Employees working over or near water where drowning danger exists shall be provided with U.S. items, according to Legal Information Institute.
Key takeaways
- Set the rescue gear before the crew steps onto the platform.
- The federal rule requires ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line to be readily available for emergency rescue operations, according to Legal Information Institute.
- At least one lifesaving skiff shall be immediately available at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water, according to Legal Information Institute.
- California has different line specifications for its ring buoys. Coast Guard approved 30-inch ring buoys with at least 150 feet of 600 pound capacity line shall be readily available for emergency rescue operations, according to California Department of Industrial Relations.
- Do not mix the line lengths from different jurisdictions.
The federal page names 90 feet of line, while the California page names 150 feet of 600 pound capacity line. Both pages agree on the 200-foot maximum spacing between buoys.
What rescue gear has to be in place before people work over or near water
The 29 CFR § 1926.106 rule requires that employees working over or near water, where the danger of drowning exists, be provided with buoyant work vests or life preservers, according to Legal Information Institute. This requirement applies specifically to situations where the danger of drowning exists, not to all water-adjacent work.
Inspection timing is equally specific. Prior to and after each use, the buoyant work vests or life preservers shall be inspected for defects which would alter their strength or buoyancy, according to Legal Information Institute. The duty is to inspect prior to and after each use. The inspection must check for defects that would alter strength or buoyancy, not just visible damage. A tear, a broken buckle, or a compressed foam core all count as defects that alter strength or buoyancy.
Record the inspection in your Construction Daily Log Checklist for Supervisors so the record exists if a question arises later.
Who each page says must wear a flotation device
The WorkSafeBC regulation defines the requirement for workers employed under conditions involving a risk of drowning. According to WorkSafeBC, such a worker must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket with sufficient buoyancy to keep the worker's head above water. The page specifies two distinct standards for the equipment used in this context.
The first option is a lifejacket that meets CGSB Standard CAN/CGSB-65.7-M88, which is an inherently buoyant type. This standard requires a minimum buoyancy of 93 N (21 lbs), according to WorkSafeBC. The second option is a personal flotation device that meets CGSB Standard CAN/CGSB-65.11-M88. This standard requires a minimum buoyancy of 69 N (15.5 lbs), according to WorkSafeBC.
These buoyancy figures belong specifically to the WorkSafeBC jurisdiction and its cited standards. The 93 N figure applies to the inherently buoyant lifejacket type, while the 69 N figure applies to the personal flotation device type. Supervisors must verify that the gear issued to the crew matches one of these two specific standards and buoyancy levels. The regulation ties the requirement to the risk of drowning, meaning the gear must be in place before the worker enters the hazardous condition. See High-visibility gear near traffic: 4 pages for a separate clothing check.
Check the labels on the vests in your storage bin to confirm they list either the 93 N or 69 N buoyancy rating. Ensure the standard number matches the type of device being issued. Record the type of device issued to each worker in your daily log. For another pre-use gear record, see Log lifting sling inspections: 6 checks before the lift. This verification step confirms that the equipment meets the named standard before the shift begins.
How the ring buoys are spaced and how much line each page requires
The federal rule requires ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line, according to Legal Information Institute. The distance between these ring buoys shall not exceed 200 feet, according to Legal Information Institute. Washington State follows the same line length, requiring ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line, according to Washington State Legislature. The distance between ring buoys must not exceed 200 feet, according to Washington State Legislature. California specifies a different line length, requiring Coast Guard approved 30-inch ring buoys with at least 150 feet of 600 pound capacity line, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. The distance between ring buoys shall not exceed 200 feet, according to California Department of Industrial Relations.
When setting up the site, measure the distance between each buoy to ensure it does not exceed the 200-foot limit cited by the federal, Washington, and California pages. Verify the line length on each buoy matches the specific jurisdictional requirement: 90 feet for the federal and Washington rules, or 150 feet for the California rule. Do not use a 90-foot line for a California site, as the California page explicitly requires 150 feet of 600 pound capacity line. Similarly, do not assume the 150-foot California requirement applies to federal or Washington sites, which specify 90 feet.
Check that the buoys are readily available for emergency rescue operations, as stated by all three sources. The federal and Washington pages specify "at least 90 feet of line," while the California page specifies "at least 150 feet of 600 pound capacity line." Keep the claim tied to the named source and its stated jurisdiction. Do not treat one state, province, or country rule as the rule everywhere.
