Working over or near water

Yes. Employers must provide employees working over or near water where the danger of drowning exists with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests as required by 1926.106(a).

• Ensure the personal flotation device (PFD) is U.S. Coast Guard–approved and appropriate for the work activity (for example, buoyant work vests for hands-on tasks).
• Provide the PFD at no cost and require its use when the drowning hazard exists.

Cited: 1926.106(a).

You must inspect buoyant work vests or life preservers prior to and after each use and remove defective units from service, per 1926.106(b).

• Check for tears, seam failures, compressed or waterlogged foam, punctures, missing straps or buckles, and anything that would reduce buoyancy or strength.
• Confirm labeling and U.S. Coast Guard approval marking are legible.
• Document and remove defective units—do not use them until repaired by qualified personnel or replaced.

Also follow OSHA guidance that employers must assess PPE needs and inspect equipment as part of their hazard assessment and PPE program; see OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

No. The standard requires U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests; non–U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices do not meet 1926.106(a).

• If you have alternative devices, verify they meet or exceed U.S. Coast Guard approval and document the basis for equivalence; otherwise supply approved PFDs.

Cited: 1926.106(a).

Any defect that changes the unit's strength or buoyancy makes it unfit for use and it must be taken out of service under 1926.106(b).

• Typical defects include rips or large abrasions in the shell, torn seams, missing or damaged straps or buckles, compressed or waterlogged flotation material, punctures, or degraded fabric.
• Also remove devices with faded or illegible approval labels or with visible repairs that could compromise performance.

Cited: 1926.106(b) and OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28 for employer responsibilities in PPE selection and inspection.

Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line must be provided and readily available for emergency rescue operations, and the distance between ring buoys must not exceed 200 feet, as required by 1926.106(c).

• Place ring buoys so workers can quickly access them from the edge or work platform.
• Inspect the buoys and lines regularly for damage, rot, knots, chafing, or deterioration before use.

Cited: 1926.106(c).

You must provide ring buoys so that no two are more than 200 feet apart, so for a 600-foot stretch you need at least four ring buoys (one at each 0, 200, 400, and 600 foot points) to meet 1926.106(c).

• Place them where workers can access a buoy quickly from any work location along that 600-foot area.

Cited: 1926.106(c).

The line attached to a ring buoy must be at least 90 feet long and kept in serviceable condition so the buoy can reach a person in the water, as required by 1926.106(c).

• Use a line material appropriate for rescue (floatable or highly visible, with sufficient strength and resistance to abrasion and UV).
• Inspect lines regularly for fraying, rot, knots, or other defects and replace damaged lines immediately per inspection practices in 1926.106(b).

Cited: 1926.106(c) and inspection requirements in 1926.106(b).

A lifesaving skiff must be immediately available at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water, as stated in 1926.106(d).

• "Immediately available" means the rescue boat is on-site, maintained, fueled, and ready to launch so rescue response is prompt.
• Equip the skiff with appropriate PFDs, ring buoys, oars or motor, communication device, and emergency gear.

Cited: 1926.106(d). For guidance on first aid and rescue training that supports these requirements, see OSHA's CPR and first aid interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23.

"Immediately available" means the lifesaving skiff is on-site, kept ready to launch, and can be put into service without delay to perform rescue operations, consistent with 1926.106(d).

• The skiff should be fueled, maintained, equipped with rescue gear and PFDs, and stored so crew can launch it quickly.
• Employers should have trained personnel who can operate the skiff and a written rescue plan so response is timely.

Cited: 1926.106(d) and OSHA's guidance on first aid/CPR training at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23.

Yes. Employers must ensure rescue capability is available (ring buoys and skiff) and should provide rescue and first-aid/CPR training to personnel who will perform rescues to make those measures effective, consistent with the lifesaving requirements in 1926.106(c)–(d) and OSHA guidance on first aid and CPR training at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23.

• Train designated rescuers in safe boat operation, line-throwing, victim handling, and CPR/first aid.
• Ensure training is documented and refreshed as needed for competence.

Cited: 1926.106(c), 1926.106(d), and OSHA's CPR/first-aid interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23.

No. Employers must provide both PFDs for workers and separate rescue equipment—ring buoys with line and at least one lifesaving skiff where employees work over or adjacent to water—per 1926.106(a), (c), and (d). Having PFDs for workers does not substitute for readily available rescue equipment.

• PFDs protect individuals in the water; ring buoys and a skiff provide the means to rescue someone who cannot self-rescue.

Cited: 1926.106(a), 1926.106(c), and 1926.106(d).

You must inspect vests before and after each use and remove defective units; while 1926.106(b) does not prescribe specific recordkeeping, employers should document inspections and removals to show compliance and maintenance of a PPE program, following OSHA's PPE hazard assessment principles at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

• Keep a simple log or tag system noting date, inspector, condition, and action (repaired, removed, replaced).
• Store removed/defective units separately and label them "Do Not Use."

