Issue: Providers need to make appropriate buoyancy aids (correctly called personal flotation aids) available for participants1.
Because of the conflicting factors of manoeuvrability, bulkiness and flotation, in recreational watersports it is generally desirable to wear as little flotation as is necessary, rather than as much flotation as is possible.
Consequently opting for more buoyancy may at times cause more problems than it solves in recreational watersports.
1.1 This guidance document was agreed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE, in its capacity as the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority), the British Canoe Union (BCU) and its related home-nation organisations, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and its related home-nation organisations, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and other stakeholders.
It will therefore assist providers and inspectors with the identification of the appropriate selection of lifejackets and buoyancy aids (personal flotation devices) for use in recreational watersports.
1.2 Recent developments have revealed a range of interpretations of existing standards when applied to recreational watersports, which this guidance note addresses.
2.1 A series of British Standards BS EN 393 - 399 (1994) exists which covers the entire range of operational possibilities, including all work and non-work situations.
2.2 A Health and Safety Executive Agricultural Information Sheet (HSE/AS1) summarises the situation for work related activities such as fish farms, floating cage units, mussel rafts, farm or estate fisheries and similar activities. It is not relevant to recreational watersports.
Devices manufactured prior to (approximately) 2005
2.3 The industry norm for most recreational watersports is the 50N buoyancy aid for which the relevant British Standard is BS EN 393 (1994). This states:
"European Standards exist for a range of buoyancy garments, of which this standard (BS EN 393) is just one. The four are each intended as being suitable for different activities in different risk situations, and include:
N.B.
2.4 EN 393 did not define relatively vague terms such as 'sheltered', 'relatively sheltered', 'swimmer' or 'close at hand'.
2.5 The major watersports NGBs (the Royal Yachting Association and the British Canoeing Union) and the Adventure Activities Licensing Service agreed that 50 Newton buoyancy aids were still considered to be the most appropriate device in most watersports situations. These bodies, in consultation with the AALA and RoSPA have now reviewed the situation in the light of the current ISO 12402 standard on personal flotation devices (which has superseded EN393).
2.6 Between 2005 and 2007 a single British Standard BS EN ISO 12402 (2006) was introduced to replace EN 393 - 399. Section 4.4, 3rd paragraph of the new standard states, "In principle, national bodies, in particular those responsible for making recommendations, should be left to determine what is appropriate for the activities under their jurisdiction. The advice of such bodies should be sought by groups, clubs or authorities in order to select a suitable device". It is in the context of this statement that this guidance has been prepared to assist those who use personal flotation devices in recreational watersports.
In recreational watersports most people who have drowned were either not wearing a buoyancy aid of any type, were trapped underwater or both. It is therefore the absence of a flotation device which is the main issue in recreational watersports not the type. One aim of revisiting standards for personal flotation in watersports is to encourage a wider use of them, and appearance, comfort and mobility are important factors. In recreational watersports, factors other than the ability to support the wearer are also relevant. These include:
These factors are all dealt with in the helpful introduction to BS EN 393, etc. and a similar approach is set out very clearly in BS EN ISO 12402-10.
3.2 Because of the conflicting factors of manoeuvrability, bulkiness and flotation, in recreational watersports it is generally desirable to wear as little flotation as is necessary, rather than as much flotation as is possible.
Consequently opting for more buoyancy may at times cause more problems than it solves in recreational watersports.
3.3 Most recreational watersports enthusiasts have become used to the stylish, low cut, functional buoyancy aids of the modern era with little or no adverse effect on safety. A return to bulky, bright orange devices would be detrimental to this positive trend.
3.4 In some craft it is common practice to carry personal buoyancy devices but not wear them unless needed.
4.1 Swimming ability - within the context of this guidance the ability to swim should be interpreted as the ability to swim whilst wearing the device in question. The ability to swim whilst not wearing the device is generally irrelevant (many strong swimmers drown in situations where they might have been expected to survive comfortably). The ability to swim even whilst wearing personal flotation may not be possible for medical reasons, (e.g. quadriplegia), because of also wearing heavy or restrictive work equipment (e.g. tool belt or climbing belt), or heavy clothing (e.g. heavy weather gear). As a minimum, the ability to swim whilst wearing personal flotation can mean being able to remain upright, turned away from the weather, and make progress forward.
4.2 Flotation - total flotation needs to take into account other flotation being worn by the participant, or accessible to them.
4.3 Help is close at hand - this would include other craft if they can be used to perform either an assisted or unassisted rescue. It should also include the casualty's craft (upturned or otherwise) if it will remain afloat in the immediate vicinity of the participant following a capsize or similar event, and allow the casualty to hold on to it, or attach themselves to it. This gives rise to the golden rule of 'don't leave your craft as long as it is afloat and the craft itself is in no imminent danger'.
This definition would include most canoes and kayaks, small dinghies and windsurfers. It would not generally include motor craft not fitted with kill-cords, yachts, etc. which may continue on their way without crew.
Help will also be considered close at hand if a self-rescue, assisted rescue or casualty recovery can be promptly performed. Groups in the company of appropriately competent instructors, whether in or not in a dedicated rescue boat, can always be considered 'close to help'.
Help would generally not be considered 'close at hand' if it were necessary to signal that help was required such as by whistle, flare or hand signals.
4.4 Unexpected immersion - trying to swim or cooperate with rescuers is often extremely difficult once someone has unexpectedly fallen into water. However, provided a buoyancy device is worn it is seldom dangerous. Water confidence is therefore more significant than an ability to swim.
Even where immersion was expected many people will still panic, at least initially, in spite of being competent swimmers. Consequently even a high level of swimming ability is not generally justification for not wearing personal flotation in most recreational watersports.
4.5 Sheltered water - Inspector Guidance Note 6.1 Sheltered Water from the Licensing Service (2010) states:
In the views of AALA/AALS "Sheltered Water includes all water unless:
N.B. "Adversely strong" and "significant" in this context is in relation to the ability of the group as a whole to make reliable progress against it."
This definition therefore excludes the open sea, white water, venues which are simply 'blown out', and some large lakes or lochs where changing conditions may mean being blown to a shore line where exiting by foot may be unreasonably time consuming or hazardous. These situations would all require a greater degree of self-sufficiency on the part of the group if they are to be used.
This is not a universally acknowledged definition of sheltered water.
4.6 Self rescue, assisted rescue and casualty recovery:
Lifejackets - these devices provide face-up flotation with levels of support sufficient for various open and rough water uses. Lifejackets have a buoyancy distribution sufficient to turn most users, when tested on users wearing swimming costumes according to ISO 12402, to a position where the mouth has a defined freeboard above the water's surface, even when the user is unconscious.
N.B. This still will not drown-proof the wearer in anything other than extremely calm conditions. Use: Normally stowed ready for emergency use.
a) 275 Newton lifejacket:
b) 150 Newton lifejacket:
Buoyancy Aids - these devices should be comfortable for continuous wear and provide lift, without significant face-up turning ability, to float the conscious user with the level of support marked on the device.
c) 100 Newton buoyancy aid:
d) 50 Newton buoyancy aid:
