NASBLA Roundtable

Hello everyone, 

I am looking for copies of agency policies for the wear, care and maintenance of PFD's for personnel who are assigned to vessels.

Thank you, Mike

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Mike Lathroum
Boating Stakeholder Coordinator
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services
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Hi Mike,

Our agency doesn't have a written policy regarding wear, care and maintenance of PFD's for personnel who are assigned to vessels.  We just always keep track and replace if they expire and request all personnel wear them while on a vessel absent any exigency circumstances when time or situation doesn't permit.

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Samuel Flores
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
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Samuel

All of our staff and subrecipints are required to wear life jackets under the following language:

Best regards,

Al 

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Al Johnson
Boating Law Administrator
Vermont State Police-Marine Division
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2026 05:23 PM
From: Samuel Flores
Subject: Agency PFD Policies for Employees working on vessels

Hi Mike,

Our agency doesn't have a written policy regarding wear, care and maintenance of PFD's for personnel who are assigned to vessels.  We just always keep track and replace if they expire and request all personnel wear them while on a vessel absent any exigency circumstances when time or situation doesn't permit.

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Samuel Flores
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
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Hi Samuel,

For anyone using an inflatable PFD, Mustang Survival offers a handy step-by-step annual maintence check-list - attached here.  You can also download online here:  How to Inspect & Maintain Your PFD | Mustang Survival Guide

If you are doing a presentation for a group, I also have a powerpoint deck that walks through how to inspect and maintain your Inflatable Life Jacket. Happy to share it. 

Feel free to reach out to me at lcolby@mustangsurvival.com

Lili 

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Lili Colby
Industry and Outreach Representative
Mustang Survival
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2026 05:23 PM
From: Samuel Flores
Subject: Agency PFD Policies for Employees working on vessels

Hi Mike,

Our agency doesn't have a written policy regarding wear, care and maintenance of PFD's for personnel who are assigned to vessels.  We just always keep track and replace if they expire and request all personnel wear them while on a vessel absent any exigency circumstances when time or situation doesn't permit.

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Samuel Flores
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
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Original Message:
Sent: 9/30/2026 5:23:00 PM
From: Samuel Flores
Subject: RE: Agency PFD Policies for Employees working on vessels

Hi Mike,

Our agency doesn't have a written policy regarding wear, care and maintenance of PFD's for personnel who are assigned to vessels.  We just always keep track and replace if they expire and request all personnel wear them while on a vessel absent any exigency circumstances when time or situation doesn't permit.

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Samuel Flores
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
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I'm not a state agency employee. Rather I am a member of the US Coast Guard's unpaid volunteer component, the USCG Auxiliary. Roughly speaking my relationship to the USCG, is like a volunteer firefighter to a small fire department. 

For those of us invoved in boat operations, the USCG issues us Coast Guard owned lfe jackets, PLB, strobe light, and some other gear. 

That gear remains owned by the Coast Guard. My PLB battery expired in July, so the Coast Guard issued me a new PLB. 

We are individually responsible for monthly maintenance checks, and reporting damaged gear.  Our gear such as life jacket, strobe light, PLB gets inspected every six months by a staff officer in our local unit. Out of inspection gear prevents underway oprations. I had to a get a waiver from the active duty Coast Guard supervisor to do boat crew training the week after my old PLB expired, since the Coast Guard had not yet shipped me my new PLB. 

Our wear requirements are identical to the active duty Coast Guard - 100% life jacket wear while on the water.  From the moment we board the boat at the dock, until we get off the boar at the end of a patrol.  That includes the additional survival equpment, so no only are required to wear the lifejacket, but we must also have the other survival gear - PLB, strobe light, knife, etc. 


Robert Rice 

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Robert Rice
Rice and Associates PC
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Mike, 

The State of Utah DNR has a lifejacket policy in regards to department employees. We continue to merge all Natural Resource Law Enforcement into one agency under the DNR umbrella and our policies have not been changed reflect the new DNR Division of Law Enforcement. I have attached out current policies for your reference.  

It is up to the supervisors to annually inspect all equipment, including lifejackets (Type III & Inflatables), as part of the employees annual performance management plan. 

Thanks  

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Brian Kurta
Lieutenant
Assisted Boating Program Administrator
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Original Message:
Sent: 10/2/2026 10:51:00 AM
From: Brian Kurta
Subject: RE: Agency PFD Policies for Employees working on vessels

Mike, 

The State of Utah DNR has a lifejacket policy in regards to department employees. We continue to merge all Natural Resource Law Enforcement into one agency under the DNR umbrella and our policies have not been changed reflect the new DNR Division of Law Enforcement. I have attached out current policies for your reference.  

It is up to the supervisors to annually inspect all equipment, including lifejackets (Type III & Inflatables), as part of the employees annual performance management plan. 

