Marine Information Bulletin Lifejackets and personal flotation devices Issued 12 March 2007, last reviewed 1 February 2011 Background The purpose of this Marine Information Bulletin is to promote the use of lifejackets and personal flotation devices (PFD) along with answering questions concerning standards, servicing and compliance relating to their use by the marine industry and members of the boating public. A lifejacket or PFD may be defined as a garment or device which, when correctly worn, will provide the user with a specific amount of buoyancy which will increase the likelihood of survival. The terms lifejacket and PFD are generally interchangeable. However, the terms may be used specifically to define a particular class of jacket, e.g. coastal lifejacket or PFD type 1. Lifejackets and PFDs have developed along with new materials and design ideas. They range from the bulky SOLAS lifejackets you wear at drills on a passenger ship to fashion items worn by water skiers. Niche markets are catered for from 275 Newton flotation inflatables designed to keep a worker and his tool belt afloat to 50 N jackets with drinking water containers attached for kayakers. There are PFDs for all occasions. Yet lives are still lost for the want of a readily available serviceable lifejacket. It’s not a lifejacket if you’re not wearing it The Maritime Safety Queensland report Marine incidents in Queensland – 2009 reveals that 14 marine incidents involving fatalities took 20 lives in 2009. In these incidents 31 persons ended up in the water. Among those 31 people, 8 of 11 PFD users survived (73%), whereas only 4 of 20 non-users survived (20%). There was a striking contrast in outcomes for those using and not using personal flotation devices at the time of incident. These statistics show individuals can take steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of their companions. Compliance with PFD standards and servicing requirements and wearing a lifejacket at times of heightened risk increases a persons chance of survival should an incident occur.
But these statistics do not reveal the loss to families and community when lives are lost. You're the Skipper - You're Responsible The Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2004 requires: • a lifejacket or PFD to be carried for every person on board with very few exceptions • that PFDs are worn by certain persons on certain boats in certain heightened risk situations • that lifejackets and PFDs comply with certain standards • that the type of jacket to be carried depends on the class of ship and operating area • that inflatable PFDs are serviced on a regular basis according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Be prepared for the unexpected - Wear your PFD Apart from the mandatory wearing requirements in the regulation, wearing a PFD is also strongly recommended: • in any emergency situation • at the first sign of bad weather • at night or when visibility is restricted • when boating in unfamiliar waters • when operating in a following sea • by persons who are poor swimmers • when boating alone. Frequently asked questions The frequently asked questions and other appendices that follow will try and answer questions concerning standards, servicing and compliance related to PFDs raised by persons from the marine industry and members of the boating public.