The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched a campaign to keep commercial fishermen safe.
This campaign follows recently released Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) figures showing that 88 people were injured or killed in deck machinery incidents on fishing vessels in UK waters over the past five years.
As well as encouraging skippers and vessel owners to apply for funding through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to help replace older, more dangerous deck machinery on their boats, the RNLI is encouraging fishermen to take extra care on deck – with a new safety video being released in partnership with Seafish.
Data released by the MAIB shows that four fishermen tragically lost their lives in deck machinery incidents from 1 January 2011 to 10 November 2015, with a further 84 injuries being suffered by commercial fishing crew.
The video shows Jamie Griffin, a former fisherman from the Isle of Man, who was the victim of a serious deck machinery incident in 2013 when he lost his arm after becoming tangled in a winch while operating the drum end. It also shows Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, whose late husband Neil tragically lost his life when a toggle from his oilskin jacket got caught in deck machinery on board his boat, drawing him into the net drum.
Worryingly, incidents of deck machinery are believed to be significantly underreported, meaning it is highly likely that many more than 84 injuries have been suffered over the past five years.
Steve Clinch, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents at the MAIB, says: “Year after year, the MAIB receives numerous reports of fishermen suffering crush injuries, amputations and even death as the result of accidents involving deck machinery on fishing boats.
“Sadly, in almost all cases, accidents which occur when operating deck machinery are avoidable if fishermen undertake some basic training and adopt safe working practices. I would therefore recommend this awareness video to all fishermen, but especially skippers.”
The EMFF grant funding to replace older, more dangerous deck machinery is now available for fishermen to apply for in England and Scotland, with funding due to become available for fishermen in Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland soon.
