Lifejackets on domestic commercial vessels (DCVs)

Your safety management system’s risk assessment and written procedures must consider when to wear lifejackets on board. Vessel owners also need to make sure lifejackets are readily available if needed.

What do I need to consider in my risk assessment?

You will need to consult with your master and crew (if you have crew) when you develop or review your risk assessment.

Some onboard operations where a person might need to wear a lifejacket:

• Single person operations – how likely is it that the person will be able to get back onto the vessel after they have gone overboard? What if they are injured? How will they call for help (use of a EPIRB or PLB)? Will the vessel stop (kill switch with lanyard)?
   
• Tender vessel operations – could they fall into the water when embarking/disembarking from the tender vessel? How far are they from the parent vessel and could someone else reach them in time if they do go overboard?
   
• Vessel transfers – could they fall into the water during a vessel transfer? What if the weather conditions make the transfer more dangerous?
   
• Night-time operations – will anybody know if they’ve fallen overboard? How long would it take to find them?  
   
• Working over the side of a vessel – could they lose balance and fall overboard? What if the sea conditions are rough? Is the rail height sufficient to prevent them from falling overboard? 
   
• Coastal bar crossings – does your state/territory have laws mandating lifejacket wear when undertaking coastal bar crossings? Is anybody on deck and not seated during a crossing?
   
• Rail height – is the rail height sufficient to prevent a person from falling overboard? What about in rough weather? Is anyone working over the side of the vessel?
   
• Emergency situations – have you included lifejacket wear in your emergency procedures where the possibility of ending up in the water is likely (e.g., collision, flooding, capsize)?
   
• State/Territory law – does your state or territory have any mandatory requirements for lifejacket wear on a DCV (e.g., coastal bar crossings, vessels less than a certain length)? These need to be included in your risk assessment and written procedures.
   
• AMSA requirements – Do you operate under an exemption (e.g., EX41 – unpowered barges) or certain parts of the NSCV (e.g., Part C1 - Wearing of lifejacket when on special purpose/ special working deck or Part G – non-survey vessel with basic flotation and not carrying life raft or dinghy) that have mandatory lifejacket wear requirements? These need to be included in your risk assessment and written procedures.
   
• Embarking/disembarking - what is the risk of falling overboard when embarking/disembarking? Is there a gangway, and does it have handrails and a mounted safety net?
   
• Inclement weather – is your vessel suited for operations in only certain weather conditions? Do you have sufficient rail height and non-slip decks to prevent a person falling overboard? Is it necessary for crew to be on deck in inclement weather?
   
• Setting or retrieving gear e.g. fishing, mooring – how do you safely set and retrieve gear so that a person doesn’t fall overboard? Do you use a manual or mechanical system? 
   

Risk assessment example

This table gives you an example of a risk assessment tool.

What do I need to include in my written procedures? 

Read about writing procedures for onboard operations on our How to develop a safety management system page.

Example scenarios

In these examples, operators evaluate risks to determine if and when to use lifejackets.

4.6m fishing vessel (Class 3D) with 55kW propulsion power

This fishing vessel operates within sheltered water limits and no more than 1nm from land at any given time.

This is a single person operation where the owner is also the master.

Although the owner doesn’t operate their vessel during bad weather, they have identified through their risk assessment that the possibility of falling overboard is high due to the nature of the work they undertake (leaning over the side to set and retrieve pots).

They have also considered their ability to get back onto the vessel and that they have no other person to help them if the worst happens and they do go overboard.

Based on their risk assessment, the owner includes a short statement in their written procedures that they will wear a PFD automatic inflation style lifejacket at all times.

6.2m commercial diving vessel (Class 2C) with 110kW propulsion power

This vessel operates within 5nm seawards of the coast for the purpose of commercial diving with a maximum of five persons onboard. The owner is also the master of the vessel.

The owner has a compliant safety management system, however, in consultation with their crew is reviewing their risk assessment and written procedures to consider the new lifejacket wear requirements.

They consider the areas where they operate, weather conditions, type of work they undertake and that the crew all wear full wetsuits, that have a certain level of buoyancy, at all times.

Based on their risk assessment, the owner has determined that lifejackets only need to be worn in an emergency (capsize, collision, flooding etc.) or at such times that the weather conditions deteriorate.

24.9m passenger vessel (Class 1C) with 202kW propulsion power

This passenger vessel typically operates within 15nm seaward of the coast undertaking several different operations including as a ferry service between a local island and the mainland, sunset cruises and private hire for parties.

The owner, in consultation with the master and crew, is reviewing their risk assessment and written procedures to ensure they have considered all likely risks that may require lifejacket wear.

They consider the different operations they undertake, consumption of alcohol by passengers, vessel design (e.g., multiple decks, rail height etc.), passenger supervision (e.g., crew on each deck, CCTV cameras), night-time operations and crew training.

Based on their risk assessment, the owner has determined that lifejackets only need to be worn in an emergency (capsize, collision, flooding etc.).

They update their passenger safety induction to ensure they clearly explain and demonstrate how to don a lifejacket correctly.

They also ensure that the lifejackets are stowed in a location that makes them readily available should they be needed.

As lifejacket wear is already included in their emergency procedures policy, they develop a short statement to this affect in their written procedures, induction and training documents.

They also include that they will wear a personal locator beacon (PLB) that is registered with AMSA.

State or territory law requires you to wear a lifejacket on your domestic commercial vessel

The owner of a vessel contacts their local marine agency to enquire if they need to wear a lifejacket on their domestic commercial vessel.

They are advised that they will need to wear a lifejacket when undertaking a coastal bar crossing.

Having considered all the other likely risks associated with their operation in consultation with their master and crew, the owner updates their risk assessment to include lifejacket wear as a control measure when crossing coastal bars.

The owner then includes a short statement in their written procedure identifying this requirement. This is also included as part of their induction and training program.

Final check

Ask yourself:

• Have you consulted with your master and crew about the risks of a person overboard event?
• Have you considered all the risks and any mandatory requirement, and updated your risk assessment to include lifejacket wear?
• Based on your updated risk assessment, have you developed a written procedure for when a lifejacket must be worn?
• If lifejackets are not worn, are they readily available when needed?
• Are your master and crew familiar with the lifejacket wear requirement and have they been drilled on these as per the SMS?