Two newly-launched safety initiatives will be promoted by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) during Skipper Expo International Aberdeen 2013, being held 10-11 May.
Among the initiatives promoted will be the Onboard Support Scheme, which has been developed for SFF members to produce a safety management system for fishing vessels by providing assistance in formulating an onboard risk assessment.
The management system allows skippers to record many different aspects of running their vessel including the expiry dates of life saving appliances, survey dates, creating lifting equipment records and recording crew certificate details. The SFF’s Safety Officer Derek Cardno will be showing skippers how the scheme works and the advantages it delivers in terms of enhancing safety. The response from SFF members so far has been good and the scheme is already bringing tangible benefits.
Also being promoted at the show will be a new initiative led by the SFF where every fisherman in Scotland with the correct mandatory certification will have the opportunity to apply for the latest Personnel Flotation Device (PFD) - and get it for free.
Derek Cardno stated: “At the Aberdeen show, fishermen who come and visit us on the stand will have the chance to collect the application form and discuss the issue of wearing one. The goal of the Onboard Support Scheme and the PFD initiative is to raise the overall safety awareness in the industry.”
