Water and electricity, both useful when separated, may be deadly when combined.
Lawmakers this session are considering a bill designed to prevent electrocution-related deaths at the Lake of the Ozarks. The proposal by state Rep. Caleb Jones, R-Columbia, would require all docks to be equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
The measure does not strike us as intrusive, burdensome or unnecessary, particularly since it might prevent fatal electrocutions, which have occurred in the past.
GFCIs, according to the Energy Education Council's website, "can help prevent electrocution. If a person's body starts to receive a shock, the GFCI senses this and cuts off the power before he/she can get injured. GFCIs are generally installed where electrical circuits may accidentally come into contact with water."
Sadly, swimmers at the Lake of the Ozarks have suffered electrocutions, most notably when at least three people were killed.
Jones said his bill is dedicated to two of those victims, 13-year-old Alexandra Anderson and her 8-year-old brother, Brayden.
"I don't think this addresses all the problems that we're facing in this area, but I think this piece of legislation is certainly a good step forward," Jones said. "I look forward to continuing to discuss the issues, and if more legislation needs to be filed and passed to fix this I plan on doing it."
Although a similar proposal introduced last year faltered, Jones predicts his bill will gather momentum.
"I think everybody wants to make sure that this doesn't ever happen again and have been very open and willing to try and move legislation forward," said Jones. "I think that it's going to get a lot of traction this year, and I really think it's going to pass."
We're on board. GFCIs are standard safety equipment in kitchens, baths and laundry rooms of newer homes.
We see no reason they should not be standard equipment on docks to protect swimmers by interrupting the potentially deadly combination of water and electricity.