Fishing Industry Unites To Cut Man Overboard Deaths

Fishermen are being issued with life-saving equipment in a bid to prevent losses overboard.[/caption] In Scotland, the initiative will be funded by a donation in excess of £130,000 by the SFF via the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust, along with £10,000 from the UK Fisheries Offshore Oil and Trust Fund, and significant additional support from the Scottish Government. The project involves issuing fishermen with compact ‘personal flotation devices’ (PFDs) which have been carefully selected as they are lightweight, easy to wear and provide protection without impeding the movement required by an active fisherman on deck.
According to the NFFO and SFF, traditional lifejackets, which are much bulkier than PFDs and are constantly inflated, can be cumbersome and perceived as constituting a hazard to safe operations. This means they are often only worn in an organised vessel abandonment situation and not all the time, which can prove fatal in the event of someone going overboard. The project aims to encourage the wearing of PFDs all the time at sea, to combat the threat. Alan McCulla, Chief Executive of the ANIFPO, which is a constituent part of the NFFO said “This project was the latest in a series of projects the industry was taking the lead on to improve safety at sea throughout Northern Ireland’s fishing fleet. “The safety of our crew is of paramount importance.  Be it through the supply of PFDs, increasing our pool of qualified trainers or the employment by our Organisation of a dedicated Safety Officer for our members our commitment to safety is a top priority.  We are delighted that the NFFO/SFF project is be replicated by others connected to the industry here.” Chairman of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, Paul Trebilcock, said: “Working in the fishing industry is traditionally seen as very dangerous, and this is the latest in a range of initiatives we have delivered to enhance safety levels for those working on the front line, where most accidents occur. We try to encourage people to take ownership of safety on deck by ensuring they always have correct, well maintained equipment and that their training is to a high standard.” Derek Cardno, SFF Safety Officer, said: “This exciting initiative is all about raising the overall safety awareness in the industry and we encourage as many fishermen as possible with the correct certification to participate in the scheme and, without cost being an issue, ensure they are equipped with high quality personal flotation devices. ”
The different organisations involved in the project are using a range of distribution methods to ensure as many fishermen as possible receive the PFDs. The NFFO initiative dictates that the PFDs stay with the boat to which they are donated, ensuring the longevity of the project and spreading its benefits to generations of fishermen to come. Meanwhile, those distributed by the SFF are given to individual fishermen encouraging them to take control of their own safety.
 Since the NFFO Training Trust was formed in October 1999, £845,531 has been donated to fishermen in training grants and safety equipment.”