Danger of drowning

In addition to primary steps in the Occupational Hygiene Strategy, PPE often remains necessary. Relevant products we can provide are: 

• Positioning line: prevents that the employee gets too close to the edge or a different hazardous area. This measure is closest to the side of prevention, because it prevents falling into the water.  
• Life vest: the chambers of this vest automatically fill up with air, when it comes in contact with water. It corrects your posture, causing you to keep your face above the water surface. Depending on your location (e.g. at sea or in a port) there are regulations for the buoyancy. 
• Dry suit: the suit has the function to keep your body temperature stable in cold water. It is loosely around you, but has tight seals at the neck, wrists and ankles. This will prevent you from becoming wet. You can also wear insulating clothing underneath it, whereby the layers keep you warm. 

Have the risks assessed in advance, by a safety specialist. You could, for instance, be secured to a cherry picker but, depending on the type it could pull you under water in case of an incident, thus increasing the risk of drowning again. A safety specialist will always base himself on the risk of an incident taking place, depending on the work equipment.