🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR Part 141 – Lifesaving Devices (think about what it says about work vests vs. lifejackets) • Difference between wearing requirements and equipment approval/substitution rules • When crew on towing vessels are typically required to wear personal flotation (PFDs)

💭 Think About

• Do the regulations generally force crew to wear work vests at all times, or only in certain locations/situations? • Is a safety line considered an approved lifesaving device in place of a work vest or lifejacket under 46 CFR? • Are work vests treated the same as required lifejackets, or are there limits on when they can or cannot be counted as substitutes?

✅ Before You Answer

• Check whether work vests are specifically allowed or prohibited to count as the required lifejackets under 46 CFR Part 141 • Verify if the rules ever say that a safety line alone can replace a Coast Guard–approved PFD (personal flotation device) • Look for language in the regs about when crew must wear PFDs on exposed decks or exterior areas versus inside the vessel