Cited: 1926.106(b) and OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

Ring buoys should be located so that a buoy and its 90-foot line can be quickly thrown to any likely fall point and so that the distance between buoys does not exceed 200 feet, consistent with 1926.106(c).

• Place buoys at intervals along docks, piers, walkways, and other edges where workers could fall into the water.
• Mount them in visible, unobstructed locations with hardware that keeps the line untangled and ready to deploy.

Cited: 1926.106(c).

Yes, if the water presents a danger of drowning, the requirements apply: employees working over or near any water where drowning is a risk must be provided PFDs and rescue equipment under 1926.106(a)–(d). Employers must assess hazards to determine when the drowning risk exists.

• Use a hazard assessment to decide whether PFDs, ring buoys, or a skiff are necessary for small or temporary water bodies.

Cited: 1926.106(a) and OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

Yes. Employees working over or near water where the danger of drowning exists—including work performed from small boats—must be provided U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests under 1926.106(a).

• For boat work, ensure PFDs fit, are appropriate for the task, and are worn when a drowning hazard is present.

Cited: 1926.106(a).

Yes, if the shore-based rescue team can provide a level of rescue capability that is immediately available and as effective as a skiff for the hazards present; the standard requires that a lifesaving skiff be immediately available where employees work over or adjacent to water, per 1926.106(d).

• Any alternative must ensure prompt rescue—document the plan, response times, and trained personnel to demonstrate equivalence.
• Employers should evaluate through a hazard assessment whether the alternative meets rescue needs as effectively as a skiff (see OSHA PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28).

Cited: 1926.106(d) and OSHA PPE hazard assessment guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

The standard requires a lifesaving skiff to be immediately available but does not list every item; employers must equip the skiff to perform rescues effectively and safely in line with 1926.106(d).

• Recommended equipment: U.S. Coast Guard–approved PFDs for skiff crew and rescued persons, ring buoys or throw lines, oars or a serviceable motor, a means of communication (radio/cell), first-aid kit, and lights for night operations.
• Maintain and inspect equipment routinely and ensure trained rescuers are assigned.

Cited: 1926.106(d) and OSHA guidance on first aid/CPR training at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23.

Employers and contractors must coordinate so that required rescue equipment (PFDs, ring buoys, skiff) is available and that responsibilities are clear where multiple parties work adjacent to the same water, consistent with 1926.106(a)–(d). Coordination ensures rescue capability is not duplicated or neglected.

• Establish a written plan assigning who provides and maintains PFDs, ring buoys, and skiff(s), and who responds in an emergency.
• Verify that all parties’ rescuers are trained, equipment is compatible, and contact/communication protocols are in place.

Cited: 1926.106(a)–(d).

Yes. The same PFD and rescue equipment requirements apply at night, but you must also ensure visibility and readiness for nighttime rescue per 1926.106(a)–(d).

• Provide PFDs with reflective material when possible, ensure ring buoys and skiff have lights, and maintain clear lighting on work areas and launch points.
• Train rescue personnel for night rescues and verify communications and emergency lighting on the skiff.

Cited: 1926.106(a)–(d) and OSHA first-aid/CPR training guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23 for rescue readiness.

Working on suspended scaffolds over water triggers both the water-rescue requirements in 1926.106 and the scaffold/fall protection rules in Subpart L and M; employers must comply with both sets of requirements to protect workers and provide rescue capability.

• Provide required PFDs, ring buoys, and a lifesaving skiff per [1926.106]; also meet scaffold fall protection and falling-object protection requirements in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L and fall-protection rules in Subpart M.
• Coordinate scaffold anchorage, fall arrest systems, and rescue plans so workers can be retrieved safely if they fall into the water.

Cited: 1926.106 and OSHA's scaffold/fall protection interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-12-05.

Keep ring buoys and their 90-foot lines in visible, unobstructed locations where workers can quickly access them and ensure they are kept in serviceable condition per 1926.106(c).

• Mount buoys in marked brackets that let the line pay out freely and prevent tangles; inspect lines for rot or frays regularly and replace as needed.
• Keep a simple inspection log and tag buoys/lines taken out of service, following inspection practices in 1926.106(b).

Cited: 1926.106(c) and 1926.106(b).

The employer is responsible for selecting appropriate U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets or buoyant work vests based on a workplace hazard assessment and must make them available to employees as required by 1926.106(a).

• Employers should perform a PPE hazard assessment to determine the type of PFD needed for the tasks (see OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28).
• Consider factors like task mobility, entrapment hazards, and compatibility with other PPE when choosing a buoyant work vest vs. a life jacket.

Cited: 1926.106(a) and OSHA PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.