A filled reference table of each publisher's water-rescue rule
The following table consolidates the specific ring buoy line lengths and spacing requirements from the three supplied sources. Each row is filled exclusively with the figures quoted by that publisher, ensuring no cross-jurisdictional mixing of line capacities or distances.
| Publisher | Buoy Line Length | Buoy Spacing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Information Institute | At least 90 feet | Not exceed 200 feet | Legal Information Institute |
| California Department of Industrial Relations | At least 150 feet of 600 pound capacity | Not exceed 200 feet | California Department of Industrial Relations |
| Washington State Legislature | At least 90 feet | Not exceed 200 feet | Washington State Legislature |
Illustrative example of a straight edge
Picture a straight work edge with three ring buoys. The space from the first buoy to the second is 200 feet, and the space from the second to the third is 200 feet, so no gap exceeds the maximum the federal, Washington, and California pages name. Each buoy carries 90 feet of line, the federal and Washington minimum, not the California line. One lifesaving skiff sits at the work spot and is immediately available. Before use, someone inspects the buoyant work vests or life preservers, then inspects them again after use. The date, the buoy count, and the inspector name go on the blank log in plain words. This sketch uses round figures only. It credits no crew, brand, or product, and it is not a record from a real job.
What gets inspected, and when a boat or a life line is named
The federal rule requires that at least one lifesaving skiff be immediately available at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water, according to Legal Information Institute. This requirement applies specifically to the skiff itself, ensuring it is present and ready for emergency use at the work location. The federal page does not specify the internal equipment of the skiff in this section, only its availability.
In California, the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 1602. Work Over or Near Water mandates that lifesaving boats be properly maintained and ready for emergency use. According to California Department of Industrial Relations, these boats must be equipped with oars and oarlocks attached to the gunwales, a boathook, an anchor, a ring buoy with 50 feet of 600 pound capacity line, and two life preservers. The regulation explicitly ties these equipment requirements to the maintenance and readiness of the boat.
When swift currents prevent the use of lifeboats, California regulations provide an alternative method. According to California Department of Industrial Relations, a line shall be stretched across the stream with tag lines or floating planks trailing in the water at intervals not to exceed 6 feet. This specific configuration is required only where lifeboats cannot be used due to swift current conditions.
Washington State regulations specify equipment for the skiff used in water rescue. According to Washington State Legislature, the skiff must be equipped with oar locks securely attached to gunwales, oars, one boat hook, and one cork ring buoy with 50 feet of suitable line attached. The regulation names the specific components and their attachment requirements for the vessel.
Additionally, Washington State regulations address life saving devices in specific conditions. According to Washington State Legislature, a Coast Guard approved life saving device is required unless it can be shown that conditions, such as shallow water, are such that flotation would not be achieved. This exception is limited to situations where the physical conditions of the water prevent the device from providing flotation.
A blank line for today's buoy count and who checked the vests
The federal rule requires that buoyant work vests or life preservers be inspected for defects which would alter their strength or buoyancy prior to and after each use, according to Legal Information Institute. This inspection timing applies to the specific gear used during the work session. Record the date, the number of buoys deployed, and the name of the person who performed the inspection.
| Date | Buoy count | Inspector name |
|---|---|---|
| Example | buoys set along the water edge | person who checked the vests |
What to do before work starts today
Before the crew goes near the water, write today's date, the spacing between the ring buoys, and the name of the person who inspected the vests. For your daily setup, confirm the spacing is 200 feet or less. If you are working under California regulations, ensure the line is 150 feet long and has a 600 pound capacity. If you are working under federal or Washington regulations, ensure the line is 90 feet long. Record the actual spacing and line length used on your site log. This ensures you are complying with the specific numbers cited by the applicable authority.
FAQ about work near water
Who gets a life jacket on the federal page?
Employees working over or near water, where the danger of drowning exists, shall be provided with U.S. items the federal text requires, according to Legal Information Institute. The requirement applies specifically to those employees facing this drowning danger.
How much line is on a federal ring buoy?
Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line shall be provided and readily available for emergency rescue operations according to Legal Information Institute. This specifies the minimum line length attached to the federal ring buoys.
How far apart are the buoys?
Distance between ring buoys shall not exceed 200 feet, according to Legal Information Institute. Washington and California state the same 200-foot maximum.
What buoyancy figures does the British Columbia page name?
The WorkSafeBC regulation names a minimum buoyancy of 93 N (21 lbs) for Lifejackets, Inherently Buoyant Type according to WorkSafeBC. The page also references 69 N (15.5 lbs) for personal flotation devices in the same regulatory context.