BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR MARINA ELECTRICAL SAFETY NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH AMI
The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) has released a new manual for marinas: Best Management Practices for Marina Electrical Safety.
The manual is designed to give marina staff an overview of common marina electrical components, potential hazards and how to identify and correct them, and tools that every facility should have onsite. It also offers suggestions for how to work with customers to ensure their boats are safe.
The manual was drafted with input and information from John Adey at ABYC (American Boat &Yacht Council), Chris Dolan with Eaton Marina Power and Lighting, Mark Stafford at Marinas International and Captain John McDevitt. It includes photographs for easy identification of problems and common testing equipment, and a checklist to encourage regular assessment of electrical systems.
The concept for the manual came after last summer's electric shock drownings prompted proposed legislation in KY and WV that could have severely impacted how marinas installed and monitored their electric systems– one instance requiring all marinas to replace their current systems to meet the latest codes.
Wendy Larimer who coordinated the writing of the manual commented, "Our feeling was that marinas could keep their facilities safe by regularly monitoring the existing electric and knowing what to look for in potential dangers. New regulation is not the answer to prevent the tragedy of electric shock."
The manual is available at no cost to AMI and ABYC members and for twenty dollars to non-members. Go to www.marinaassociation.org/publications to order.
