Hazards associated with the PONTOON
Hazard
Congestion on moorings
Mooring along-side other Gig
Reference : LRGC safety document – Hazards associated with the PONTOON - issue 1 (January 2018)
Author : Chris Waller
Barriers Hazardous event Controls i
 Local knowledge Collision with moored boat  Inspect equipment for damage
 Use alternative landing point  Quarantine damaged equipment
available  Record in maintenance log
 Cox experienced with pontoon  Treat injuries with first aid
mooring
 Cox and crew keep a good look
out
 Crew able to manoeuvre boat in
confined area
 Reduce speed in pontoon area
 Teach crews to control oars to
avoid contact with persons or
objects
 Have helpers available to assist
with mooring
 Have throw lines available to
bring boat into pontoon
 Alternative mooring position Boat collides with moored Gig  Inspect equipment for damage
available  Quarantine damaged equipment
 Cox experienced with pontoon  Record in maintenance log
mooring  Treat injuries with first aid
 Cox and crew keep good look
out
 Crew briefed on mooring
alongside boat
 Only one crew member to
Page 1 of 5
 Hazards associated with the PONTOON
Disembarking from Gig
Boarding Gig
Reference : LRGC safety document – Hazards associated with the PONTOON - issue 1 (January 2018)
Author : Chris Waller
disembark across alongside boat
at a time
 Cox to control crew exit from
boat
 Helpers available on pontoon to
steady boat and hold lines
 Alternative mooring position Gig unstable and tilts when crew  Treat injuries with first aid
available off pontoon disembark causing person to fall into  Seek medical assistance if
 Crew briefed on mooring boat/pontoon or water becoming required
alongside another boat trapped between boats/mooring
 Coxes aware of tide and wind
effect on pontoon mooring
 Only one crew member to
disembark across alongside boat
at a time
 Cox to control crew exit from
boat
 Helpers available on pontoon to
steady boat and hold lines
 Crew exercise control when
securing oars
 Coach or cox to supervise Gig unstable and tilts when crew  Recover crew member
boarding disembark causing person falls into  Treat injuries with first aid
 Crew trained/briefed on boat, water or become trapped  Seek medical assistance if
pontoon boarding between boat and pontoon required
 Coxes aware of tide and wind
effect on pontoon mooring
Page 2 of 5
 Hazards associated with the PONTOON
Poorly moored boat
Pontoon busy with visiting crews
and boats
Strong wind from SE
Reference : LRGC safety document – Hazards associated with the PONTOON - issue 1 (January 2018)
Author : Chris Waller
 Only one crew member to
disembark across alongside boat
at a time
 Cox to control crew exit from
boat
 Helpers available on pontoon to
steady boat and hold lines
 Coaches and coxes teach crew Gig becomes loose from mooring  Quarantine damaged equipment
and pontoon helpers correct causing hazard and damage to other and record in maintenance log
method of securing boat water users  Teach crews how to tie knots
 Coxes aware of tide and wind
effect on mooring
 Teach coxes and crews tide and
wind effect on pontoon mooring
 Teach coxes and crews correct
method of securing boat to
pontoon
 Pontoon safety marshal to Pontoon becomes unstable causing  Recover person from the water
control crews to and from persons to fall into water  Treat injuries with first aid
pontoon  Qualified first aider available
 Pontoon co-ordination with
harbour master and other water
users
 Dedicated mooring space for
Gigs
 Do not use pontoon Undulating pontoon causing person  Treat injuries with first aid
 Use alternative location for crew to fall and sustain injury and damage  Inspect boat for damage
Page 3 of 5
 Hazards associated with the PONTOON
Low tide
Carrying equipment e.g. oars
Other water users (swimmers)
Untidy mooring lines
Reference : LRGC safety document – Hazards associated with the PONTOON - issue 1 (January 2018)
Author : Chris Waller
change (e.g. slipway) boats  Quarantine boat/equipment
 Coaches and coxes aware of
strong wind effect on pontoon
 Brief coxes and crews on
pontoon use in SE wind
 Do not use pontoon
 Coaches and coxes aware of low Boat grounds in shallow water  Inspect boat for damage
tide impact on pontoon mooring  Recover boat to slipway
 Use alternative location for crew  Carry tow line and walk boat into
change (e.g. Victoria Pool beach) deeper water if safe to do so
 Coaches and coxes brief crews Oar strikes and injures other persons  Treat injuries with first aid
on movement of oars onto and on pontoon  Seek medical assistance if
off the pontoon required
 Coxes in command
 Coaches and coxes aware of Boat collides with swimmer  Recover swimmer from water
other water users in vicinity of  Treat injuries with first aid
the pontoon  Seek assistance from emergency
services if required
 Train cox and crews in man
overboard drill
 Coxes and crews alert to Persons trip causing injury  Treat injuries with first aid
potential trip hazards
 Coxes and crews alert to
potential trip hazards
 Tidy mooring lines ensuring boat
security within tide movement
and wind
Page 4 of 5
 Hazards associated with the PONTOON

Slippery pontoon steps
Slippery pontoon surface
 Coxes and crews briefed and
alert to potential slip hazards
 Use appropriate footwear
 Report incidents to Harbour
Master (clean steps)
 Coxes and crews briefed and
alert to potential slip hazards
 Report incident to Harbour
master (clean/steps/pontoon)
Person slip and become wedged
between pontoon and harbour wall
Persons slip and fall into the water
between pontoon and moored boat
 Recover casualty
 Treat injuries with first aid
 Seek medical assistance if
required
 Recover casualty
 Treat injuries with first aid
 Seek medical assistance if
required

 Report all incidents

Reference : LRGC safety document – Hazards associated with the PONTOON - issue 1 (January 2018)
Author : Chris Waller
Page 5 of 5