Something fishy
It has been revealed that accident investigators have urged fishermen to step up on their health and safety responsibilities, after a man who fell overboard on a north-east trawler died.
The group are calling for a campaign to be launched that will encourage fishermen to wear life jackets, in an attempt to reduce work accident claims.
The report highlights fears over the operation of the fishing gear on boats, crews not wearing lifejackets or safety harnesses, and the lack of understanding of risk assessments on board.
According to the UK Government’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the worker could have been saved had he been wearing a life-jacket.
The MAIB also noted that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) should speed up its programme to make all fishermen wear life-jackets when on deck, saying the work should be given the “highest priority.”
The new safety measurements would be most welcomed, especially as eighty-two fishermen have died after falling overboard between 1992 and 2006.
A watery grave
The victim, a Romanian, died after falling from the Fraserburgh-registered Maggie Ann while scallop fishing off Wales in February.
The Maggie Ann was fishing in Cardigan Bay, near New Quay, when the victim fell overboard. Despite only working on the boat for five weeks, he was a “seasoned fisherman.”
The 38-year-old fell overboard as he was emptying a dredge bag. He had been standing on a beam, which was suspended and almost level with the side of the boat, when the dredge bag lifting strap parted.
Despite the “quick reactions” of the skipper and crew, the worker drowned. Three RNLI lifeboats, an RAF helicopter and fishing boats joined in the search but his body was never found.
The report concluded that the fisherman died due to cold- water shock which led to his drowning, and maybe a cardiac arrest.
The report stated that the skipper incorrectly calculated the risks that led to the work accident and had not specified measures to moderate what should have been identified as a high hazard of falling overboard.
Furthermore, it added that if the lifting strap on the dredge bag had not failed, the accident would not have occurred.
It alleged: “The skipper had inadequate knowledge and skills with which to comply properly with risk assessments requirements.”
The skipper, a 41-year-old man, commented on the work death in a safety bulletin issued to fishermen.
“The crew threw a life-ring to him and screamed for him to grab it. His face was blue and his paddling got weaker, and he didn’t respond to the crew shouting at him.
“He just looked at us, and then turned round face down in the water – within 30 seconds his body had sunk.
“This came as a huge shock to me because I always believed that someone would last maybe five to 10 minutes in the water, in good sea conditions. He was in the water no longer than two to four minutes.”
He added that health and safety matters are of upmost importance: “You think the worst things happen in the worst weather conditions. On this occasion it wasn’t. The risks are there 24/7 regardless of the conditions.”
Updated on 9/8/2009