B737-700
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
MEL; Procedure
I was sent to aircraft X to clear an MEL on the missing life vest seal. (I) found a zip tie on the pouch that prevented the life vest from being used. I removed the zip tie; inspected the life vest; installed the proper seal and cleared the MEL. I then asked the flight attendant 'how it got the zip tie on there?' (I) was told by him that the OPS supervisor in (STA) had installed the zip tie. (I) also asked the Captain (and) he was not aware of the zip tie being there.
When clearing an MEL item on a B737-700 the Mechanic found an improper seal installed (zip tie) on a life vest pouch. The zip tie was installed by someone other than Maintenance.