PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES RESEARCH. VOLUME 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND PROPOSED TECHNICAL APPROACH

Research on the development of a comprehensive system for evaluating the life-saving capability of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) is reported. The approach contained herein evaluates PFDs on the basis of a probabilistic equation called the Life-Saving Index (LSI), which includes parameters measuring device assessibility, wearability, ease of donning after an accident, effectiveness when held or worn, and reliability. A projected benefit of 48 lives per year is shown, through a minimum cost impact implementation of the Life-Saving Index System. This minimum cost impact approach consists of implementation of the LSI System through an optional "Type X" approval using the LSI System Type X devices, which could include inflatable and hybrid PFDs, would be required to have a LSI higher than present Type III devices. PFDs would be submitted for LSI System approval only if the manufacturer chose to, and sold only if the public wanted to buy and utilize the more effective Type X device. Definitions and means of determining the value of each of the parameters of the LSI, for a given PFD, are given along with recommendations for future work and preliminary test procedures for future approval/certification programs. Estimated costs and benefits, based on accident data, laboratory field testing, and field observations are given for the Type X implementation approach as well as alternative implementation plans. Volume 2 is the technical report for this research program, and Volume 3 contains appendices to Volume 2. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Wyle Laboratories

  7800 Governors Drive West
  Huntsville, AL  United States  35805
• Authors:
  • Doll, T
  • Pfauth, M
  • Gleason, J
  • COHEN, S
  • Stiehl, C
• Publication Date: 1978-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 52 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aging (Materials); Analysis; Costs; Equipment tests; Evaluation; Field tests; Flotation; Human factors engineering; Inflatable life rafts; Life preservers; Life rafts; Lifesaving; Marine safety; Reliability; Rescue equipment; Research; Safety equipment; Statistics; Tests
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Experimental design; Life jackets
• Old TRIS Terms: Environmental tests; Flotation devices; Test and evaluation
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Finance; Marine Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00186287
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: MSR-78-1-VOL-1 Final Rpt., USCG-D-41-78-VOL-1
• Contract Numbers: DOT-CG-42333-A
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1979 12:00AM