Safety in fishing — learning from experience

doi:10.1016/0925-7535(92)90019-V

Safety Science

Volume 15, Issues 4–6, November 1992, Pages 249-271

https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-7535(92)90019-V Get rights and content

Abstract

This article critically examines the level of safety in some sections of the UK fishing industry not only by looking at the available statistics but also by examining actual recent case histories.

In 1989 the UK Department of Transport established the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). Case histories published by MAIB have been taken as the basis for the article in order to illustrate and draw lessons from incidents that occur in fishing.

Fishing will always be a high risk profession but there are ways in which risks can be diminished. Many of the problems are due to vessels being built below the 12 m threshold at which the 1975 Safety Rules currently apply. Some of the vessels lack adequate reserve stability to withstand capsize in the dynamic situation and there are deficiences in design and safety equipment. The training programmes introduced by Seafish for Survival, Fire Fighting and First Aid are now mandatory for all new entrants and these have almost certainly resulted in the saving of lives. However, there needs to be a much greater awareness of accident prevention and the article makes a plea for this to be given more attention.

Each case study is probably unique or there are some specific circumstances as to why the accident happened. Nevertheless, there are always underlying lessons to be learnt from every incident of this type, even if there is no loss of life or serious injury.

Résumé

Cet article examine d'un oeil critique le niveau de sécurité dans certains secteurs de l'industrie de la pêche au Royaume Uni et ceci non seulement à partir des statistiques disponibles mais également en examinant des faits récents de cas concrets.

En 1989 le Ministère de Transport du Royaume Uni a créé le Service des Investigations sur les Accidents Maritimes (Marine Accident Investigation Branch MAIB). Quelques cas concrets publiés par le MAIB été ont pris comme point de départ de cet article afin d'illustrer et de nous permettre de tirer des leçons à partir d'incidents concrets survenus au cours de la pêche.

La pêche sera toujours une activité à haut risque mais il existe néanmoins quelques méthodes pour réduire ce risque. Beaucoup de problèmes sont dûs au fait que les bateaux n'atteignent pas le seuil des 12 m obligatoire au titre de la Règlementation sur la Sécurité de 1975. Quelques-uns de ces bateaux n'ont pas non plus la stabilité de réserve nécessaire pour résister au chavirement dans une situation critique et ils component des insuffisances au niveau de la conception et en matière d'équipements de sécurité. Les programmes de formation mis en place par Seafish for Survival, Fire Fighting et First Aid sont aujourd'hui obligatoires pour toutes les nouvelles recrues et il est certain que ceci a contribué à sauver un certain nombre de vies humaines. Néanmoins il faudrait qu'on prenne encore davantage conscience de l'absolue nécessité d'une bonne prévention des accidents et l'article constitue un réel plaidoyer pour qu'on consacre plus d'attention à ce sujet.

Chaque étude de cas est probablement unique ou bien il y a un concours de circomstances spécifique à l'origine de l'accident. Il n'en reste pas moins qu'il y a toujours une leçon à tirer de chaque incident de ce type, même s'il n'a pas eu pour conséquence de pertes de view humaines ou de blessures graves.

Zusammenfassung

In diesem Artikel wird die Sicherheit in bestimmten Bereichen der britischen Fischerei einer kritischen Beobachtung unterzogen, indem nicht nur die zur Verfügung stehenden Statistiken, sondern auch tatsächliche Fälle in der letzten Vergangenheit herangezogen werden.

Im Jahre 1989 wurde vom britischen Verkehrsministerium die Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), die Dienststelle für die Untersuchung von Unfällen auf See, gegründet. Als Grundlage für diesen Artikel wurden einige, von der MAIB veröffentliche Fälle herangezogen, um Unfälle in der Fischerei zu veranschaulichen und daraus zu lernen.

Der Fischerberuf ist von Natur ein gefährlicher Beruf. Bestimmte Gefahren können jedoch durch entsprechende Maßnahmen beseitigt werden. Die Ursache für viele Probleme sind Schiffe, die kürzer als 12 meter und deshalb nicht der Sicherheitsgesetzgebung vom Jahre 1975 unterworfen sind. Manchen dieser Schifffe fehlt die Reservestabilität, die notwendig ist, um in stürmischen Wetter die Gefahr des Kenterns auszuschließen, während es in vielen Fällen auch Mängel im Entwurf und in der Sicherheitsausrüstung gibt. Die Kurse von Seafish for Survival (Seefische fürs Überleben), Fire Fighting (Feuerwehr) und First Aid (Notarzt) sind jetzt für alle Berufsanfänger verpflichtet und haben sicherlich schon viele Menschenleben gerettet. Es ist jedoch viel mehr Kenntnis zur Vorbeugung von Unfällen notwendig. Deswegen ruft dieser Artikel dazu auf, diesem Thema mehr Aufmerksamkeit zu widmen.

Jeder Fall ist wahrscheinlich einmalig. Auch können es bestimmte Umstände gewesen sein, die zum Unfall geführt haben. Man kann jedoch immer etwas daraus lernen, auch wenn der Unfall keinen tödlichen Ausgang hatte.

References (3)

Investigations and Case Histories, published by Marine Accident Investigation Branch 5/7 Brunswick Place Southampton...

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