Fishing Vessel Safety Blueprint for a National Program (1991) / Chapter Skim
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5 THE FISHERMEN
5 THE FISHERMEN
Pages 99-118
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From page 99... ...
In marine casualties, terms like personnel error, human error, human causes, and personnel fault are not well defined. They generally refer to errors in judgment or acts of commission or omission leading to a casualty, and to ignorance and poor training (Dynamics Research Corporation, 1989; NRC, 1985, 1981, 19761.
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From page 100... ...
Also cited in major casualty reports and marine accident research are stress, fatigue, and boredom, which are critical to vessels at sea for prolonged periods or operating in congested ports and waterways (NRC, 1981; National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] , 1987; see Canadian Coast Guard, 19871.
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From page 101... ...
Coast Guard investigators are trained to carefully examine performance of licensed personnel, but there are no performance standards or license requirements for over 99 percent of the uninspected fishing industry fleet. Finally, people maintain vessels, but there are no mandated material standards for uninspected fishing industry vessels upon which to gauge how well people perform this maintenance.
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From page 102... ...
Generally, the most commonly reported were operator error, judgmental error, improper procedures, and improper maintenance. Human causes recorded in CASMAIN for documented vessels are believed to reflect the human causes of accidents involving state-numbered fishing vessels for similar incidents (based on similarities in SAR data)
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From page 103... ...
Falls OverboardlDisappearances Information concerning falls overboard and disappearances is limited, but the numbers verify that they account for the most fatalities; 26 percent of all deaths were attributed to known cases of falling into the water and 35 percent Operator Error 47SK Judgmental Error 27% Fatigue ~, q 4% 'Other 6% Improper Procedures 8% nattention/Care~ess 9% FIGURE 5-1 Human causes of groundings, CASMAIN data, 1982-1987.
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From page 104... ...
Failure to use equipment of these types is infrequently recorded in CASMAIN data as the primary cause of a fatality. However, accident investigations and anecdotal information substantiate that nonuse of safety and survival equipment plays a major role in many fishing industry fatalities (see Chapter 6~.
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From page 105... ...
and preliminary results of Coast Guard-sponsored human factors research (see Dynamics Research Corporation, 1989; USCG, 1989a)
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From page 106... ...
The vessel captains who contributed accounts have incorporated safety into their operating procedures; thus, the material tends to reflect the upper end of the safety scale. Onboard Conditions The following conditions have an impact on human-factor-related safety problems on fishing vessels: · employment without proof of professional competence; · employment without screening of physical condition; · operation of vessels without certification of professional competency, area knowledge, or familiarity with the vessel, equipment, or fishing gear; · nature of employer/employee relationships (i.e., share partnership)
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From page 107... ...
A prototype life raft intended specifically for fishing vessels is being developed jointly by the CCG
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From page 108... ...
The research sets out three basic methods that may apply (NRC, 19851: Persuade those at risk to voluntarily alter their behavior for increased self-protection. The Coast Guard's voluntary fishing vessel technical guidelines are an example (see USCG, 1986b)
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From page 109... ...
109 By itself, education has not proved to be an adequate preventative These findings have significant implications regarding the utility and implementation of specific alternatives for the fishing industry. Because safety problems usually occur aboard vessels operating in isolation, away from even casual observation by law enforcement officials, any compliance activity requiring frequent on-scene observation or direct contact by external parties such as the Coast Guard or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
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From page 110... ...
Elements of this approach could include communication programs; competency standards necessary to properly design, build, maintain, and operate fishing vessels; measures to encourage or compel acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to perform to standards; procedures for working on deck; emergency preparedness; measures to motivate safety accountability; and vessel manning and watchkeeping criteria. Problems identified apply to operators of all uninspected fishing industry vessels.
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From page 111... ...
. These special publications appear to have been discontinued when regional fishing vessel safety manuals and voluntary safety guidelines were developed.
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From page 112... ...
Optimum knowledge and skill levels to overcome these deficiencies have not been analyzed because of inadequate data, but knowledge and skills required to operate aboard vessels in other commercial maritime sectors could be adapted to the fishing industry. The knowledge and skills required to pass Coast Guard examinations and obtain licenses to operate uninspected towing vessels, uninspected passenger vessels for hire carrying fewer than six passengers, and uninspected fishing vessels over 200 gross tons have been accepted within the maritime community as legitimate.
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From page 113... ...
7 Recommended for fishing vessels by International Maritime Organization. 113 Basic knowledge and skills for responding to emergencies can be developed through education and training, and damage control and lifesaving equipment can be provided, maintained, and certified.
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From page 114... ...
Alternative 18: Develop Competency Standards This alternative envisions formally establishing competency standards for fishermen, operators, and masters of fishing vessels. Such standards should be robust enough to accommodate regional and fishery differences, yet contain the essential requirements to improve safety while minimizing the burden of implementation on the industry and Coast Guard.
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From page 115... ...
No more than 10 percent of active fishermen are believed to have received such training; however, many fishermen are awaiting regulatory action by the Coast Guard concerning knowledge and skill levels prior to seeking training. Such actions, as presently contemplated by the Coast Guard, may reverse low demand experienced in current training capacity.
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From page 116... ...
would issue a license. This alternative would, in effect, expand the Coast Guard's licensing program to include operators of uninspected commercial fishing vessels under 200 gross tons.
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From page 117... ...
Alternatively, federal licensing requirements could be expanded to all commercial fishing vessels to establish exclusive operator licensing jurisdiction with the Coast Guard. By combining professional registration (alternative 3)
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From page 118... ...
Variations on this theme are being considered by the Coast Guard as part of the congressional mandate to submit a licensing plan to Congress for documented vessels. The evidence suggests that safety problems that might lead to manning and watchkeeping requirements for documented fishing vessels apply equally to state-numbered vessels, with flexibility for degree of emphasis as discussed in alternative 21.
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