Working Over Water
Many dangers exist that have led to injuries and fatalities when working over water.
Example of throwing a ring buoy during Coast Guard "man overboard" exercise.
OSHA has written specific requirements about fall protection while working over water, including:
- Employees working over or near water, where the danger of drowning exists, must be provided with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or buoyant work vests.
- Prior to and after each use, buoyant work vests or life preservers must be inspected for defects that could alter their strength or buoyancy. Defective units must not be used.
- Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line must be provided and readily available for emergency rescue operations. Distance between ring buoys must not exceed 200 feet.
- At least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water.
It's important to note that OSHA does not consider safety nets to be adequate protection from eliminating drowning hazards.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-8. When employees are working over water, how much line must ring buoys have?
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