Commercial Fisherman – Stay Safe with Commercial Fishing Boat Safety Tips
With a fatality rate 29 times higher than the national average, commercial fishermen face danger on the job every day; especially those who work in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Despite the statistics, industry safety experts say that there are ways to reduce serious and fatal commercial fishing boat accidents with common sense safety measures.
Stay safe with commercial fishing boat safety tips
These safety tips from the U.S. Coast Guard can help to keep fishermen safe:
- Wearing life jackets and PFDs while on deck is the number one way to reduce fatal drownings from falling overboard. According to data from the CDC, Man Overboard (MOB) is the second leading cause of commercial fisherman fatalities nationwide and they happen because of not wearing life jackets. Safety experts suggest having one type of PFD that is easier to work in available for crew to wear at all times while keeping the lifejackets required by law on hand. Newer styles may also be more comfortable, no longer have snag hazards and may even protect fishermen from being flailed into the jostling and bulwarks during turbulent weather.
- Removing as many deck hazards as possible to reduce slip, trip and fall accidents.
- Keeping equipment on hand that will help get a fisherman back on deck after a MOB incident.
- Keeping an eye out for unsafe situations and for the well-being of fellow fishermen at all times.
- Properly training crew on how the equipment works.
- Keeping the boat and equipment inspected and in working order.
- Avoiding being alone on deck if possible or telling a crew member or the skipper before going on deck alone.
- Wearing enclosed shoes with non-slip soles.
- Making sure the skipper is familiar with local weather patterns and areas.
- Making sure the vessel’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or EPIRB, is working properly.
- Laying a heat blanket over the life raft so it doesn’t get iced up and frozen to the cradle in arctic fishing environments.
- Doing safety drills and training with the crew such as how to recover a man overboard, how to put on an immersion suit, and when and how to abandon ship like during a vessel fire or flood. The AMSEA provides safety training for thousands of commercial fishermen.
Maritime accident lawyer
If you were injured while serving your employer’s vessel as a seaman or while working on a shore or harbor as a longshoreman, harbor worker, fisherman, crabber, longliner, fish processor, factory trawler, gill netter, seiner, dragger, deckhand or other commercial maritime position; you have rights under maritime and admiralty laws. Commercial maritime workers, often called seamen, take on a high risk for injury on the job; serious maritime accidents may involve loss of limbs, maritime assault injury, drowning due to ship sinkings and wrongful death.
If you or a loved one was injured due to the reckless/negligent behavior of another seaman or maritime employer, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced maritime injury attorney fight for justice on your behalf. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a maritime accident lawyer. Call the most experienced practicing maritime accident attorneys Bellingham has at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing grieving family members in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
