Boaties dicing with death by failing to service life jackets

Life-saving gear isn’t much good to you if it’s missing crucial parts, says Lia Morris

MARINE and Safety Tasmania carried out safety checks at boat ramps across the state in January. The compliance rate for wearing life jackets was high.

However, after two years of educating the public about the need to service inflatable life jackets through our safety campaign, “Be Boatwise – There are NO Second Chances”, MAST staff were frustrated and dismayed at the complacency displayed by the majority of boaters.

MAST legislation requires the owner of an inflatable life jacket to have it serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This is just not happening.

When you buy a life jacket, you have a responsibility to get it serviced, just like your car. If you don’t, it may fail when you need it most.

Too many people, mainly older men, tell MAST staff they have had the jacket serviced. But inspection shows they have not. We discover loose cylinders and bladders and, shockingly, jackets without inflation cylinders in them! The attitude seems to be, “It won’t happen to me … I’ve been boating for 20/30/40 years!”

Coroners’ reports highlight the importance of ensuring your inflatable life jacket is serviced and understanding how it works.

At the end of 2020, new life jacket standards will become mandatory. Only those meeting Australian Standard 4758 will be compliant. If you need to replace it to comply with this standard, think about what you are buying.

Do not buy an inflatable life jacket if you are not prepared to service it. We so often hear people complain about the need to service an inflatable life jacket and the cost. But the choice is yours – don’t whinge about it later.

The cost of a service, about $40, is negligible compared with the loss of life. Many boaters spend more than that on fuel for a day, let alone a new bit of fishing gear or kit for their boat.

Life jackets do save lives. Since 2000, when the compulsory wearing of life jackets was introduced, the number of fatalities has significantly decreased.

However, the Tasmanian boating public cannot afford to be complacent! The condition of the inflatable life jackets being worn may have been a contributing factor to fatalities.

Recent analysis of police infringements is a steady increase in the number of infringements for failure to carry safety gear, maintain it and have it ready for immediate use. During safety checks we find most boaters have their safety gear scattered around the boat.

MAST has produced a new safety video – The 30 Second Challenge. You can find it on at www.mast.tas.gov.au and the MAST Facebook page.

The challenge is for the owner and crew to obtain all their safety gear, ensure life jackets are on and send a mayday call all within 30 seconds. It’s simple:

CAN YOU make yourself and your passengers safe in 30 seconds if something goes wrong on the water?

IS EVERYONE on board wearing their life jacket? Do they know how they work? ARE YOUR FLARES accessible and ready for use? IS YOUR EPIRB close to hand and ready for use? Try it, it may save your life. Our latest Be Boatwise ads again feature Nick Duigan and Andrew Hart from Hook, Line and Sinker. Andrew Hart is shown in the water with a properly inflated life jacket and again with a life jacket that did not work.

Hart said: “I was only in the water for a few minutes for both shots – my breath was literally taken away both times. But at least with the life jacket properly inflated I could stay afloat. I don’t know how long I would have lasted when I was wearing the one that didn’t work.”

This is why our inflatable life jackets must be ready.

As boating weather continues, it is essential boatowners are prepared to meet whatever challenges come their way. We know weather conditions can change incredibly quickly. You can leave the ramp at 7am on a perfect summer’s day and three hours later that can be completely different.

If something goes wrong, are you ready to keep you, your family and other passengers safe?

Any death at sea is one death too many.

Get your inflatable life jackets serviced and meet the 30-second challenge. It’s simple. Be Boatwise – There Are No Second Chances.