Deep water

[10 Bears]

RYA is a sensible suggestion - perhaps British Waterways have something similar you can borrow from?

 

On council or BW work on the banks of a fast flowing river (not sure who was doing the work TBH), I saw crews set up like this:

 

1 man chopping in the lower bank next to the fast water, normal saw PPE but wearing a small (less restriction?) life jacket - a bit like this style. All the crew (described below) also had these on. He was attached to a static and anchored safety line with a banksman watching him.

 

Also a ground worker who was normal PPE and attached on a different static line. He helped pull trees back from the bank so the feller could keep working without going up and down.

 

Upstream, not too far was a spotter who appeared to be watching out for debris or similar that would affect the man with the saw if it came too close.

 

Downstream, a man who had a rescue throwline and recovery kit/first aid.

 

All in all it seemed a sensible set up, but I couldn't help wonder who they didn't just postpone the work until the river was in lower spate as this was mid-winter and during the early spring (ie before nesting) the river is considerably lower.

 

Perhaps you could use this as a model for working practice?

[eggsarascal]

British Waterways don't exist anymore. You could contact C&RT

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk

[fagus]

Mmm. Identify the hazards and then cover them. Falling in, able to get out, know the tides. if you could be swept out to sea a boat might not be a bad idea.

[richy_B]

You might find with working in the sea the risk assessment is going to take longer than the job!

[eggsarascal]

I missed the sea bit:blushing:

 

C&RT won't be any use to the OP in that case.

[egnsean]

I know someone working beside 12" deep waterway (not flowing or tidal) and they needed a rescue boat and diver on site, but thats BNF for you

 

I think it maybe a bit difficult diving in 12 inches of water or floating a boat for that matter:biggrin:

[10 Bears]

I missed the sea bit:blushing:

 

C&RT won't be any use to the OP in that case.

 

Well, it still may be Eggs. The suggestion was to look for BW (or C&RT as you correctly said) RA's to see if there was any standard text/procedures that the OP could borrow.

 

No need to blush...

[peatff]

Having the coastguard on standby with a helicopter might be a bit much A few years ago some friends of mine got permission to fish behind a pub on the Derwent and set to clearing the bank. Not being too fussy they were getting rid of bits by letting them go downstream and it wasn't long before they got some irate canoeists giving them earache. Have you got to take into consideration the possibility of pollution as well, I know it sounds silly to us but someone will bring it up along the line.