British Columbia Lake Stewardship Society

1257 Erskine Street, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 6R3 604-474-2441 info@bciss.org

 

BC Lake Stewardship and Monitoring Program (BCLSMP)

Safety Program for Volunteer Lake Samplers

The British Columbia Lake Stewardship Society (BCLSS) Safety Program applies to volunteers performing services in association with the BCLSS. All volunteer samplers involved with the BC Lake Stewardship & Monitoring Program (BCLSMP) are required to read this material and sign this form.

The BCLSS recognizes its responsibily to:

• Ensure each volunteer is aware of their safety roles and responsibilities.
• Promote a safe and healthy working environment as well as safe procedures with regard to BCLSS activities.

Under the Safety Program, it is the BCLSMP coordinator's (the BC Lake Stewardship Society) responsibility to:

• Conduct meetings and/or phone calls as required with volunteers in order to outline program/project objectives and deliverables.
• Ensure volunteers receive training appropriate for specific sampling tasks and safety issues.
• Identify any risks and hazards of associated tasks and conduct a job/project safety analysis which includes protective clothing, first aid requirements, and well-being of volunteers as required.
• Regularly consult with volunteers to assess the task and safety-related knowledge and skills required to ensure safe performance while conducting the BCLSMP.

Volunteers are requested to co-operate with and contribute to the BCLSS Safety Program. Volunteers shall:

• Attend meetings, calls, or training sessions as requested by the BCLSS.
• Have a check in procedure in place that will ensure a timely search is initiated upon failure to check in. It is strongly recommended that two people conduct the sampling.
• Adhere to safety programs in day-to-day volunteer activities.
• Adhere to all Federal Boating Regulations and Safe Boating Guide (including operators licensing as applicable.  
• Inspect their boats and equipment for unsafe conditions and hazards.
• Use personal protective clothing, devices or safety equipment for boat operation and occupancy as required by regulatory authorities, safety standards, and procedures.
• Correct hazardous or unsafe conditions or work practices.
• Report all accidents, incidents, and "near misses" to the BCLSS program coordinator.

Specific Safety Notifications

Volunteers are not expected to sample during adverse or questionable weather conditions.

Volunteers are expected to:

• Have a specific knowledge of safe operation practices for the watercraft used to access your specific monitoring site (Safe Boating Guide).
• Have a reasonable knowledge of safety issues specific to your lake (e.g., shoals, dead heads, local weather anomalies, etc and to take these into account during the BCLSMP.
• Be knowledgeable about hypothermia and the risks associated with cold water, particularly in Spring.

In order to maximize safety while conducting a lake stewardship and monitoring program, the Safety Program requires that:

• Boats must be of a stable design and in good operating condition. [Canoes are only appropriate during warm water and calm conditions, for Level I programs (Secchi/temperature)].
• Boat specifications regarding carrying capacity and motor restrictions are adhered to.
• Each volunteer wears an approved personal floatation device. If sampling large, cold lakes, a survival suit is strongly recommended.
• Volunteers must be particularly careful to dress appropriately during sampling early and late in the open water season.
• Cold water temperatures will very easily cause hypothermia and possible fatality of exposed persons. Hypothermia is a drop in body temperature to below normal and is very dangerous.
• Departure and intended return times are logged with a responsible individual on shore.
• Travel and sampling are not to be conducted in rough waters.
• Volunteers follow the orders, notices, and guidance of the Provincial Health Officer (i.e., COVID-19 guidelines).

 

Waiver and Release of Liability

In consideration of being allowed to participate in any way in the BC Lake Stewardship and Monitoring Program the undersigned acknowledges, appreciates, and agrees that:

1. The risk of injury from the activities involved in this program is significant, including the potential for permanent paralysis and death, and while particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of serious injury does exist; and,
2. I KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, both known and unknown, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES or others, and assume full responsibility for my participation; and,
3. I ACKNOWLEDGE, agree, and represent that I understand the nature of boating activities, both on water and land based, and that I am qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such activity; and,
4. I willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions for participation. If, however, I observe any unusual significant hazard during my presence or participation, I will remove myself from participation and bring such to the attention of the nearest official immediately; and,
5. I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS the BC Lake Stewardship Society, their Directors, officials, agents and/or employees, partners, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises used to conduct the event ("Releasees"), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH, or loss or damage to person or property, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE REALESEES OR OTHREWISE.

I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE SAFETY PROGRAM MATERIAL AND UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS INVOLVED WITH PERFORMING LAKE SAMPLING AND WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PERFORM THIS SERVICE IN A SAFE MANNER. I UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT SAMPLE ON DAYS WHERE THE WEATHER OR LAKE CONDITIONS MAKE SAMPLING HAZARDOUS AND THAT, IF NECESSARY, THE SCHEDULED SAMPLING SHOULD NOT BE CONDUCTED. I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THATI HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT.

This is to certify that I, as parent/guardian with legal responsibility for this participant, do consent and agree to his/her release as provided above of all the Releasees, and, for myself, my heirs, assigns, and next of kin, I release and agree to indemnify the Releasees from any and all liabilities incident to my minor child's involvement or participation in these programs as provided above.