Research and analysis

How lifejackets are used in commercial fishing

National and international efforts to motivate commercial fishermen to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs).

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 3 November 2016

Documents

Lifejackets: a review

PDF, 741 KB, 23 pages

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Details

Evaluating the success of initiatives aimed at encouraging commercial fishermen to wear PFDs on the working decks of fishing vessels while at sea. The casualty data from the MAIB, MCA and several international organisations has been reviewed to validate the lifesaving potential of constant wear PFDs when worn on the exposed decks of fishing vessels. All the relevant recommendations made by the MAIB since its inception, and the implementation or otherwise of these recommendations, are also reviewed.

This document also reviews the campaigns carried out by various industry groups in the UK and Ireland, and also examines mandatory regulations the EU and other countries have introduced to ensure that PFDs are being used in the fishing sector. A review of the relevant literature studying the effect of mandating the wear of PFDs is also included.

The document was originally published as part of the annexes to MAIB report 21/2016.

Published 3 November 2016