Spinlock; 10 Best Ways to Prevent Man Overboard
There are no circumstances when you are better off in the water than out of it...
As part of an active approach towards on deck safety, Spinlock has
collected the latest expert advice on the 'Best Ways to Prevent Man
Overboard'.
10 Best Ways to Prevent Man Overboard
1. Tighten lifelines
and jackline. These lines are essential for containing a fall safely.
Keep them taut, replace any damaged or corroded terminations; specify a
low stretch jacklines.
2. Add strong points
and handholds. Vital at workstations, and for moving and clipping
inboard of the jackstay and especially on bigger, wider decks.
3. Good foothold. Wear footwear that grips well on a heeled deck when wet. Fit non-skid deck patches where necessary.
4. Wear a combined
harness and life jacket. Wearing a life jacket on its own won’t keep you
out of the water-only a clipped-on harness will. Wear the combination.
5. Be ready to clip on.
Always be ready to clip on, when sailing short handed, at night, in
poor visibility or in heavier weather. Novices, children and the less
able should clip on in all weathers.
6. Wear it for them
too. Wear a life jacket harness and clip on, mainly out of consideration
for the skipper, fellow crew and those who might have to come to your
rescue.
7. Make sure it fits.
If the life jacket harness is a good fit around your lower ribs it will
do its job in a fall. If unfastened or flapping around your waist it
can’t be a reliable harness or a reliable life jacket.
8. Stay clipped on. For
most conditions choose a light, compact tether that won’t get in the
way. A double clip tether in bad weather avoids unclipping when
crossing the deck. (Always wear a safe knife in case you need to cut
the line fast.)
9. Look after your kit.
Fibers degrade in strong sun, in damp salt conditions and especially
from abrasion. Destroy any tether showing wear or contamination or
after any heavy fall. Store all life jackets, harnesses and tethers in a
dry place
10. Trust your own kit.
If you look after your own life jacket, harness and tether you’ll know
you can trust them more than anything provided or borrowed.