TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Lifejackets or just jackets? Seaworthiness of lifejackets sold at landing sites on Lake Albert, Uganda
JO  - International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics
A1  - Oporia, Frederick
A1  - Jagnoor, Jagnoor
A1  - Mumbya, Jonah
A1  - Balugaba, Bonny Enock
A1  - Businge, Otto
A1  - Agenonga, Jeff
A1  - Walekhwa, Abel Wilson
A1  - Isunju, John Bosco
A1  - Kobusingye, Olive
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Upon immersion in water, a cascade of physiological responses is evoked, which may result in drowning death. Although lifejackets are over 80% effective in preventing drowning, many people in lakeside fishing communities in Uganda shy away from wearing them because of active distrust in the quality of the lifejackets on the local market. No study has determined the veracity of these claims. This study determined the seaworthiness of lifejackets sold on landing sites on Lake Albert, Uganda. <br><br>METHODS: Using a within-person repeated assessment design, we tested 22 new lifejacket samples obtained from landing sites of Lake Albert, Uganda. We conducted water entry, righting, floatation stability, and minimum buoyancy performance tests. <br><br>RESULTS: All the lifejacket samples failed the minimum buoyancy functional requirements; the average buoyancy was 80N (SD = 13). Only 4% of the lifejackets passed the righting test within 5 seconds. For floatation stability, 45% of the lifejackets had sunk earlier than 48 hours of placement in water and also failed water entry tests by getting dislodged from the wearer. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The lifejackets sold at the landing sites of Lake Albert do not meet the minimum seaworthiness functional requirements. The government should regulate the quality of lifejackets on the local market.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1080-3548
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2023.2298147
ID  - ref1
ER  -