2023 New York Laws › PBH - Public Health › Article 13 - Nuisances and Sanitation › Title 6 - Bathing Establishments › 1341 - Bathing Places; Safety Requirements; Ropes and Life Preservers.

§   1341.   Bathing   places;  safety  requirements;  ropes  and  life
preservers.  1. (a) It shall be the duty of every person maintaining, as
owner or lessee,  any  bathing  establishment  of  any  kind  along  the
seashore  of  this  state  for  the accommodation of persons for pay, to
provide, for the safety of such bathers, two lines of sound, serviceable
and strong manila or hemp rope, not less  than  one  inch  in  diameter,
anchored  at  some point above high water, at the same distance apart as
the lines of bathing houses, or space fronting on such beach occupied by
him or them, is in width. From the two points at which  such  life-lines
are so anchored, such life-lines shall be made to extend as far into the
surf  as  bathing is ordinarily safe and free from danger of drowning to
persons not expert in swimming, and at such points of safety, such lines
shall be anchored and buoyed. From the  two  points  of  such  lines  so
extended,  anchored  and  buoyed,  a  third rope shall be extended, of a
similar size, connecting the two extremities, and buoyed at such  points
as to be principally above the surface of the water, thereby inclosing a
space  within  such lines and the beach within which bathing is believed
to be safe. In addition thereto, there shall be sufficient  ropes  of  a
similar  size  as  herein described, anchored from a point at high water
mark and buoyed or anchored at a parallel line or within the outer cross
rope, so as to have not more than a space of seventy-five feet from  one
rope to another; and
(b)  Every  person  maintaining  any  such bathing establishment shall
cause to be painted and posted in some prominent place  upon  the  beach
near  such bathing houses the following words: "Bathing beyond the lines
dangerous", and
(c) Such lines so placed, anchored and  buoyed,  and  such  notice  so
posted, shall be so maintained and continued by every person maintaining
any such establishment, during the entire season of surf bathing.
2.   (a) Every person maintaining any such bathing establishment shall
also keep and provide in connection therewith, for the  facilitating  of
the  rescue  of  persons in danger of drowning, a surfboat or a personal
watercraft as defined in  subdivision  thirty  of  section  two  of  the
navigation   law   and   in  compliance  with  the  regulations  of  the
commissioner. A surfboat shall be not less than sixteen  feet  long,  on
each side of which there shall be hanging ropes arranged so that persons
in  the  water  can  easily catch hold of same, or be supported thereby.
Such boats shall  be  equipped  with  two  or  more  sets  of  oars  and
life-lines and life-belts, and at least one ring buoy or life preserver,
with  quarter-inch  cotton  line,  not  less  than  five hundred feet in
length, with suitable reel attached thereto. In addition thereto,  there
shall  be anchored on the shore, a suitable reel with a half-inch cotton
line not less than  five  hundred  feet  in  length,  with  a  life-belt
attached  thereto,  kept  in good order and proper condition, so that it
can readily be used by those assisting in saving life.
(b) At all bathing establishments where there are equipments  for  two
hundred  bathers  or  more, said surf or life-boat shall be stationed in
the water, opposite the lines, manned and in readiness for  use,  during
bathing hours.
3.  Every  person  maintaining  any  such  bathing establishment shall
employ or otherwise engage or provide the services of a  bathing  master
or  life-guard  at  such  bathing  establishment, who shall be an expert
swimmer, and who shall be in constant  and  watchful  attendance  during
bathing hours.
4.  The  owner  of a bathing establishment shall not be subject to the
provisions of this section when it is used, occupied or maintained by  a
lessee  for  hire,  but  such  lessee  shall  be  deemed  the  keeper or
proprietor or person maintaining such bathing establishment.
5. Nothing in this section shall be construed in any way to affect any
bathing  establishments,   in   any   municipality,   or   any   bathing
establishments  or  bathing  beaches  operated  by a regional state park
commission, at which there is maintained at public expense a life-saving
guard.