The Western Australian Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) has launched a new online tool to help boat and jetski skippers select the correct lifejacket for their activities. This comes after more than 700 cautions were issued to skippers last year, with over half of those going to riders of personal water craft such as jetskis and paddle boards.
Lifejacket Checker app launched
DTMI director of waterways safety management Graeme Meinema said a lifejacket could save a life, but only if it was the correct type, size and fit for the activity, location and person wearing it. The new Lifejacket Checker is a quick and easy-to-use online guide designed to give skippers and others greater confidence when purchasing a lifejacket.
“Safety compliance statistics show that 93 per cent of skippers meet the requirements for wearing and carriage of lifejackets and that is a fantastic result,” Mr Meinema said. “However, there were still 710 cautions and infringements issued for non-compliance in WA last year and personal water craft or jetski riders accounted for 439 (62 per cent) of those which reinforces the need for further targeted education of operators to comply with marine laws and give safety higher priority.”
How the tool works
The Lifejacket Checker asks users questions about the type of on-water activities for which they need a lifejacket, including powerboating, paddling, sailing, jetski or paddle board riding, and the area they will be navigating. It then identifies the appropriate lifejacket at the required level. “It’s an easy, fast and effective way to ensure you make the right choice as a consumer, not only guaranteeing you are compliant with the law when you are on the water but also that your lifejacket is fit for purpose and will save your life in an emergency,” Mr Meinema said.
Lifejacket regulations in WA
Carrying lifejackets that meet standards is required when more than 400 metres from shore in a registered vessel. Lifejackets must be worn in open waters on small vessels of less than 4.8 metres or if you are aged between one and 12 years. All people on board a personal water craft, such as a jetski, windsurfer, surf ski or paddle board, must wear a lifejacket at all times in all navigable waters.
Mr Meinema said responsible skippers and water users should regularly check their lifejackets for signs of wear and tear and replace them if needed. “The Lifejacket Checker also supports DTMI’s successful ‘make a difference’ lifejacket program, where participants are shown how to maintain a lifejacket and given a voucher to buy a new lifejacket if theirs is deemed unserviceable,” Mr Meinema said. “Lifejackets are a key part of being safe on the water and should always be worn when required, if you are not a good swimmer or if conditions are not ideal. Too often lives are lost when they are not worn.”
To find out more or use the Lifejacket Checker, visit the DTMI website.
