TCC LIFT IN AND LIFT OUT PROCEDURE
1. Purpose
The lifting in and out of Club Members’ boats by the Club Members carries a degree of risk both to the members themselves and to their boats. The purpose of this Procedure is to reduce the risks to members to as low as is reasonably practicable by identifying the key activities and people. It is important that all Members involved in the lifting operation are aware of this Procedure and that they follow it. The Procedure simply formalises what the Club has always done and does not essentially change the operation. It also identifies and defines the key roles.
2. The Process
The essence of the boat lift-out process is as follows. Members’ boats are lifted out normally on one day at the end of the season using a hired crane, transferred into the Club’s Boat Transporter and moved within the Club’s land and set into the boat owner’s cradle or trailer. The lift-in operation in the spring is the reverse of the above. The intent and understanding of the operation is that it is a self-help activity where a Member is lifting his or her boat, assisted by other Club Members, using facilities provided by the Club. This implies that any damage to a Member’s boat resulting from this operation is the Member’s responsibility. The Club is not liable for any such damage which should be covered by that Member’s own insurance. The Club is not operating a commercial undertaking for the benefit of Members; an overall charge is made to cover the cost of crane hire, maintenance, insurance, equipment replacement costs, etc. as appropriate. To comply with current practice, Club Members will be present who have received formal training in signalling instructions to the Crane Driver. A Chief Coordinator controls the overall operation together with two Members responsible for “crane-liaison” at the Boat Transporter and at the Pontoon. These Members, and their Deputies, shall be identifiable and the Crane Driver informed of their function. Communication between the Crane Driver and the two Members responsible for crane liaison shall be agreed. Other key people are a Safety Observer and the Cradle Master who supervises the setting boats down into, or, the lifting of boats from cradles. Again, these two functions are identifiable by wearing distinctive vests. Finally, the Tractor Driver, Boat Transporter Driver together with Deputies are appointed before the Lift Day.
The ‘Club’ may organise the lift of a Member’s boat when the Member cannot attend but only in exceptional circumstances.
3. Club Responsibilities
To facilitate the lifting operation, the Club shall:
3.1 Hire a suitable crane for the lift in or lift out. It is essential that the Crane Hire Company include in the hire agreement a “waiver of subrogation rights”. This is to ensure that the Club is not responsible for damage to the crane. The Club pays the charge for the waiver. A Crane Driver who is familiar with the Club’s Lift-in/Lift-out activity should be requested. The Crane Driver has no responsibility for the slinging of a boat; this is entirely the responsibility of the Owner with guidance from relevant Key People
3.2 Appoint suitable volunteer Members as ‘Key People’ into the functions identified in the appended Table (Section 5). Ensure that the ‘Key People’ are trained where appropriate and understand what is required of them prior to their being appointed. Members fulfilling these key functions shall be appointed before the lift day. Certain ‘Key People’ must wear appropriate identification, preferably in the form of a red coloured vest or jacket. Those undertaking crane liaison duties must wear the appropriate coloured vest and shall make themselves known to the Crane Driver to confirm signals to be used. The Cradle Master in charge of the cradle operation and the Safety Observer should also wear red jackets to identify them. The completed list in section 5 should be displayed in the Clubhouse to assist in communication throughout the day. The formal check of the Slings and Transporter is to
be completed and recorded by the Chief Co-ordinator prior to and after their use and the results filed in the Club’s ‘Certificate Folder’.
3.3 The Club shall carry out and record a Risk Assessment of the lifting process and shall review the assessment from time to time (typically 4 yearly). This takes the form of a meeting with about three Members experienced in the lifting process with any comments recorded and the existing assessment and procedure modified if necessary and dated and filed. Meeting would be expected to take about one hour
4. Boat Owners and Members Responsibilities
In order for the lifting operation to work successfully, the Owners of boats have certain responsibilities that must be followed. They are:
4.1 The Boat Owner shall ensure that his boat is fully ready for lift out with the mast down and securely fixed to his boat; and also that his cradle is fully ready and fit for purpose, with all adjustable points free, bolts greased and suitable chocks prepared for deployment.
4.2 The Boat Owner shall ensure that his boat is made ready with long lines fastened – one at the bow and two at the stern – to allow his boat to be controlled during the lifting operation. Also, the Owner should ensure that the slings are tied together at deck level to reduce the risk of the boat slipping from the slings. Long-keel boats and other awkward hull shapes should preferably be tied at both sides; this is normally achieved by securing the line at the bow and then leading it aft taking a turn around each sling before tying off at the stern. Note: the lines for both the control and tying the slings are supplied by the Club to ensure correct length, but it is the Owner’s responsibility to secure them appropriately.
4.3 The Boat Owner shall supply to the Club Council the weight of his boat including all equipment fuel and water. This information is needed to ensure that weight-radius limits of the crane and of the BT are not exceeded. The Owner shall also confirm that his craft is fully insured including third party risks; this is normally done when the Owner confirms the request for a mooring at the beginning of the year.
4.4 The Boat Owner is responsible for ensuring that his boat has marks indicating sling placement to enable the crane slings to be properly positioned prior the crane lift. In particular, he should ensure that his boat is placed centrally in the slings and not tilted by making sure that people on board are on the centre line when the crane tightens the slings. Neither the Owner nor any other person is permitted to be aboard the boat during the lifting operation. Once the boat is clear of the water, the Owner shall indicate his satisfaction or otherwise to the Pontoon-Crane Coordinator person responsible for pontoon-crane liaison
4.5 The Boat Owner is responsible for ensuring that his boat is placed correctly in his cradle or trailer. Lifting or removal of Boat Transporter support will not take place until the Owner says so, since it is his responsibility.
