should not be worn when crossing a river bar. It is much safer to be up on deck, with a lifejacket on and a harness off. If the worst possible situation occurs, that is the boat pitchpoles, then you are safer to be thrown clear of the boat and swim to shore with the aid of your lifejacket, than to be trapped under the boat.
• Man Overboard (& Danbouy/Rescue System) - Man overboard drill:
  • Call "MAN OVERBOARD".
  • Point.
  • Throw objects -- in order the EPIRB, the throw bag/danbuoy, and anything else that floats to enable finding a way back to the MOB.
  • First person coming up from downstairs should hit the MOB button on the GPS, the navigation computer, or whatever.
  • Sails down, engine on.
  • Have a MOB rescue plan -- there are different plans each of which are good for different sea conditions, but most involve getting downwind of the MOB and drifting back up.
  • If required, get on the radio and call for help.
• Liferaft - Where it is stowed, how to deploy, how to get (up) into the liferaft -- shoes OFF!.
• Grab-Bag - Show where the Grab-bag is stowed and brief on the contents.
• Radio Distress Calls - MAYDAY, PAN PAN, SECURITE
• Flares - Where are they stowed? How to use them?
• ALL Skin Fittings & Seacocks -
• Engine (Start & Stop) -
• Fire Extinguishers - and fire blanket -- where are they stowed, and how to use them?
• First Aid Kit -
• Heads (Operation) -
• Cooker -
• Anchor -
• Safe use of winches -
• "Beware of Boom" -
• Seasickness -
• Watch-keeping -
• "One Hand for Yourself - the other for the Boat" -
• EPIRBs and PLBs -- where are the ship-board EPIRB(s) stored? How to activate? Do people have personal locator beacons (PLBs) and do they know how to activate them?

Boat Checklist

A sample checklist for the boat (before casting off) - please add more.

• Check Engine oil level (Main & Genset)
• Check Gearbox oil level
• Check belts (Main & Genset)
• Check Fuel tank level and note in ships log
• Check ALL battery levels
• Open engine raw-water seacock
• Check all other seacocks are closed and each has a wood plug nearby (& location of hammer).
• Check water tank levels - note in logbook
• Check for manual bilge pump handles
• Check rigging
• Check all turnbuckles
• Check all lifelines
• Check jacklines
• Check halyards are secure
• Check steering/helm/rudder movement
• Check emergency steering system & special tool
• Check anchor is secure and ready for deployment
• Check propane tank and all fittings (close tank valve)
• Check ALL navigation lights
• Check compass light
• Check lifejackets (at least one per crewmember plus spares)
• Check torches & spare batteries
• Start Engine & check cooling water flow
  • Check hoses for leaks
  • Check heat exchangers
  • Check extractor fans
• Check radios
• Check EPIRB
• Check that "grab-bag" is easily accessable
• Check that freshwater pump is working.
• All entries to Logbook

Spares Locker

• Check spare fuel filters
• Check spare waterpump impellers (Main & Genset)
• Check spare S/Steel clamps
• Check spare navigation light globes (and spare compass globe)
• Check spare cabin light globes
• Check spare hoses (various sizes)
• Check spare belts (for all)
• Spare fuses

Crew & Safety Gear Checklist

Sample checklist?

Provisions Checklist

Sample Checklist?

References

Publications, etc.

Forum Discussions

Links to threads on the CruiserLog Forum

External Links

Links to relative websites.

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