Lifting and work arrangements to ensure compliance with Berthon Health and Safety
Boat movements and lifting/ slinging are routine operations in and around Berthon’s boatyard; however, these are potentially hazardous activities and the following rules must be adhered to when the Owner/ Skipper/ Crew/ family or friends (onlookers) are present. These rules are in addition to the risk assessments and safe systems of work followed by Berthon personnel which also ensure that others do not become involved in any task or work whatsoever under Berthon’s control. This includes removing sails, painting patches when boat is in the hoist and other prescribed jobs.
- Onlookers are prohibited from entering the hoist dock and lift pads and will be directed to a safe area where they can view their boat being launched/ recovered or work being carried out by Berthon staff. They must not get involved in such works, nor distract the operators or enter into the work/lift zone which may be cordoned
- Access to the concrete lift pads is restricted to times when the vessel is safely sat on its keel and the operator in charge of the work has given the ok that it is safe to enter the area, please remain outside of the taped off area until the authorised personnel has cleared and agreed to access.
- Onlookers will remain a safe distance from all other areas where work activities involve lifting and slinging, however minor, and for the avoidance of doubt include boat, mast, spar, engine, rudder and keel movements etc. – This list is non-exhaustive and includes work to any other ancillary equipment on board or attached to the vessel or on its way to the vessel or when being Access is strictly restricted until the operator in charge of the work has given the ok that it is safe to enter the area.
- Onlookers must not in any circumstances take part in any work operations under the control of Berthon and must remain outside of the work area at a safe distance or as directed by Berthon personnel if they so choose to.
- Onlookers are specifically prohibited from going within the lift area or aboard their boat when it is suspended in the Travelift even if a ladder is attached.
- All owner-supplied lifting equipment must be inspected and tag checked by Berthon’s insurer’s specifically appointed engineer before use by Berthon personnel. g. dry sailing lifting strops.
Shores, blocks, wedges, cradle legs
No owner or crew member should remove any boat shore, block, wedge or cradle leg for any reason. Only trained Berthon boat moving staff should do this.
Ladders, staging, towers
Unfortunately, we cannot allow owners or crew to use our equipment
Please ensure that any ladders, staging or towers which you bring on site are appropriate for the job in hand. Ladder erected by Berthon are intended for Berthon staff only, if used by an owner, crew, surveyor, agent etc. they are used at the individuals own risk.
Antifouling
Please help us to avoid contaminating the ground which then pollutes ground water and river water
Dry sanding of antifouling paint is prohibited because the dust is poisonous.
Antifouling must be scraped or wet sanded and the spoil captured on a suitable plastic sheet; the use of pressure washers is prohibited to remove anti foul; beware wet and windy weather.
The spoil is hazardous waste so should not be put in our yard skips, but must be taken away with you.
A half full tin of antifouling was recently thrown in a skip: when the skip was emptied and the contents crushed in the rubbish truck, antifouling paint spilt onto the car park and into Bath Road
Used antifouling tins, rollers, brushes, trays etc. must not be left under vessels or disposed of in yard skips (as they are not for hazardous waste) and must be taken away with you.
Should you wish for shore patches to be painted on launching, please leave a labelled tin (sealed) under the Yacht or against the keel block.
Hose pipes
Please help us to avoid contaminating drinking water
- When attached to a tap, no hose should be left
- When attached to a tap, no hose end is allowed within 6 inches of the ground or
- When attached to a tap, hoses should either be kept in hand or tied off the ground/river with a lanyard.
Please provide your own hose for filling water tanks, preferably of the lay-flat type as hoses supplied by us are not intended for drinking water. Use of hoses supplied by us is at the customer’s own risk as we are unable to guarantee hoses supplied by us have not been contaminated by a previous user.
Adequately flush all hose union taps and hoses used to fill tanks for drinking water prior to use.
Only use pressure washers that are of the type which includes an integral break cistern and air gap providing fluid category five backflow protection.
Our water supply is metered
Please do not leave hoses running whilst cleaning boats: please use a gun or turn off the tap.
Clean site policy
Please help us maintain our clean site
Bilge water can be contaminated with oil and diesel: please seek help from a refit manager to pump contaminated bilges into our bunded tanks. Grey & Black Tanks should not be emptied into the Lymington River, Solent or ashore. Please contact us if you wish to arrange for tanks to be emptied. We reserve the right to charge for site cleaning including contamination of the soil – which is expensive!
Please bear in mind the governmental and environmental regulations placed upon us
Owners and crew are liable to prosecution by the relevant authority for a breach of environmental regulations.
If you notice poor adherence to any of the above, or any other irresponsible actions, please report immediately to the Dockmasters. We can then advise the appropriate parties accordingly.
