26 September 2013 – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu reported partnered with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to conduct the first of a series of seminar/meetings with fishermen in Hawaii.

The seminar was held on September 13 at the conference room of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office, Pier 38, Honolulu. It was conducted by OSHA Inspector Raj Sundram and OSHA Assistant Area Director Roger Forstner. Observers from the NOAA Fisheries Service, KPHI Radio, and the Fil-Am Courier were also in attendance.

Topics discussed included aspects of commercial fishing safety, such as fall protection, confined space entry, hazard communication and personal protective equipment (PPE).

OSHA stressed the importance of safety awareness because between 2000 to 2009, there were 504 commercial fishing fatalities, six of them in Hawaii. More than half of these cases involved personnel falling overboard with none of the victims wearing a life vest.

Also discussed were hazards caused by personal habits, such as alcohol intoxication, smoking, lack of sleep, depression and drugs.

OSHA said that citations for violations of employee safety rules can run up to $70,000 with a six-month prison term or longer.

OSHA stressed that the fishermen themselves have the responsibility to inspect their vessels for seaworthiness, preparation for bad weather conditions, and presence of rescue equipment. Fishermen must know how to use rescue equipment and must know safety rules as well as their rights.

During the open forum, it was learned that most fishermen did not wear life vests because they found it uncomfortable to wear in the hot weather. However, OSHA said new PFDs are available which are light and comfortable to wear. It was also clarified by OSHA that the ship owners must provide each crew member a PFD.

OSHA shared that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended several measures to promote safety onboard vessels, such as regularly conducting drills for fire, man overboard, and so on.

OSHA also discussed the proper use of the correct filters when using respirators during painting, grinding and working in a fume-filled area; proper use of insecticide in confined spaces such as crews’ sleeping quarters; unlabeled containers for hazardous chemicals such as diesel fuel; improperly using propane tanks in the ship holds, where a small spark could ignite a big fire.

Sanitation onboard was also emphasized. OSHA said that the vessel owner must have a good waste management plan, which includes food and personal wastes management.

There was a comment from a manning agent that some of the ships he inspected did not have proper working toilets. A NOAA inspector related the case of a missing crewman who had gone to the deck at night without telling his crewmates, slipped and fell overboard without his personal floatation device.

The participants afterwards discussed with the Consulate’s personnel their concerns about passport renewal, accident insurance and other concerns beyond the scope of the OSHA seminar. OSHA said that they would also conduct a meeting/seminar with captains and vessel owners. OSHA thanked the Consulate for the good turnout of participants and the new partnership with the Consulate to promote commercial fishing safety. END