SAFETY--New Watercraft Safety Requirements Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 13:06:21 -0500 To: "A - Division Chief and Staff", "B - Branch Chiefs and Offices", "S - Special Distribution for Research", "FO - State, District, Subdistrict and other Field Offices", "PO - Project Offices", "SO - All Safety Officers" From: "Betty J Dodds, Secretary, Reston, VA" (Betty J. Dodds) X-Sender: bjdodds@130.11.50.238 Subject: SAFETY--New Watercraft Safety Requirements Cc: "William G Shope Jr., Chief, Br. of Oper. Support, Reston, VA" An electronic mail version of the attached memorandum is being sent to you because of the urgency for setting up training for watercraft operators and to facilitate the completion of the questionnaire. A copy of Chapter 22 of the Departmental manual is not included in the electronic mail, but will be attached to the WRD memorandum that you receive through the U.S. Postal Service mail. Bill Shope -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 405 May 3, 1996 WATER RESOURCES DIVISION MEMORANDUM NO. 96.25 Subject: SAFETY - New Watercraft Safety Requirements This memorandum transmits, as attachment 1, the recently revised Chapter 22, Watercraft Safety, from the Department of the Interior (DOI) Departmental Manual - Safety and Health Handbook (485 DM). Chapter 22 establishes minimum requirements for the safe operation of DOI watercraft and for the training and certification of DOI watercraft operators. Chapter 22 requires that all motorboat operators be trained and certified in accordance with the requirements presented in the attached document no later than October 1, 1997. The U.S. Geological Survey Occupational Hazards and Safety Procedures Handbook (445-2-H), Chapter 16, is being revised to reflect the new Chapter 22 of the DOI manual. The Bureau Watercraft Safety Manager, Tom Edwards from the Water Resources Division (WRD) Oregon District office, is assisting the Regional Safety Officers (RSO) in coordinating training for the Motorboat Operator Certification Course. To facilitate the coordination of the certification activities, we ask that the form that appears as attachment 2 be completed and sent to the appropriate RSO by June 1, 1996. In order to meet the training and certification deadline, it is vital that certified instructors be made available to assist with training for WRD and the bureau. Equipment requirements have also changed as a result of the new release of Chapter 22. Please insure your office is in compliance with the new requirements. The four RSO's will compile the district and project training requirements based on field input, and will coordinate with Tom Edwards to schedule the required certification training. If there are any questions regarding this activity, please contact your RSO. Catherine L. Hill Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations Attachments Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO cc: WRD General File, MS 402 Regional Safety Officers District Safety Officers ACH/O, MS 441 Chron File, MS 405 Operations File, MS 405 USGS:WRD:WGShope:bjd:4/26/96:x5364 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Attachment 2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATERCRAFT USER SURVEY DATE____/____/____ NAME (safety officer and/or person responding)_____________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ OFFICE_____________________________________________________________________ DIVISION___________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS, (incl. mail stop)_________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ PHONE________________________________ FAX________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________ 1. Number of DOI/MOCC certified watercraft operators in your office. ___________ 2. Number of DOI/MOICC certified watercraft operator instructors in your office. ___________ 3. Number of instructors involved in MOCC operator training since receiving certification by DOI/MOICC. ___________ 4. Number of potential watercraft operators needing DOI/MOCC certif- ication training by the October 1, 1997 deadline. ___________ 5. Number of watercraft in use by operators in your office. ___________ 6. Type(s) of watercraft used by operators in your office? (Mark appropriate type(s) with an X.) Non-motorized_____ Motorized <26'_____ Motorized >26'_____ 7. Hull type(s) or configuration(s) of watercraft in use by operators in your office. (Mark appropriate type(s) with and X.) 'V' hull_____ Tri-hull_____ Jon boat____ Canoe____ Round bottom fishing boat____ Other (describe)____________________________________________ 8. What type(s) of material is/are watercraft in use by operators in office constructed of? (Mark appropriate type(s) with an X.) Wood_____ Fiberglass_____ Alluminum_____ Steel_____ Other (describe)____________________________________________ 9. What type(s) of flow conditions do your watercraft operators work in? (Mark approiate type(s) with and X.) Slow current 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Fast current Small rivers/streams 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Large rivers Canals_____ Lakes/reserviors_____ Locks/dams_____ Estuarian/tidal_____ Marine_____ Foreign waters_____ 10. Work conditions experienced by your watercraft operators. (Mark appropriate answer(s) with and X.) Weather: Extreme cold 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Extreme heat Light rain 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Heavy rain Light wind 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Heavy wind Light fog 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Heavy fog Cold water 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Warm water (>60 degrees F) Operation at night: Never 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Frequent Boat traffic: Sm recreational 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ Lg commercial 11. Number of potential (non-MOCC) operators in your office with other types of watercraft training, certifications, or licenses. (Write number of potential operators in each appropriate category.) USCG Auxilliary - Boating Skills and Seamanship_____ U.S. Power Squadron - Basic boating course_____ USCG license - Uninspected vessel_____ 25 ton_____ 50 ton_____ 100 ton_____ 300 ton_____ Other (describe)____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ 12. Number of operators (potential and certified) who are certified in First Aid. ____________ 13. Number of operators (potential and certified) who are certified in CPR. ____________ Return completed survey to your Regional Safety Officer with a copy to Bureau Watercraft Safety Program Manager, "tedwards@usgs.gov" by close of business June 1 ,1996. Questions regarding this questionare should be emailed or directed to Tom Edwards at 503-251-3227.