Yacht Broker Safety Certification

Broker Safety Certification

1. Marina Overview – Identify hazards and proper procedures
   1. Types of Marinas
      1. Marina has docks and/or mooring balls
      2. Marina/Working Yards – Special safety considerations
   2. Private Docks
      1. Having permission from the dock owner is important and all scheduling for a showing, as courtesy should keep the property owner informed.
   3. Create a comprehensive safety brief for the clients
      1. Yard Safety – Footwear – Vests – Hardhats – Driving
      2. Dock Briefing – Identify throw rings – ladders – Fire – Loose and uneven boards – Lines – tides – wind – Emergency numbers – first aid kit – make sure marina is aware of your presence – PFDs
   4. Preparation –
      1. No matter the location it is extremely important to understand:
         1. Individual safety protocols for the location
         2. Knowledge and proper use of the safety equipment at the location

2. Preparation for a showing
   1. Understand the risks associated with vessel
      1. Environment –
         1. Rain
         2. Snow
         3. Ice
         4. Mobility issues
      2. Vessel Preparation –
         1. Clean Vessel – Decks and Saloon (Prior to Clients)
         2. Check Bilges
         3. Tighten the Breast Line – Ensure a reasonable safe distance is provided.
         4. Create a clear boarding/dis-embark procedure.
            1. One person on the boat to assist
            2. People before bags

• Always give clear instructions on boarding

1. Provide clear instructions on what can be and cannot be operated (Switches, Devices, Lockers)
2. Forward deck accessible with assistance only –
3. Ensure the vessel has the proper safety equipment. (Each broker should consider a safety pack for situations when a boat that is being viewed does not have the proper gear)

1. Vessel climate
   1. Especially in the summer the temperatures can be well over 100 degrees without any ventilation. Early arrivals will be essential to open up the vessel to cool it down.  It will also be important to monitor the health of the clients.  Bring water or mobile fans to keep people as cool as possible.  The last thing a person needs to experience is a heat casualty on a boat on the hard or in a slip.  Also be sure that clients are well before going down a ladder for the same reasons.
2. Dock Safety –
   1. Pilings – Splinters, lines, boats pinching, floating docks.
   2. Boarding and Disembarking (See Section)
   3. Dock Ladders – Point them out while walking the docks. Municipal codes may vary, but the standard is every 90 feet.
   4. Boat Ladders – Always inspect the boarding ladders and devices to ensure structural integrity and that the are secured.
   5. Lines – Provide instructions to avoid stepping or tripping on lines. If possible provide pathways that are unobstructed or identify a safer side of a deck when needed.
   6. Throwable Devices – Identify the throwable device while clients first step on the vessel. It would not be inappropriate to provide a safety briefing.  Everyday a person falls of a boat while at the dock, usually while boarding.
   7. Trips and falls
   8. Fire Extinguishers
   9. First Aid
3. Mooring Ball
   1. Make every attempt to bring the vessel to an appropriate location with a dock or use a virtual showing before taking clients out on a tender and attempting a boat to boat transfer.
   2. Notwithstanding – if the vessel cannot be brought to a suitable location,
      1. The type of tender needed should be selected on suitability boarding ease
      2. Requires certifications

• Tender Safety Equipment

1. Boarding and disembarking safety:
   1. Having a mate already on board will help the boarding process. Be prepositioning a mate on the vessel to be boarded, with the broker assisting from the boat, the stability of transfer is increased.
2. Emergency procedures – weather conditions while showing a boat on a mooring ball need to be actively monitored. Additionally, the proper vessel used as a tender must also be able to mange tides and currents as well.

6. Persons in the Water – Always have a plan, and practice recovering persons in the water.
   1. Understand the best way to get a person out of the water on the vessel you are showing. (Note – sometimes the dock ladder may be best. Have a line ready to throw to assist.
   2. Throw Rings
   3. Ladders
   4. Lines
   5. First Aid
7. Yard Safety – Driving into the yard
   1. What if it is a working yard? Are vests, hardhats, steel boots and safety glasses required?
   2. Driving between boats on standards – It will be always best to meet clients and escort them to the boat with precise “Follow Me” instructions. Remid them that access to the yard is through the brokers insurance policy and solo LOOKY LOO tactics should not be attempted.
   3. Yard equipment – Heavy equipment moves around yards all of the time therefore cars and pedestrian traffic must be monitored.
   4. Meet clients at a predetermined location before showing a boat on the hard. This gives an opportunity to receive a safety brief prior to venturing into an active yard.  Remind the clients that there is little difference between a working yard and a construction site.
   5. Will the client need to be tethered to climb a ladder? Possibly
8. Ladder Safety
   1. Provide a ladder safety briefing. (Saying be careful is not a safety brief)
   2. Always ensure that ladders are properly set up at the proper angle and secured.
   3. If the feet of the ladder are on uneven surfaces, use appropriate block under the feet to maintain stability.
   4. Always hold the ladder while it is being used.
   5. Ensure only one person at a time uses the ladder.
   6. Ensure the structural integrity of the ladder is sound.
   7. Use a mat to wipe feet to prevent dirt from accumulating on the ladder.
   8. Consider rescheduling a showing if weather conditions are not favorable to climb ladders.
   9. Ensure that the ladders are set up so that access to the boat is through the gate.
      1. Going through the gate offers the stanchions to be used to support persons as the transfer from a ladder to the vessel.
      2. It is always better to have an abled person board first to assist with others as they transfer from the ladder to the boat.
   10. Going Down.
       1. Take the time needed address ladder safety to the clients.
       2. Have a mate or able-bodied person go down first to
          1. Hold the ladder
          2. Provide instructions as needed
          3. Break falls if necessary.

• Ensure a person on the deck helps clients transfer from the deck of the boat to the ladder.

9. A rope and basket might be useful to transfer equipment both up and down the vessel.
10. Stanchions – Ensure stanchions are secure and direct clients to use hand rails for stability instead of lifelines.
11. Awareness – Marina Emergency Numbers – Weekends Some yards might have limited staff – 911 but dock hands will be safer
12. Lines safety
13. Client Personal behavior – set expectations on what to they can turn on and off- covered in the safety briefing. Take into consideration the mobility issues that clients may have before allowing them to access a boat.  Special accommodation may have to be made to increase a safe showing experience. Scissors Lifts, scaffold staging with ladders.
14. How to give a safety briefing.
15. Broker Personal Safety – Broker Safety Kit. What is a safety kit that every broker should have on showing a boat.
    1. Safety Equipment
16. Sea Trials –