Health and Safety ReportVolume 9, Issue 5

Any job that involves working on water qualifies it as a hazardous occupation. Such is commercial fishing which takes place in an unpredictable, natural environment that can become hostile to both people and their boats. When you factor in extreme weather, sea conditions, mechanical issues and the risks of flooding, fire, tripping and slipping and going overboard, the fishing vessel becomes a potentially dangerous working environment. And if that weren't enough, there are additional hazards related to the very nature of fish harvesting and the way work is designed and carried out, such as lifting heavy loads, noise exposure, and repetitive motions.

In Canada there are more than 23,000 registered fishing vessels (Transport Safety Board of Canada) and more than 45,000 licensed fishermen (according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans). Every year there are workers who perish or are injured harvesting the sea, a point that was driven home recently when five clammers died on the job in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

Although the hazards may be many, there are some basic measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of injuries and prevent tragedies on board fishing vessels.

Before getting underway

Before the boat ever leaves the dock, vessel owners and/or operators should have a policy in place that deals with the use of personal floatation devices by the crew while on deck, and they should communicate this policy to everyone working on the boat. To keep safety and prevention top of mind, fishermen and crew should take a marine safety class at least once every five years and practice monthly drills that include abandon ship, flooding, fire, and man overboard.

Inspecting and testing equipment is essential to ensure the safety of the crew and the boat. The vessel's watertight integrity should be maintained by regularly inspecting and testing high water alarms, the hull of the boat and watertight doors and hatches ensuring they are sealed. Immersion suits should be tested for leaks.

A man overboard alarm system should be installed and utilized as well as man overboard retrieval devices. To prevent entanglement injuries, emergency stop (e-stop) devices should be installed on hydraulic deck machinery.

Clear the decks

Good housekeeping is crucial to preventing slips, trips and other injuries on deck. Keep decks clear and uncluttered and stow all ropes in coils. All deck gear should be tied down and loose equipment should be stowed to secure it in bad weather conditions. Promptly clean up spills and spread sand over icy or slippery areas to avoid slips and falls.

Galley and crew quarters

The galley on a boat, where the meals for the crew are prepared, poses the same hazards as your kitchen at home, with the added challenge of working in a small space with the constant motion of the vessel. To keep everything in its place, galley utensils should be stored in racks or drawers and there should be a guard rail on the stove to contain any cooking pans being used. To prevent fires, clean the grease from filters and the stove ventilation system regularly, and don't leave a hot stove unattended where grease or oil could catch fire.

Make sure that all cabins and living quarters are well ventilated to prevent deadly exhaust gases from the engine room and generator from building up. Alarms should be fitted to warn sleeping crew members of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Safety aloft

There are times when a person has to work suspended above the deck (aloft). The greatest hazard associated with working aloft is the danger of a fall. Other hazards include electrical shock, radiation burns, asphyxiation from stack gases, and dropping objects. When working aloft take the following precautions:

• Ensure that the radar is turned off before you go aloft to avoid radiation exposure and to prevent injury from a rotating scanner.


• Put a "Do Not Operate Radar - Persons Working Aloft" sign on the radar control panel to alert others that someone is working aloft.


• Wear a personal floatation device.


• Attach safety lanyards to all tools and parts (e.g. secure your hammer to your wrist) to prevent them from dropping and injuring those below. Rather than carrying tools up and down ladders, rig a line and raise or lower your tools in a safe container.


• Use a bosun's chair (a device with a rigid seat attached to a rope used to suspend a person to perform work) with appropriate safety harness and fall arresting gear.

Fire safety

Fires can be catastrophic in any workplace, however when fire occurs on a boat, there is no where to go to escape it but overboard. The best defence against fires is to prevent them from starting in the first place. Be aware of the common causes of fires on board so you can watch for and correct them immediately. These causes include damaged electrical cables and wires, exposed light bulbs, an arcing motor, ruptured fuel lines, faulty switches, and smoking in unauthorised areas. Also, be aware of onboard products with chemical fire and reactivity hazards and their appropriate control measures. Consult supplier Material Safety Data Sheets for specific information.

Boat maintenance

For a vessel to be safe it must be well maintained, and that means all equipment must be installed correctly, and kept in good working condition. There are hazards that could develop including:

• Fires from hot, unshielded exhaust pipes, and/or oil and fuel leaks into the bilge (the bottom inside part of a boat where dirty water collects)


• Flooding from unsealed hull fittings


• Fires and explosions from poor ventilation or poor backfire control


• Explosions from hydrogen gas emitted by batteries charging


• Any number of hazards related to rope that is kinked, damaged or misused

Safety and emergency equipment

Regulations require vessels to carry a variety of emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, fire pumps, bilge pumps, distress flares, immersion suits, fire buckets, life buoys, and life rafts or life boats. Everyone on board the vessel should know where this equipment is stored, and how to use it. Learn exactly what specific requirements and regulations apply to your vessel.

General safe practices

• When boarding or leaving the vessel, use the gangway or ladder. Don't jump.


• Watch your footing to avoid getting entangled, especially when wires, ropes or nets are moving.


• Never stand in loose rope or wire as it may tighten suddenly and injure you, or even worse, pull you overboard.


• Heads up. Don't stand under a load or in areas where overhead equipment may swing and cause you serious injury.


• Never bend your back over the load when lifting heavy weights. Stand with your feet a little apart, lift with your legs and keep your back straight as you lift.


• Wear proper safety equipment and clothing suitable to the job such as ear protectors, hard hat, goggles, safety boots, personal floatation devices, and heavy gloves where necessary.


• Wear heavy gloves or mitts when handling wire rope and never guide wire with your hands or feet.


• Make sure that hatches are properly closed when they are not in use to avoid flooding and falling through.


• Ensure belts and other moving parts of equipment have proper guards.

Remember, prevention is the best defence against injury and will ensure a safe return to harbour.

Resources

• Small Fishing Vessel Safety Manual, Transport Canada (PDF)
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