Water-Related Fatalities on the Rise
5 water-related fatalities since 2022
Hazards of Working Around, Over, or Near Water
HAZARDS - undercut banks, sloughing ground, varied water depth, swift currents, inadequate berms, narrow roadways
POTENTIAL DANGER - Entrapment, Entanglement, Drowning,
Electrocution RISKS – Traveling, operating mining equipment, around, over, or near water
Best Practices
- Conduct daily workplace examinations.
- Know the water depth and subsurface conditions and ground conditions before you begin work.
- Keep equipment a safe distance back from the water’s edge.
- Provide handrails around docks and work boats.
- Properly berm roadways near water hazards.
- Provide and ensure workers wear a Coast Guard approved Type I or Type V personal flotation device (PFD) when working around water.
- Keep water rescue equipment easily accessible.
- Practice good housekeeping and keep all travel ways clear around water hazards.
- Post warning signs near water hazards.
