46 CFR 140.430: Wearing of work vests

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says what personnel must wear when dispatched from the vessel or working on the exterior of the vessel in an area without rails and guards. They must wear a lifejacket, an immersion suit, or an approved work vest. It also sets a light rule for work vests worn at night and a marking rule for work vest storage containers.

Applies toPersonnel dispatched from the vessel or working in an area on the exterior of the vessel without rails and guards, and storage containers containing work vests.

What it says

  1. Personnel dispatched from the vessel, or working in an area on the exterior of the vessel without rails and guards, must wear a lifejacket meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.340, an immersion suit meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.350, or a work vest approved by the Commandant under 46 CFR subpart 160.053.

    46 CFR 140.430(a)“Personnel dispatched from the vessel or that are working in an area on the exterior of the vessel without rails and guards must wear a lifejacket meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.340, an immersion suit meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.350”

  2. A work vest worn at night must be equipped with a light that meets the requirements of 46 CFR 141.340(g)(1).

    46 CFR 140.430(a)“When worn at night, the work vest must be equipped with a light that meets the requirements of 46 CFR 141.340(g)(1).”

  3. Work vests may not be substituted for the lifejackets required by 46 CFR part 141.

    46 CFR 140.430(a)“Work vests may not be substituted for the lifejackets required by 46 CFR part 141.”

  4. Each storage container containing a work vest must be marked "WORK VEST".

    46 CFR 140.430(b)“Each storage container containing a work vest must be marked “WORK VEST”.”

Common questions

Who must wear a lifejacket, immersion suit, or work vest on a towing vessel?

Personnel dispatched from the vessel, or working in an area on the exterior of the vessel without rails and guards, must wear a lifejacket meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.340, an immersion suit meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.350, or an approved work vest.

“Personnel dispatched from the vessel or that are working in an area on the exterior of the vessel without rails and guards must wear a lifejacket meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.340, an immersion suit meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.350”

Does a work vest need a light at night?

Yes. A work vest worn at night must be equipped with a light that meets the requirements of 46 CFR 141.340(g)(1).

“When worn at night, the work vest must be equipped with a light that meets the requirements of 46 CFR 141.340(g)(1).”

Can a work vest replace the required lifejackets?

No. Work vests may not be substituted for the lifejackets required by 46 CFR part 141.

“Work vests may not be substituted for the lifejackets required by 46 CFR part 141.”

How must a work vest storage container be marked?

Each storage container containing a work vest must be marked "WORK VEST".

“Each storage container containing a work vest must be marked “WORK VEST”.”

The text of 46 CFR 140.430

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Wearing of work vests

(a) Personnel dispatched from the vessel or that are working in an area on the exterior of the vessel without rails and guards must wear a lifejacket meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.340, an immersion suit meeting requirements in 46 CFR 141.350, or a work vest approved by the Commandant under 46 CFR subpart 160.053. When worn at night, the work vest must be equipped with a light that meets the requirements of 46 CFR 141.340(g)(1). Work vests may not be substituted for the lifejackets required by 46 CFR part 141.

(b) Each storage container containing a work vest must be marked “WORK VEST”.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.