Afloat, June 2013 Cover

Three recent events are cited as examples:

• University of New South Wales (NSW) was fined $100,000 AU by NSW WorkCover in the aftermath of a propeller accident in which some students on a field trip were visiting Darling Harbor in a RIB.
• Australian Military (DFA) was fined $210,000 AU by ComCare for not using propeller guards.
• A New Zealand tour company was fined $50,000 NZ and $80,000 NZ for personal damages by a New Zealand court.

The editorial notes Surf Life Saving Australia has been using propeller guards for over twenty years, most Australian sailing and yacht clubs now use propeller guards in response to the Adrian Todd propeller accident, and Scouts Australia have a had a policy in place for four years requiring propeller guards on powerboats used in all water based activities.

Prosecutors are setting precedents for workplace propeller safety around the world.

The editorial also notes Yamaha Motor UK released its own propeller guard in March 2012 and stated “a propeller guard is essential to reduce the risk of injury”. Plus Volvo Penta was issued a U.S. patent in June 2012 for a system detecting people in the water near the propeller.

The editorial closes with the fan analogy, “If we do not accept an unguarded blade spinning in a factory where people work, why should we accept an unguarded prop if people are in the water?”

A big thanks to Afloat and Robert Copeland for the fine article. It was supported by a letter to the Editor from Nick Minchin, father of the Army cadet in the propeller accident resulting in the military being fined, and previously a major figure in Australian politics.

Minchin’s letter is titled, “Unguarded Popellers and Humans Don’t Mix“. He talks about the military being fined and about how his son and family endured the horrific injuries his son suffered. Although his son has now partially recovered, he has been denied a military career due to his injuries. Minchin says he takes comfort in knowing no future cadet will be exposed to the dangers of an unguarded propeller. He then calls on boat owners and operators with outboard motors to understand that exposed propellers are lethal, and closes with “Propeller guards are a no brainer”.

PGIC Comments on the Financial Threat of Exposed Boat Propellers article in Afloat

In addition to their online distribution, Afloat has a monthly distribution of about 35,000 printed copies and is delivered to every sailing club in Australia.

Tremendous progress has been made in Australia in raising the awareness of the risk of exposed propellers. The government, state and territory governments, military, state coast guard / maritime governments, and boating media are much more receptive to openly discussing the issue than in the U.S. With this editorial, we expect even more progress in making propellers safer in Australia as they lead the world in addressing this issue.

This article comes on the heels of the Milligan accident in the UK which has generated a tremendous stir there. The UK is now also much more seriously examining kill cords, propeller guards, boater education, licensing, and other propeller safety devices for ways to prevent such accidents.

We look forward to the day in which the U.S. will similarly embrace the boat propeller safety issue, openly discuss it, and make some progress. Thanks again to Afloat and Robert Copeland for keeping boat propeller safety in the forefront in Australia.