24 recorded hang-ups
Of 24 recorded Leeds & Liverpool Canal chamber wall hang-up incidents on record, 22 were at the Bank Newton Flight. Eight at Lock 38, Seven at Lock 40, including my boat sinking. Also a wide-beam craft which hung-up on the ledge third block down. Reference CaRT Incident Report: 'It has been reported that on 02.04.2010 a wide beam craft was going down into lock 40 & the bottom plate caught on a projecting ridge stone on the tow path side, 3rd course to square quoin. Crew started to shut down tail gate paddle & boat slipped off stonework'.
Despite CaRT Incident Records listing at least six chamber wall hang-ups prior to my boat hanging-up and sinking CaRT failed to recognise or admit the risk and high probability that their customers can and are hanging-up on the hidden protrusions below water level of Lock 40 North Chamber Wall.
How many not reported
On three occasions during the past four years we took photos of fresh scarring in the area of Lock 40 out-of-vertical wall, leaving one to wonder how many boat hung-ups are not reported.
CaRT's Boaters ' Handbook page 24 'If you do have an accident, or near miss, you should report it to the local waterway officer or member of staff on the bank. Your report could help to save others'.
Our reported accident has been almost totally ignored by CaRT.
It appears that CaRT have failed to implement their Minimum Safety Standards by not displaying warning signs as recommended after a Lock 40 site visit by Anthony Stammers, CaRT Head of Health & Safety, June 2013. Also as recommended by Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Mr Whittaker,October 2015.
I reported the accident to HSE and they asked CaRT to investigate and prepare a report. The outcome was that the HSE recommended to CaRT that as a minimum they should put up warning signs to alert boaters to the risk of boats hanging-up. (HSE Documents available on request.) This signage has not yet been erected and the wording that CaRT suggest will not alert boaters to the risks that exist.
Alert boaters using the lock
I have made suggestions for appropriate signage but as yet do not know whether my recommendations will be taken on board. In the meantime I want to alert all boaters to this risk and to recommend that boaters do not lock down Lock 40 with any one inside the boat, use fenders, keep the boat clear of the chamber walls and lower the water level slowly.
The correct solution is for CaRT to restore Lock 40 North Chamber Wall to vertical by aligning the coping stones and ashlar masonry stones below them. Also incorporating a 'Rubbing Stone' under the coping stones to ensure boats are fended off and away from the hidden ledges below water line. A weekend work camp for the Waterways Recovery Group?
Little regard for health and safety
Meanwhile readers, now aware of the risk of chamber wall hang-ups at Lock 40, should take extreme care because CaRT Health & Safety appears to have little regard for boaters health and safety or the four years of CaRT litigation hell my wife and I have been subject to.