Stray Voltage in the Water

Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) is a drowning that occurs as a result of the person coming into contact with stray voltage flowing through the water.  There are a number of ways electrical current finds its way into the water.  Some of the more common are improperly wired electrical services to boat docks, frayed wires coming into contact with the water and improperly wired or poorly grounded boat lifts.

The most common source of stray voltage entering the water comes from your boat and jet ski lifts.  Until the National Electric Code (NEC) is changed and those changes are implemented by state and local governments, here are a few tips to keep everyone safe from stray voltage in the water at your dock.

• Make sure all metal parts of the boat and jet ski lifts are out of the water when people are swimming off your dock.

• Don’t swim near your boat or jet ski lift.

• Don’t touch the boat or jet ski lift while you are in the water.

• Never swim around the slips in a marina or community dock
   
• Upgrade your dock’s electrical service to be compliant with the latest electric code.

• Insure ground fault circuit interrupter technology is installed on dock circuits.

• Special attention is required if you have metal pilings supporting your dock.

Additional information can be found in the ESD section of the Files Library