1.1.8. Occupational Safety

“Sometimes, the net is too heavy and workers get pulled in to the water and just disappear. When someone dies, he gets thrown into the water. Some have fallen overboard. I had an accident on board. A pulley came loose and fell on me, I almost broke my arm.”

(Recruitment Practices and Migrant Labor Conditions in Nestlé’s Thai Shrimp Supply Chain)

The sector has one of the highest risks for occupational hazards and fishing is considered as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. 

Procedures and controls need to be in place to ensure that workers are safe and that precautions are taken to avoid loss of life or limb. This also includes the assurance that workers are in clean and hygienic spaces to avoid sickness and contamination. 

Below, you will find guidance on this standard.

Guidance

• Workers have access to communication equipment; 

• Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e. lifejackets) is provided on board or in the workplace at no cost (unless self-employed); 

• Workers and managers are trained in health and safety procedures; 

• Vessel/farm/workplace complies with local/national safety and health regulations; 

• Workplace risks and risk areas are identified in relevant languages with provisions for illiteracy, and workplace accidents are recorded; 

• Workplace has a written health and safety policy, properly implemented, and workers are engaged in reviewing and implementing policy; 

• Workplace has a structure or mechanism in place (i.e. occupational health and safety committee), with formal channels of communications established, to discuss and implement protection of workplace health and safety;

• There are special protections for young, pregnant, or other vulnerable workers.

Additional Information 

Definitions

• Personal protective equipment - Equipment worn to minimize exposure to workplace injuries and illnesses that may result from chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards (Source: US Department of Labor). It includes any item a worker needs to wear for their own protection.

• Communication equipment - Equipment to facilitate communication on the vessel as well as ship-to-shore communication. All vessels must be equipped with functioning radio or satellite or other ship to shore communication. Workers should be trained on how to use this equipment.

• Flotation Devices – Vessels should have enough personal flotation devices (PFD) -- this means that each worker should have a PFD. Vessels should also have enough life rafts to safely and securely evacuate all persons on board and workers on the vessel in the event of an emergency.

• Fire-Fighting Equipment - Refers to fire extinguishers and other equipment used to respond to a fire. Vessels must be equipped with sufficient and appropriate fire-fighting equipment.

Safety and Health Regulations

• Management should have copies of legally required Health and Safety licenses.

• Management should establish on-board procedures for the prevention of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. The specific hazards and risks on the fishing vessel should be taken into account.

• Documentation is needed to provide evidence that a health and safety risk assessment was conducted and the identified risks have been managed.

• International standards for working in fishing requires fishers to undergo periodic examinations of their medical fitness for work on fishing vessels. Management should have copies of up-to-date medical certificates of fishers.

• This is a particular requirement of fishers working on large fishing vessels (24 meters in length and over) and vessels that remain at sea for more than three days.

• Hazardous work should be assigned to workers who are capable and healthy. Pregnant workers should not perform dangerous tasks.

• There should be separate sanitary facilities for men and women.

Sample questions to guide you when assessing the Unit of Assessment against the standard:

• Do you have a communication device onboard (cell phone or radio)? 

• Do you have personal flotation devices onboard?  

• Do you have any other safety equipment onboard (i.e. first aid kits)? 

• Are crew members trained on health and safety procedures?   

• Do you have a written health and safety policy?