Chapter 1 · Lesson 6Onboard activity · about 5 min read

Find the safety equipment before you need it

On joining, learn where each item of safety equipment is and what it looks like. Using it is taught elsewhere.

The 30-second version

  • Keep thisFind it, name it, keep it clear and report anything wrong. Using it comes from your training, the vessel's induction and the drills.
  • RememberDo the walk-round again on every vessel you join, however many you have worked on.

From the captain

Every vessel is different

Where things were on your last boat tells you nothing about this one. On joining, walk the vessel with the person running your induction. Learn each item's name, what it looks like and where it is stowed.

Video to be confirmed

A short video may be added to this lesson later. Everything you need is on this page.

The lesson

What the walk-round covers

  1. 01

    Walk the vessel and find each item

    Find the liferaft and its cradle, lifebuoys, lifejackets, flare container and EPIRB. Then the fire extinguishers, fire hose and hydrant, fire blanket, fire alarm call points and fire plan. Then the emergency escape hatch, escape-route signs and first-aid kit. Where carried or fitted: immersion suits, SART and defibrillator.

    • A white liferaft canister in its cradle on deck, seen from above, with picture labels on the casing. Two labels are blurred.
      Liferaft and its cradle
    • The approval label on a liferaft canister. The serial number, dates and service label are blurred.
      Liferaft label
    • A hydrostatic release unit hanging beside a liferaft cradle, with its lashing. The label on top of the unit is blurred.
      Hydrostatic release unit for the liferaft
    • A lifebuoy stowed in a round recess in the superstructure, with a light and smoke unit inside the ring. The lettering on the lifebuoy is blurred.
      Man overboard buoy with smoke and light
    • A lifejacket laid flat on a wooden deck, with its harness strap and buckle.
      Lifejackets
    • A red parachute rocket flare lying on a plain surface, with the maker's label and printed steps on the casing. The date strip is blurred.
      Red parachute flare
    • An orange smoke canister standing on a plain surface, with the maker's label and printed steps on the casing.
      Orange smoke
    • A red handheld flare lying on a plain surface, with the maker's label and printed steps on the casing. The date strip is blurred.
      Handheld flare
    • A yellow linethrower standing on a table, with the maker's label and printed steps on the casing. The dates, lot number and the view through the windows are blurred.
      Linethrower
    • A yellow EPIRB with its aerial, laid on a white surface. A small label on the body is blurred.
      EPIRB
    • A SART lying on a dark surface beside its pole, with the maker's label and printed steps on the casing.
      SART, where fitted
  2. 02

    Read the muster list

    Find the muster list and read it. Know your muster station and your duty on it. If anything on it is unclear, ask now.

  3. 03

    Find it. Do not handle it.

    Knowing where an item is does not authorise you to use it. Do not touch, open, move, test or activate safety equipment unless you are instructed to and it is within your role.

  4. 04

    Keep it clear and report what is wrong

    Never stow gear in front of safety equipment, hang anything on it, block an escape route or hide a sign. If an item is missing, damaged, out of place or obstructed, or its seal or tag looks disturbed, tell the person directly above you, straight away.

Where it goes wrong

A deckhand stows gear in front of an item of safety equipment at the end of a long day and nobody reports it. It is found only when the item is needed. The same goes for an item moved and never reported, or a new crew member who cannot say where the nearest one is.

Your call

What would you do?

Pick one, then read the feedback on all three.

The situation

On deck you notice that the seal on an item of safety equipment looks disturbed. Nobody else is nearby.

Take it aboard

Walk round and find each item

Do this during your induction or first weeks, with the person responsible for your work.

Stop: Do not touch, open, move, test or activate any safety equipment to complete this exercise.

Open the activity and job card

Walk-through aboard

Do this with the person running your induction, at a time they choose.

  1. 01Find each item on the job card and say its name.
  2. 02Note where it is stowed and what it looks like.
  3. 03Read the muster list and find your muster station and your duty.

What a useful result looks like

  • You can say where each item is without going to look.
  • You touched, opened and moved nothing without being instructed to.

Deckhand Foundation · Job card

Safety equipment walk-round

From the lesson: Find the safety equipment before you need it

  • Liferaft and its cradle.
  • Lifebuoys.
  • Lifejackets.
  • Immersion suits, where carried.
  • Flare container.
  • EPIRB.
  • SART, where fitted.
  • Fire extinguishers.
  • Fire hose and hydrant.
  • Fire blanket.
  • Fire alarm call point.
  • Fire plan.
  • Muster list.
  • Emergency escape hatch.
  • Escape-route signs.
  • First-aid kit.
  • Defibrillator, where fitted.

Tick when: found it / know its name

My muster station and duty

Question to ask at induction

Your vessel's procedures and senior crew come first. Nothing on this card is stored.

Quick check

Four questions, then move on

QUESTION 01You have just joined your second yacht. What do you do about the safety equipment?
QUESTION 02You find the EPIRB on your walk-round. What do you do with it?
QUESTION 03The deck is full and you need somewhere to put a pile of cushions. Where do they go?
QUESTION 04A lifebuoy is missing from the place you were shown yesterday. What do you do?

0 of 4 answered

Answer all four to check.