Regulation of health and safety in the fishing, fish-farming – or, as it’s known, the aquaculture industry - involves either HSE or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Both regulators are concerned about the number of deaths and injuries. Since 2000, HSE has investigated four fatalities and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch many more. There have also been many injuries and cases of ill health.
Regulatory responsibility for activities at fish cages and associated moored structures as well as cages on land falls to HSE, whilst the MCA deals with activities on board vessels at sea which come under maritime law. Both organisations sometimes need to work together; the Scottish Aquaculture Industry Forum (SAIF) was set up to support close working relations between the enforcement bodies and with the industry itself. As well as HSE and MCA, SAIF membership includes the Northern Lighthouse Board, the Crown Estate, RNLI, Scottish Sea Farms, the Scottish Salmon Company and others
One of the main functions of the SAIF is to promote good practice to achieve compliance with health and safety requirements by the industry whether they operate at sea or from at fixed structures.
The SAIF have adopted HSE’s model of Safety and Health Awareness Days to demonstrate practical health and safety appoaches. The most recent event - hosted by industry itself, courtesy of Ferguson Transport (Scotland) Ltd - was held at Kishornin north-west Scotland.
Aquaculture businesses who attended were treated to 7 practical demonstrations covering forklift truck and transport issues, chemicals handling, confined spaces, proper use of lifejackets, life rafts and flares, dealing with cold shock and safe manual handling.
Apart from helping to identify common hazards and precautions relevant to businesses, the event allowed participants to ask questions about their legal requirements.
“Aquaculture is an important industry in Scotland and one that we can be very proud of. However, we must not forget that the marine environment is dangerous and unforgiving. Supporting these events, by supplying experienced personnel as instructors and allowing time off for employees to attend them, demonstrates the industry's real desire to protect its workforce. If what they have learnt at the event is put into practice, it will raise health and safety standards and reduce injury and ill-health.”
The Kishorn event was the fourth such event SAIF have organised for aquaculture. Attendees have all confirmed that they find them helpful and very worthwhile.
