Page 69: of Marine News Magazine (September 2013)

tigued and less able to perform their required functions. DUTY OF CAREAn employer has the responsibility to protect its workers, overriding the employees enthusiasm if required. We would not let a young worker go to sea without a life jacket, even if they maintained that they were a champi- on swimmer, so why do we continue to let fast boat operators risk serious injury and turn a blind eye towards it? Historically it has been shown that workers will resist acknowledging the dangers they face, leaving the employer to enforce safety practises until they be- come common practise. Examples in- clude safety glasses in workshops, hard hats in construction sites and Kevlar clothing for chainsaw operators.The most severe injuries, seen as a result of bad slamming events, in- clude fractures to vertebrae or other extremities, and rupture of interverte- bral discs in the spine and neck. These do not happen to everyone that steps aboard a boat, but neither is everyone MN 69www.marinelink.com MN Sept2013 Layout 66-81.indd 698/29/2013 5:19:16 PM