Thanks  

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Brian Kurta
Lieutenant
Assisted Boating Program Administrator
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Hi Mike, 

Our department has the following policy for deputies working on our marine patrol vessels as well as passengers:

Deputies assigned to the MPU shall adhere to the following guidelines:

Whenever an HCSO vessel is underway, all Deputies within the vessel shall wear a personal flotation device (PFD).

Ensure that any non-departmental personnel riding in an HCSO vessel are wearing a PFD at all times.

1. At least one wearable PFD for each person on board
   1. PFDs shall be readily accessible and of a size suitable to the person who is or will be wearing it
2. At least one Type IV (throwable) PFD that is readily accessible

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Anthony Tranghese
Hampden County Sheriff's Department - Marine Patrol Unit
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Original Message:
Sent: 10/2/2026 1:21:00 PM
From: Anthony Tranghese
Subject: RE: Agency PFD Policies for Employees working on vessels

Hi Mike, 

Our department has the following policy for deputies working on our marine patrol vessels as well as passengers:

Deputies assigned to the MPU shall adhere to the following guidelines:

Whenever an HCSO vessel is underway, all Deputies within the vessel shall wear a personal flotation device (PFD).

Ensure that any non-departmental personnel riding in an HCSO vessel are wearing a PFD at all times.

1. At least one wearable PFD for each person on board
   1. PFDs shall be readily accessible and of a size suitable to the person who is or will be wearing it
2. At least one Type IV (throwable) PFD that is readily accessible

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Anthony Tranghese
Hampden County Sheriff's Department - Marine Patrol Unit
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Good morning Mike.  I'm attaching our agency policy.  The pfd usage section is highlighted for you.  Our policy doesn't specify any care or maintenance, however issued pfds are visually inspected in the spring and fall during line inspections by first line supervisors.   

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Jerrod Alley
Boating Law Administrator
KY Dept of Fish & Wildlife Resources
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Below is the TWRA Directive for employees operating a vessel in TN:

Law Enforcement marked patrol boats should also be equipped according to Boating and Law Enforcement Policy. Operators shall wear an engine cutoff switch lanyard or wireless sensor if the vessel is so equipped while the vessel is underway. 

Life Jacket Wear:

TWRA employees and all occupants of an Agency Boat (media, volunteers, etc.) during daytime or nighttime operation must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable inherently buoyant or over the collar automatic inflatable life jacket when the Agency boat is underway (when the boat is not anchored, moored, or aground).

The life jacket must be the proper Type as indicated on the Coast Guard approval label for the activity which the Agency employee is involved; the life jacket must be of proper size and fit and must be properly fastened (zipped or buckled). Over the collar automatic inflatable life jackets shall be worn over the outermost clothing garment.

The life jacket, whether it is an inherently buoyant type or an over the collar automatic inflatable, must be in serviceable condition (not ripped or torn) and each employee should maintain the device according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

For safety reasons, over the collar automatic inflatable life jackets shall not be worn near low head dams or hazardous waters due to flooding.

Agency employees may be exempted from life jacket wear during undercover operations with the approval of the District Law Enforcement Captain. 

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Tommy Whitehead - Captain
Boating Safety/Hunter Ed Coordinator
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
3030 Wildlife Way
Morristown, TN 37814
O: (423) 522-2452
C: (865) 386-1964

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Original Message:
Sent: 10/8/2026 11:19:00 AM
From: Tommy Whitehead
Subject: RE: Agency PFD Policies for Employees working on vessels

Below is the TWRA Directive for employees operating a vessel in TN:

Law Enforcement marked patrol boats should also be equipped according to Boating and Law Enforcement Policy. Operators shall wear an engine cutoff switch lanyard or wireless sensor if the vessel is so equipped while the vessel is underway. 

Life Jacket Wear:

TWRA employees and all occupants of an Agency Boat (media, volunteers, etc.) during daytime or nighttime operation must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable inherently buoyant or over the collar automatic inflatable life jacket when the Agency boat is underway (when the boat is not anchored, moored, or aground).

The life jacket must be the proper Type as indicated on the Coast Guard approval label for the activity which the Agency employee is involved; the life jacket must be of proper size and fit and must be properly fastened (zipped or buckled). Over the collar automatic inflatable life jackets shall be worn over the outermost clothing garment.

The life jacket, whether it is an inherently buoyant type or an over the collar automatic inflatable, must be in serviceable condition (not ripped or torn) and each employee should maintain the device according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

For safety reasons, over the collar automatic inflatable life jackets shall not be worn near low head dams or hazardous waters due to flooding.

Agency employees may be exempted from life jacket wear during undercover operations with the approval of the District Law Enforcement Captain. 

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Tommy Whitehead - Captain
Boating Safety/Hunter Ed Coordinator
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
3030 Wildlife Way
Morristown, TN 37814
O: (423) 522-2452
C: (865) 386-1964

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