EVERY PERSON GOING ON THE WATER MUST WEAR CORRECTLY FITTING PERSONAL BUOYANCY WHICH COMPLIES WITH CURRENT EU STANDARDS

Usage

Personal buoyancy should be worn while on boats and in the vicinity of the river, including banks and jetties

Buoyancy aids (50 Newton)

Suitable for swimmers

Suitable for non-swimmers in rafted canoes or motor boat

Lifejackets (150 Newton)   

Suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers

EU STANDARDS

All personal buoyancy must comply with EU standards and be CE marked

Buoyancy aids          
EN 393

Lifejackets                
EN 395
EN 396
EN 399

Checks

  • Monthly logged inspections will be carried out and any buoyancy aid or lifejacket found to be in disrepair will be taken out of service until repair is made good
  • All jackets must be clean and presentable
  • All gas jackets to have an annual service

NON CENTRE PERSONAL BUOYANCY

Privately owned personal buoyancy should meet the above requirements and be in a good state of repair. It must be inspected by the instructor and may only be worn at the instructor’s discretion.

Variance to personal buoyancy policy

The Centre’s Personal Buoyancy policy states that:

EVERY PERSON GOING ON THE WATER MUST WEAR CORRECTLY FITTING PERSONAL BUOYANCY WHICH COMPLIES WITH CURRENT EU STANDARDS

Sometimes (eg if a visitor needs to remain in a moulded wheelchair, or needs to remain strapped in a wheelchair) wearing personal buoyancy may cause difficulties in which case the following guidelines apply.

A personal flotation device (lifejacket or buoyancy aid) will be provided for every participant on the water. 

Some visitors will need to remain strapped in to wheelchairs during a motorboat session.  If this is the case then

  • Release those straps (chest, lap, feet) which can be undone without causing risk to the visitor.
  • Designate visiting staff member to remove other straps in the event of an incident.
  • Buoyancy aids must not be fitted over chest harness, lap belt, etc if this will prevent those straps being easily undone should the person need to be removed from the chair.

In some cases use of a lifejacket, rather than a buoyancy aid, will solve the problem. In other cases a risk assessment should be made –

  • What is the likelihood of immersion?  In the pontoon boat under normal conditions within the river estuary – very low.
  • Is the risk of not wearing a buoyancy aid outweighed by the benefit of participation in the activity? 
  • Any other factors (eg, setting a bad example)

The position should be discussed with the visitor and carer,

  • Outlining the reason for wearing personal buoyancy
  • Why it is appropriate in this case to take but not wear a PFD
  • Level of risk – of boat sinking, of person going overboard
  • Control measure in place:  a person (other than the instructor) should be designated to assist visitor, undo straps and fit personal buoyancy in case of an emergency

There should be agreement between Centre staff, the participant and visiting staff.