Water Police unable to identify PFD1

[flatstrap]

I raised the subject of quality of the LEGAL Marlin Type 1 life jacket selling for around $15 ea. These are Gov't approved.
Well, munch the crotch out of me jocks, within two years of being unused in my boat, they disintegrated when touched. On complaint, the maker said, Did you use them outside, in the sun? I don't know many boaties that use their life jackets indoors and only at night. Then on being approved for a refund, I sighted the email from maker to Whitto's, and they described me as a whinging pain...
You guys can make up your minds whether a label is enough protection...
flatstrap

[Luc]

I checked my lifejackets last night and they both have PDF1 written on them by the manufacturer.

Mind you, the jackets are the same age as my boat, 5 years. So it would appear that some manufacturers have been doing this for some time.

Luc

[tigermullet]

Booty I think that you have misinterpreted my comments. I certainly was not advocating the chucking of rocks but giving an opinion that it might be preferable for the police (in any country) to toleratate a bit of verbal slanging from time to time rather than have the public take up rocks (as does happen in certain countries).

It would be shameful if, in this country, that practice were to occur and it would never have my support.

These past few days have been very busy but, so eager am I to comply with rules and regulations, that time was made to pop into the shop and buy new life jackets. They are lovely little things made by the finest crafstment in all of Asia and even have a dinky little whistle attached.

The quality looks okay to me but bearing in mind some of the other posts on this thread I will be looking for a way to protect them from sun and salt. If there is sufficient room on the boat it might be a good idea to keep a few of the older types on board for serious use. These new ones will only be used to show to the water police to avoid being fined.

[trueblue]

I work offshore in the oil and gas game - not in Australia. I just went and checked our life jackets for markings.

We have two markings on each Jacket...

SOLAS (International organisation for SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA)

and LLOYDS REGISTER OF LONDON

These are real life jackets, designed to really save lives if you get dunked and left dunked in the water for a long time. But they don't say PFD Type 1.

What makes Australia so special to think that our government can introduce legislation that requires us to have a marking on our life jackets that doesn't comply with the major world recognised marine safety organisations...

I'll bet my left nut that the water police are not out checking the container ships and other international vessels in our waters to check that their life jackets are marked PFD type 1.

A major finding from the coroner in the 98 Sydney to Hobart was that safety equipment must be marked with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) approvals because too much of the general safety equipment bought at the local chandleries broke and failed the guys that died in that race...

This issue definitely requires lobbying for change

Cheers

Mick

[tigermullet]

There is a long list of goods and articles that no longer have to comply with Australian Standards. I think it was forced upon us by the notion of Free Trade. We can now buy gas bottles, sterilizers etc., that comply with the standards of the exporting country but would not have been in hunt of passing Australian Standards.

Life jackets seem to be one of the exceptions to the rule. As a revenue gathering exercise it is a good system but has little else to recommend it.

Because the legislation or regulatory change is being actively enforced, all boaties would be well advised to check their jackets - discard the good ones and replace with the new product. The quality and life preserving characterics are not important but the printing, labelling, text etc., is all important to MSQ.

[trueblue]

We can now buy ... .......that comply with the standards of the exporting country but would not have been in hunt of passing Australian Standards.

Not sure, but possibly you miss my point... SOLAS and Lloyds standards will at least equal and will more than likely be much more stringent that Australian Standards.

Surely MSQ can ammend their legislation to recognise other internationally recognised standards for marine safety.

This thread has got my blood boiling on this issue. I will now research the matter with MSQ to check the wording of the legislation and then chase up with a pollie.

Cheers

Mick

[tigermullet]

Sorry, Mick my reply might have been badly expressed. If it is good enough for SOLAS and LLoyds it should be more than good enough for Australia but without those little marks etc., they would not pass the standard set by MSQ, or whoever actually sets the standard. It's quite silly

I think that MSQ have had a lot of questions on the issue in the last week - my brother also phoned, and like me, found that the article in last Sundays edition of the the Sunday Mail in the boating section was correct - essentially life jackets must have the Manufacturers name or trademark, model number and batch number, PFD 1, 2 or 3 in letters not less than 6mm high, etc.

