Personal flotation devices (Pfds) and life-jackets – care and maintenance

Maintaining your flotation device

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Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionsforspecificcareandmaintenancerequirements. IInspectyourPFDorlife-jacketbeforeyouwearittoensureitisingoodcondition.Checkfor: Metalorplastichardwarethatisbroken,deformedorweakenedbycorrosion.

Webbingorstrapsthatareripped,torn,orthathavebecomeseparatedfromanattachmentpoint.Anyrottedordeterioratedmaterialthatfailswhentugged.Rips,tearsoropenseamsinfabricorcoatingsthatarelargeenoughtoallowthelossofbuoyantmaterial.Buoyantmaterialthathasbecome: • hardened•non-resilient•permanentlycompressed•waterlogged•oil-soakedBuoyantmaterialthatthatshowsevidenceoffungusormildew.

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Lossofbuoyantmaterialorbuoyantmaterialthatisnotsecurelyheldinposition.ReportdamagedPFDsorlife-jacketstoyoursupervisororvesselmasterandneverweardamagedPFDsandlife-jackets.Properlyclean,maintainandstoreyourPFDorlife-jacket:

Useonlyamildsoapysolutionforcleaning.Neverusedry-cleaning,strongdetergents,gasolineorsolventtoremovestains.NeverstoreawetPFDorlife-jacket;dryitfirstintheopenair,awayfromsunlightoradirectheatsource.Whennotinuse,storeyourPFDorlife-jacketinadry,well-ventilated,easilyaccessibleplaceonboardthevessel.

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Followmanufacturerinstructionsforinspection,maintenanceandrechargingofmechanismsinauto-inflatingmodels.RecordallinspectionsandmaintenanceifyourPFDorlife-jacketisautomaticallyinflatable.

Look after your flotation device so it will look after you when it is needed.

SAVE A LIFE –YOURS.

WEAR A PFD.

Adapted with the kind permission of WorkSafeBC.