TSV issues warning about faulty lifejacket

MARITIME Safety Victoria (MSV) is warning boaters who own or intend to buy lifejackets to be aware of a model and batch that has failed safety testing.

The marine safety regulator has served lifejacket supplier Jarvis Walker with a notice to undertake a product recall with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for a batch of a particular block-type jacket.

The lifejacket is a Jarvis Walker model “Type 1 PFD”, batch number WD-15-0588. Jarvis Walker is co-operating responsibly and has already contacted its suppliers directly.

“This Safety Alert is an important message for the public, as they cannot rely on this particular lifejacket model and batch to protect lives in a marine incident”, MSV director of maritime safety Peter Corcoran said.

MSV’s enforcement team routinely monitor the market for safety equipment design faults.

On being alerted to this particular lifejacket design, MSV promptly tested it under controlled conditions and found as the waistband was affixed to one side only, the unsecured side of the lifejacket slipped free of the waistband when test subjects entered the water.

Subsequent loss of integrity in the lifejacket meant the wearer’s head would likely not be held securely out of the water, posing a serious risk of drowning in the event of a marine incident. Subsequent designs from Jarvis Walker include fixtures of the waistband on both sides of the block-type lifejacket by way of affixed loops.

“This Safety Alert is also a warning to other lifejacket suppliers and manufacturers to review their own product designs for a similar fault,” Mr Corcoran said.

“Manufacturers are advised to check that their products satisfy all elements of the relevant standards, including the in-water performance.

“Standards will generally require a lifejacket to remain securely in place when the wearer jumps or falls into the water.”

For more information, head to transportsafety.vic.gov.au.