At the April Council meeting, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provided a presentation on safety and health in Alaska’s Commercial fishing and seafood processing industry. Information from the presentation showed Alaska commercial fishing fatalities declining faster than US commercial fishing fatalities. The presentation also included information on surviving fishing vessel sinkings and information on new research of non-fatal injuries and illnesses in Alaska seafood processing industry. Results from the new research indicated that hazards to target for prevention of injury and illness include the following:
Vessels
- Overexertion from lifting and lowering
- Struck by equipment and falling boxes
- Slips, trips, and falls
- And caught in machinery
Onshore plants
- Overexertion from lifting, lowering, pushing, and pulling
- Struck by trays, fish (fresh/frozen), and boxes/bags
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Repetitive motion
For more information on NIOSH, see their fishing website. Staff contact is Jon McCracken.