4.6 As a result of 4.5 above, the Boat Owner must be present when his boat is being lifted. (Note exceptions to this would be illness of the Owner when the boat may, in exceptional circumstances, be ‘lifted’ by the Club.)
4.7 When the Boat Owner is not actively involved in lifting his boat, he shall make himself available to the Chief Co-ordinator in order to assist other Members in lifting their boats. He should wear appropriate protective clothing – gloves, hard hat, boots, etc., according to task.
4.8 The Boat Owner should not invite people who are not Club Members to assist him in lifting his boat. For safety reasons, only Club Members are allowed in the Club Compound during the lifting process. Children under 16 are not allowed in the Compound and must be accompanied from the gate to Clubhouse.
4.9 The Owner shall complete final anti-fouling only when the Boat Transporter is stationary and when instructed to do so by the Boat Transporter Driver. Also, the Owner should remove excess marine growth when the boat is lifted out only when the boat is stationary on the ground in the crane slings and when instructed to do so by the Boat Transporter-Crane Co-ordinator.
4.10 The Owner shall remove of all hazards and rubbish after his boat has been lifted in. Paint and solvents must be taken from the compound to appropriate waste disposal site (Council Site only 400m from Club Compound) – not in Club refuse and recycle bins. Also, the Owner should ensure that his cradle is dismantled and will not pose a hazard to others. He is also obliged to attend post-lift work-parties to move cradles and tidy compound.
4.11 Owners should endeavour to undertake key roles and so gaining experience by assisting in them. Only in this way will our lifting process continue
4.12 All Boat Owners must thoroughly familiarise themselves with this Procedure.
4.13 The Owner must have appropriate insurance for his craft and for Third Party risks.
4.14 All Members, whether Boat Owners or not, must follow the safety instructions given to them by the Key People. All Members must be aware that they are responsible for their own safety.
4.15 Above procedures may be changed on the day to take account of unforeseen circumstances and to take account of particular weather aspects.
Lift coordinator may change any of the above as they see fit on the day and his judgement will be final.
5. Key People and Responsibilities
There are several key roles undertaken by Members. These are outlined below. Five, and only five, of these roles should be clearly identifiable by wearing Red or Orange Waistcoats. To have others wearing such identification is confusing and must be discouraged. Because, the day is long and the need for Members to arrange and accompany their own Lift-in/out, two Members must be identified for each of the Key roles in the table below and the list prominently displayed. All ‘Key People’ should be familiar with this Procedure and with the Risk Assessment. To increase the skills base, it is very desirable that Members are trained by experience in these key roles. It is therefore required that, whenever possible, those Members identified in the table below assist in the training of other willing Members.
Key People and Responsibilities
Function
1. Chief Co-ordinator – Overall supervision and control of all operations. Should not be involved in any specific activity on the day. Has overall control of the order of lift and location of boats. Co-ordinator should ensure that all Members involved in the Key role functions identified here are familiar with the task requirements below. Completes pre and post checks on BT and slings. Visual identification worn.
2. Pontoon Crane Co-ordinator – Supervises all pontoon activity. Confirms boat owner’s satisfaction with slinging on lift-out and signals Crane Driver. Owner should be present for checks on slinging and for checks on leaks on lift-in. The few people on pontoon to be encouraged to wear lifejackets. Trained in crane signalling. Visual identification worn.
3. Boat-Transporter Crane Co-ordinator– Supervises correct lift into and out of Boat Transporter (BT) and signals to Crane Driver. Advises on all associated slinging matters. Also supervises lowering boat to ground for cleaning. Formally trained in crane signalling. Visual identification worn.
4. Tractor Driver. Moves Boat Transporter (BT) only on instruction from Transporter Driver. Stops on any command. Always use lowest gears and minimum revs.
5. BT Driver – Moves to locations as instructed by Chief Co-ordinator. When moving the BT, the Driver should request two lookouts walking and one, and only one, lookout on the BT to reduce risk of collision when reversing. BT Driver moves Transporter on instruction from Cradle Master. No Members should be inside BT when moving and only one other person to be on the BT while it is moving. He should only raise or lower boat on request only from Cradle Master. He should ignore instructions from other assisting Members unless it is to react to a shout of ‘Stop’.
6. Cradle Master – Co-ordinates activities associated with setting down into and slinging for lifting from cradles. Assists Owner setting boat into cradle. Also, responsible for ensuring that chocks are put in place to prevent BT moving too near edge of compound. Communicates any requirements to raise or lower boat to BT Driver; to facilitate this he must be visible to BT Driver. A radio communication system may be used particularly when working at the rear of the BT where engine noise makes normal voice communication difficult. Stops power washing for either excessive noise or presence of spray droplets. He will ensure that no Members should be inside BT when moving. Boat Owner should be present for checks on setting down after lift-out and slinging for lift-in. Visual identification worn
7. Safety Observer– Ensures non-members and children are excluded from hazardous area. Identifies irresponsible behaviour e.g. walking under suspended boats and walking inside moving BT. Is fully familiar with risk assessment. Generally watches for unsafe practice and advises accordingly. Monitors power washing for spray problem. Visual identification worn
8. Boat Owners – Should make themselves available to assist and help with the lifting process both before and after their boats have been lifted and either stored ashore or returned to their mooring as appropriate. Must also take care of themselves and work safely.
