safeguarding the environment

This article was written for the members of PCYC . It seems to be good advice, and we have been given it to share. Please read it and consider it.

Dear Members,

Each year, it seems, the bar for safeguarding the environment is raised. As a club it is critically important that we respect these safeguards, especially those designed to prevent contaminants entering the water or leaching into the ground. Below is a recap of the club’s policy. Your cooperation is requested. Do not hesitate to ask your (club managers) for guidance if you are unsure as to how to effect the appropriate protection.

Kind regards,

Carl Lee

Harbour Master PCYC

Following the temporary closing of a Montreal area yacht club due to it not having environmental health-safety policy and regulations, PCYC introduced a new policy concerning “Boat Preparation and Disposal of Associated Hazardous Waste”. Its scope covers boat preparation and maintenance activities performed at PCYC in all outdoor, indoor and water areas.

The main OBJECTIVES of this policy are the:

Health-related safety of all members and employees;

Protection of all boats (at PCYC);

Protection of the air and water environments.

The following is strongly recommended::

All boat preparation/maintenance activities such as scraping, sanding, chemical removal of coatings etc must

be performed using plastic sheeting (or similar) to collect all dust and particulate;

Under any wind conditions, sanding and pressure blasting (water or air) must also be performed with plastic sheeting, or similar material, shielding the boat, to eliminate the circulation of dust and particulate to other boats;

Dust and particulate must be bagged and disposed into club trash container;

All "left over" paint, coatings, chemicals etc must be safely handled and and disposed of as hazardous material. Members must remove such materials from PCYC for their future use, or for disposal with their household hazardous products.

All waste oils and cooling agents are to be drained into containers and removed from the property for proper disposal by members.