Vol 57, No 1-4 (2006)
TROPICAL MEDICINE
Submitted: 2013-02-18
Published online: 2010-03-26
The successful evolution of a voluntary vessel safety program in the USA
Leslie Hughes
Vol 57, No 1-4 (2006)
TROPICAL MEDICINE
Submitted: 2013-02-18
Published online: 2010-03-26
Abstract
The North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association (NPFVOA) is a non-profit
association dedicated to safety education and training for commercial fishermen and
other mariners. Funding is provided primarily through member contributions and also
through tuition fees and sales of materials. Members are primarily fishing vessel
owners and fishing-related companies, from small salmon boats with single operators to
large processing ships with crews of 150 or more. The Association also works together
with insurance underwriters and brokers, maritime attorneys and fishing industry
support businesses. It works closely with the United States Coast Guard, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States
Department of Labor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), and many state agencies.
There are three primary components of the NPFVOA Vessel Safety Program – a
comprehensive safety manual, a series of safety and survival at sea videotapes, and a crew training program. The vessel safety manual includes 300 pages of text and
illustrations covering subjects ranging from vessel familiarity for deckhands to stability
for the owner and skipper. It is based on the experience of those who have fished the
Bering Sea and the North Pacific. The manual calls for vessel owners and skippers to
adopt safety practices specific to the vessel’s characteristics and service, the waters
fished, the season fished and the experience of the crew. The safety and survival
videotape series is designed to complement hands-on training classes. The crew
training program uses hands-on practice to dramatize and enliven the information
presented in the manual and on the videotapes. Courses are designed to be portable and
conducted in numerous ports and states.
The NPFVOA also publishes a quarterly newsletter covering its safety program,
other relevant safety information and reports of lessons learned from serious fishing
vessel accidents.
Abstract
The North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association (NPFVOA) is a non-profit
association dedicated to safety education and training for commercial fishermen and
other mariners. Funding is provided primarily through member contributions and also
through tuition fees and sales of materials. Members are primarily fishing vessel
owners and fishing-related companies, from small salmon boats with single operators to
large processing ships with crews of 150 or more. The Association also works together
with insurance underwriters and brokers, maritime attorneys and fishing industry
support businesses. It works closely with the United States Coast Guard, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States
Department of Labor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), and many state agencies.
There are three primary components of the NPFVOA Vessel Safety Program – a
comprehensive safety manual, a series of safety and survival at sea videotapes, and a crew training program. The vessel safety manual includes 300 pages of text and
illustrations covering subjects ranging from vessel familiarity for deckhands to stability
for the owner and skipper. It is based on the experience of those who have fished the
Bering Sea and the North Pacific. The manual calls for vessel owners and skippers to
adopt safety practices specific to the vessel’s characteristics and service, the waters
fished, the season fished and the experience of the crew. The safety and survival
videotape series is designed to complement hands-on training classes. The crew
training program uses hands-on practice to dramatize and enliven the information
presented in the manual and on the videotapes. Courses are designed to be portable and
conducted in numerous ports and states.
The NPFVOA also publishes a quarterly newsletter covering its safety program,
other relevant safety information and reports of lessons learned from serious fishing
vessel accidents.
Keywords
Hands-on safety training for commercial fishermen; industry safety initiatives; voluntary safety program
Title
The successful evolution of a voluntary vessel safety program in the USA
Journal
International Maritime Health
Issue
Vol 57, No 1-4 (2006)
Pages
85-93
Published online
2010-03-26
Page views
565
Article views/downloads
1112
Bibliographic record
IMH 2006;57(1-4):85-93.
Keywords
Hands-on safety training for commercial fishermen
industry safety initiatives
voluntary safety program