Is your inflatable lifejacket going to inflate?

By Tegan Weber

Make sure your lifejacket is in good working order for when your life depends on it.

Lifejacket maintenance: Vessel owners must supply suitable PFDs.

Lifejackets are an important piece of safety equipment on any boat, but they don’t last forever. Exposure to sun, salty water and rain mean this vital lifesaving device can become damaged over time.

Inflatable lifejackets—also known as personal flotation devices or PFDs—are no exception. These types of lifejackets are suitable for commercial vessel operations as long as they meet required standards—read more about this on page 7.

PFDs are compact and comfortable, but if they don’t inflate in an emergency situation, they are no use at all. All it takes is exposure to chemicals or sharp objects to pierce the bladder of the jacket and prevent it from inflating, so regular servicing and checks are important.

To ensure they work when you need them to, have your PFD serviced annually and check them before use.

Lifejacket maintenance: Skippers must ensure the PFDs are fit for purpose and that all crew know how to use them.

The annual service

Annual servicing to thoroughly inspect the PFD and replace parts if needed, is essential. The only exception to this is if the manufacturer recommends a longer period between servicing.

Depending on the manufacturer’s requirements, this can be a self-service (conducted on board) or be carried out by an authorised agent.

You are not allowed to carry out repairs on your PFD. Even if you carry out the checks, you must take the PFD to an authorised agent to have repairs done. If the PFD fails any step of the service, it can no longer be used.

You should also keep a formal record of the service as part of your safety management system—including the date of service, what checks were done and what work was carried out on the PFD.

Self-service is not simply a routine check and clean, it is far more involved and is not considered complete until the PFD has been left inflated for a specified time, which is set out in the manufacturer’s guidelines.

The pre-wear check

The pre-wear check is a basic visual check of your PFD to make sure it isn’t damaged and everything is still connected properly.

Step 1: Look for visible signs of wear and tear.

Step 2: Check the gas cylinder is full and screwed firmly. The only way of determining this is by weighing the gas cylinder.

Step 3: Check that the retaining clip and automatic cartridge are secure.

Step 4: Ensure the pull cord is clear and ready for use.

After wear, remove the automatic cartridge, wash the PFD in warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly.

Store the PFD in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and harmful chemicals.