Dock Safety— Why and How

Labor Day is almost here, which means it’s time for more fun in the sun and enjoying the water with friends and family. Many holiday gatherings occur on boat docks during this time of the year. While docks are great fun for those who want to swim, tan, fish, and boat, it’s important to remember a few safety tips when near or on boat docks and preventative measures to keep it secure.   The experts at ShoreMaster, a manufacturing company that builds custom docks and more, have recommendations for boaters this year. First, don’t swim around docks that have boats plugged into shore power. If there is outdated wiring or a lack of proper safety equipment, electricity could leak into the water and cause injuries. Electric shock drowning happens when a marina or onboard electrical systems leak electric current into the water. The current then passes through the body, causing paralysis resulting in drowning. An annual or bi-annual inspection of the wiring and hoses is a recommendation they make to catch a problem early.   “Always use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFI) protection,” said ShoreMaster’s Marketing Manager Kelli Heikes. “If there is none in the circuit, install a GFI pigtail. We also recommend Dock...