[trueblue]

Someone help me out here please...

I'll be willing to bet that life rafts on larger boats (yes, recreational too) don't have australian standards symbols on them... Maybe I'm wrong as I haven't looked at one in Australia for a long time, but They do have SOLAS approvals.

Can someone with a larger boat check this for me please???

If SOLAS is good enough for life rafts, why not life jackets

Cheers

Mick

[trueblue]

Here is a good link from MSQ. It states some compatible certifications that are permitted as internationally approved life jackets in lieu of Australian Standards

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/resources/...fd_int_std.pdf

Cheers

Mick

[trueblue]

Here is another link - this time on exemptions from the fire extinguisher expiry date legislation...

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/resources/...e_fire_ext.pdf

Seems the real law is that for a recreational vessel the fire extinguisher must only be in good condition and capable of extinguishing a fire...

What seems to be happening is that they introduce new legislation without researching anything, book everybody, and then like in the fire extinguisher case realise that the fire extinguishers on recreational vessels don't actually have expiry dates. Then they produce a gazetted ammendment that excludes the recreational vessels from the legislation. Bad luck to everyone the booked and gave fines to...

Just getting back to the purpose of this thread, all we can ask of the water police etc is that they become very conversant with the gazzetted ammendments so that they don't keep booking people after the government realizes and admits that they screwed up the legislation

Cheers

Mick

[tigermullet]

Whoops - looks like I was wrong. Solas jackets should be acceptable.

[Wal555]

The only way the government will sit up a take notice is if we all voice our anger as one group. If you are all members of fishing clubs, speak to the membership and choose a date and then all drive into Brisbane with your boats one day and get some media attention. Only then will they listen to us.

Cheers

Wal.

[Kerry]

....On a recreational ship a fire extinguisher is to be in good working order.

Well seeing fire extinguishers have been raised.

So how would anybody know if a fire extinguisher on a recreational ship is in good working order?? Without testing it!

Why shouldn't all fire extingushers be inspected and serviced on at least a 12 monthly basis?

People appear to have an thing about rules and legislation as long as it doesn't apply to them!

[trueblue]

I was simply quoting what the gazetted ammendment states, not offering an opinion. And the specific issue being raised was expiry dates, not testing.

For the record I support testing of fire extinguishers where practicable. It is not practicable for small extinguishers, as it is cheaper to replace them annually than to service them.

Kerry, would you replace your fire extinguishers every 12 months?

The only alternative is visual inspection which we can all do. For myself, I am going to replace mine if the outer casing starts to rust, or the pressure drops, or there is some damage. Small extinguishers can only be visually inspected, not hydrotested and refilled.

For the record I am a practising safety engineer...

Cheers

Mick

[bay_firey]

Here is the good oil on "servicing" fire extinguishers.

The most suitable extinguisher to have on a boat is Dry Chemical Powder DCP
Red with a white band.

Will it work when needed, this is how increase your chances
1 A good and thorough visual inspection - any damage or corrosion and out it goes

2 Check the pressure gauge - in the green all good

3 Check the nozzle is clear - no wasp nests

4 Check all pivot points for any corrosion an a touch of WD spray

5 Turn the unit upside down and hold close to your ear - you shoudl be able to hear/feel/tell that the powder is free and moving to the bottom. If not a couple of light taps on the bottom with a soft hammer to loosen it up. If you need more than a couple of taps I would be looking at a new one as the powder has become too compacted and may well NOT work if needed.

Extinguishers in a commercial application require serviceing every 6 months so I would be (and do with my own) carry out these checks at least once a month for peace of mind.

This is NOT a GAURENTEE but is a GUIDE only to be used at your own discretion