Canadian Transportation Safety Board Looks at Risks to Small Fishing Vessel Fishermen Citing an "unacceptable" loss of life, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) launched an in-depth investigation into the safety of small fishing vessels across Canada. The study will look at the risks and challenges experienced by members of the fishing community when they set out for a day's work and will be released to the public and industry stakeholders when completed. To help with this, historical data and case studies of selected accidents in Canada will be analyzed, as will occurrences from other nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom and several Nordic countries. "The grim reality is the fishing industry is averaging one death per month," said Marcel Ayeko, TSB's Director of Marine Investigations. "Sixty people have died in accidents over the past five years, and we need to find out why. "We already know there are systemic issues," he said, noting that small fishing vessels have the highest rate of marine accidents in Canada, with over 200 incidents reported to the TSB annually. "These issues need to be formally identified – to the regulators, the industry, and the fishermen themselves – so we can improve safety and reverse this tragic trend. The further in-depth we go, the more solid facts we'll uncover to help make the fishing industry safer." Since 1992, the TSB has made 42 recommendations aimed at improving fishing vessel safety, and has repeatedly drawn attention to critical safety issues contributing to accidents. These include vessel stability, structural integrity, unsafe operating procedures, the use of lifesaving equipment, and the impact of fishery resource management plans and practices on the overall safety of fishing vessels. (workersxzcompxzkit) "Sure, fishing can sometimes be risky," acknowledged Ayeko. "Canadians know this; they've been doing it for generations. But more needs to be done – and more can be done – to bring down the accident rate."
The ultimate goal? "It's simple. Improve safety for all the workers who earn their living from the sea."
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers' Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-786-8286.
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