Fisheries and Aquaculture
September 26, 2012
Industry-led Fisheries Safety Association to Help Save Lives at Sea
The establishment of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association (NL-FHSA) will lead to the promotion of safety education and awareness initiatives, and will work to reduce workplace injuries, illness and fatalities in the fishing industry. The NL-FHSA is a joint venture of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) and the Professional Fish Harvesters’ Certification Board (PFHCB).
“This association represents a tremendous co-operative effort from the fish harvesting sector and will have a genuine impact on the safety of the women and men who fish for a living in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Service NL and Minister Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission. “The industry experts involved in the creation of this organization represent all aspects of the fish harvesting industry and have the depth of knowledge and the experience required to improve safety and save lives at sea.”
The Provincial Government is providing $500,000 to support the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association. The fish harvesting industry, made up of industry representatives, the PFHCB, the Fisherman’s Benefit Trust, is contributing $585,000 and the WHSCC is contributing $253,060.
Further information about the Fish Harvesters Safety Association and the funding arrangement is provided in the backgrounder below.
“Significant progress has been made in the fish harvesting sector in recent years – crews are better trained, individuals wear personal flotation devices more frequently, and there is more safety information available than ever before,” said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “I am confident that the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association will further improve safety practices that will help reduce injuries and loss of life.”
The NL-FHSA will conduct a detailed analysis of program and training requirements which will set the foundation for strategic priorities, communication and consultation. Following the completion of this analysis, the association will focus on the creation of education and awareness programs for fish harvesters.
“In the past decade we have made significant progress in the area of fishing vessel safety – particularly in terms of fish harvesters’ ability to survive accidents at sea,” said Mark Dolomount, Executive Director of the PFHCB. “Despite these improvements, the number of workplace injuries and fatalities remain alarmingly high. With a sole mandate to improve fishing vessel safety, and a primary focus on prevention, we are confident that the NL-FHSA can take fishing vessel safety in this province to a whole new level.”
There have been 23 deaths related to the fishing industry since 2005 and more than 1,000 accidents resulting in time away from work over that period. In addition, a total of $98 million in claim costs and claim liabilities have been paid or accrued in the fish harvesting sector since 2005 by the WHSCC.
Every worker has the right to participate in the conversation about workplace safety, and creation of the NL-FHSA will enhance that right throughout the fish harvesting sector,” said WHSCC CEO Leslie Galway. “Every worker also has the right to return home safely after work. Fulfilling that promise is the ultimate goal of this association and I am confident this group will work diligently and expertly to achieve that goal.”
The association comprises 13 board members nominated by their stakeholder group and appointed by the Minister of Service NL. Eleven voting board members will represent the fish harvesting industry. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the WHSCC will each be represented by one ex-officio member.
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Media contacts:
| Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Service NL 709-729-4860, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
Bradley Power Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-5707 bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Chris Flanagan Director of Communications Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission 709-778-1590, 728-7869 chris.flanagan@whscc.nl.ca |
Mark Dolomount Executive Director Professional Fish Harvesters’ Certification Board 709-722-8175 |
BACKGROUNDER
Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association
Improving the health and safety of the fish harvesting sector has been a priority for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) for many years.
Significant progress has been made in the fish harvesting sector. Fishing crews in this province are now much better trained and prepared to respond to an emergency at sea. Newfoundland and Labrador operators are the best trained in the country, and most compliant with the Marine Personnel Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act. Fish harvesters are wearing personal flotation devices at a much higher rate than they did a decade ago and safety information is more readily available then in the past.
Following the Provincial Government’s 2006 statutory review, the WHSCC was asked to assist with the development and coordination of a fishing industry safety council organization. A key issue raised during the Fishing Industry Renewal consultations was occupational health and safety. A fishing industry safety council was identified as a Provincial Government initiative in the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy announced in 2007.
The structure and mission of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association (NL-FHSA) developed by the Professional Fish Harvesters’ Certification Board with support from the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council, the Occupational Health and Safety Branch of Service NL, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Fish, Food and Allied Workers, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Coast Guard, Marine Institute, and SafetyNet.
Overview of Five Year Funding Structure
The below is an outline of NL-FHSA funding for years one to five:
| Years 1-3 | Years 4-5 | % Overall Contribution | |
| Provincial Government | 500,000 | 56% | |
| WHSCC | 253,060 | ||
| Industry (in kind) | 75,000 | 50,000 | 9.3% |
| Professional Fish Harvesters’ Certification Board | 282,695 | 21% | |
| Fishermen’s Benefit trust | 100,000 | 7.4% | |
| Special projects based funding | 80,000 | 5.9% | |
| Total | $1,340,755 | ||
Goals of the NL-FHSA
The NL-FHSA will conduct a detailed analysis of program and training
requirements which will set the foundation for strategic priorities,
communication and consultation. Following the completion of this analysis,
the association will focus on the creation of education and awareness
programs for fish harvesters, relating to improved safety culture, increased
accessibility and participation in safety education and training,
development, dissemination and exchange of information with harvesters and
other industry stakeholders and improved compliance in the industry.
Association Membership
| Members | Directors – Voting Board Members | |
| Industry representatives | Nominated by: | |
| 3 | Crew member or deckhand, representing near-shore, 40-65’ and offshore | Fish, Food and Allied Workers |
| 3 | Owner/operator, representing near-shore, 40-65’ and offshore | Fish, Food and Allied Workers & Industry |
| 2 | Processor | Industry Associations |
| 1 | Aboriginal fishers | Self-selected |
| 1 | Professional Fish Harvesters’ Certification Board | Professional Fish Harvesters’ Certification Board |
| 1 | Fish, Food and Allied Workers | Fish, Food and Allied Workers |
| Directors – ex-Officio Members (non-voting) | ||
| Governing Body | Nominated by: | |
| 1 | Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission | Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission |
| 1 | Provincial Government | Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| Advisory Committee to the Board | ||
| Governing Body | Nominated by: | |
| 4 | Provincial Government | OHS Branch, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Transport Canada |
| 1 | Marine Institute | Marine Institute |
| 1 | SafetyNet | SafetyNet |
2012 09 26 10:40 a.m.