July 2025 WATERLINE | 31 FEATURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE A frequently asked question is “do I really need an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)?” And the simple answer is YES, every business, especially marinas, is required to have an ERP. It may be part of your Occupational or Work Health and Safety System (OHSMS or WHSMS) or a stand-alone document. A detailed ERP must include procedures for all identified emergency situations, emergency contact details for key personnel and emergency services, evacuation procedures, a map of the workplace (marina) and more, based on the size and location of the business. Simply having an ERP, even if it’s well-developed, is not enough to ensure safety or compliance. WHS requires that all workers be adequately trained in emergency response procedures. A common example seen by Shorlink is the use of supports or stays frequently used on hardstands that have been placed or moved by inexperienced personnel, often untrained workers or boatowners and which has in a number of cases resulted in the vessel falling over and causing damage to the vessel, other vessels and surrounding infrastructure. One of these cases has ended up in an ongoing legal dispute that could have been avoided by having the ERP in place and ensuring all workers have been inducted and trained accordingly. Fortunately, in this case, there was one worker who knew what to do and was able to provide the right response, so no one was injured, however there was substantial damage to the vessel, another vessel and a private vehicle. Developing functional ERP can be a major task for some operators. Often many potential hazards are overlooked due to a lack of experience in hazard identification, which can lead to serious problems in the event of an emergency. For more information on Emergency Response Planning and Training, contact: contact@shorlink.com.au | 07 4242 1412 shorlink.com THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS By Wayne Linklater, Managing Director Shorlink When space is tight and manoeuvrability is key, ASCOM delivers. Our customisable solutions fit perfectly without costly marina modifications. ANOTHER NEW ASCOM BHT 75 COMMISSIONED IN TWEED HEADS, AUSTRALIA CE Certified Italian Made Machinery & Hard Stand Equipment Fully customisable machines to maximise your capabilities Scan for the project video
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1