My last blog post talked about staying safe when working in the heat. Keeping with the summer theme I wanted to remind everyone to be safe on the water this summer. In Canada “cottaging” is very popular in the summer. Just a few hours out of the largest city in the country (Toronto) exists many different areas collectively referred to as “cottage country”.
Every weekend us Torontonians head to beautiful lake front properties to relax, eat, spend time with friends and of course – party! I heard a commercial on the radio reminding people to practice safe boating. Creating this awareness is fantastic. It seems that many people are conscious and aware that drinking and driving in a car is not acceptable. It is easy to forget that this is also not only dangerous, but against the law on the waters as well. Every summer there are countless stories on the news about boating accidents, all too often related to alcohol.
Although not necessarily a safety compliance issue directly, this is a safety issue that can have serious legal ramifications. The Red Cross says that on average up to 200 Canadians per year die in boating accidents, and many of those are alcohol related. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is illegal in Canada and publishable under the Criminal code of Canada. You can lose your drivers license if you operate a boat while under the influence. For our province the government of Ontario has more information here.
Have fun this summer, but remember to stay safe!
