Hi,

Im after some advice we are about to undertake some work on a canal towpath using small dumpers and footpath sprayers the issue of seatbelts has been raised as the previous H/S manager said that seat belts shouldn't be worn as there is a risk of drowning if the plant falls into the canal as the operative may be dragged to the bottom of the canal. In my mind seatbelts should be worn as you can get seat belts which fasten around the middle which would be easy to remove. Also if the plant was to tip either way you would have the "mouse trap" situation.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks Andy 

Easy to remove is an opinion through judging equipment in a non-emergency situation on dry land and with plenty of time to think.

Upside down, in dark cold water, even a simple push button can be problematic due to disorientation and thermal shock.

Add to that an operator who has been rendered unconcious or a self inflating bouyancy aid pulling the belt tight against its catch.

https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/guide-to-safe-dumper-use-is-now-published

Just Published by the Plant Safety Group

Note at the bottom of Page 6 specifically mentions not wearing seat belts when working near water

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Add to that an operator who has been rendered unconcious or a self inflating bouyancy aid pulling the belt tight against its catch.

And that statement has probably caused a few raised eyebrows.

Years ago an officer in the Army was sent down and did some time for a drowning of an Army Cadett. He broke the rules and played the probibility game. In the end the boat capsized and a young female cadet drowned under the boat. 

He thought he'd had this issue covered by issuing the cadets with self inflating boouyancy aids. But he'd gien her the issued Roayal Engineers Life Jacket (RELJ). Which has the capacity to float a grown man with his kit on. So a young cadet was no match, she would be safe. But what actually happend, she went under the upturned boat, RELJ inflated and forced her under the water and she drowned. As it turned out, if she hadn't been wearing the RELJ she would of survived because of the pocket of air that is always captured when this style of boat turns turtle.