Dr Jeremy Hayman Department of Management School of Business and Law, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland Jeremy.hayman@aut.ac.nz (P25, Thursday 27, Civic Room 3, 3.00)

1. OHS in the NZ FishingOHS in the NZ Fishing
Industry: PreliminaryIndustry: Preliminary
findings of the key issuesfindings of the key issues
D. Anderson, J. HaymanD. Anderson, J. Hayman
& F. Lamm& F. Lamm

2. BackgroundBackground
 The NZ seafood industry is 4th largestThe NZ seafood industry is 4th largest
industry behind dairy, meat and forestry,industry behind dairy, meat and forestry,
contributing $4 billion to GDP in 2009contributing $4 billion to GDP in 2009
 There are approximately 2500 enterprisesThere are approximately 2500 enterprises
and 1300 registered commercial fishingand 1300 registered commercial fishing
vesselsvessels
 The industry employs approximatelyThe industry employs approximately
26,000 FTE, but as most are26,000 FTE, but as most are independentindependent
contractors & work seasonally it is difficult tocontractors & work seasonally it is difficult to
provide an accurate figureprovide an accurate figure

3. Background: KeyBackground: Key
StakeholdersStakeholders
 The NZ Seafood Industry Council: industry-The NZ Seafood Industry Council: industry-
owned company with shares held byowned company with shares held by
Commercial Stakeholder OrganisationsCommercial Stakeholder Organisations
(CSOs). (CSOs).
 Seafood Industry CouncilSeafood Industry Council
 The NZ Fishing Industry Guild: based inThe NZ Fishing Industry Guild: based in
NelsonNelson
 Maritime Union of New ZealandMaritime Union of New Zealand
 Service & Food Workers’ UnionService & Food Workers’ Union
 Maritime NZ,Maritime NZ, Transport Safety InvestigationTransport Safety Investigation
Commission & ACCCommission & ACC

4. BackgroundBackground
 The commercial fishing industry is one of theThe commercial fishing industry is one of the
most complex industries in terms of:most complex industries in terms of:
 Variety of working environmentsVariety of working environments
 High rate of mobile workersHigh rate of mobile workers
 Tight margins (fuel costs etc)Tight margins (fuel costs etc)
 Diminishing fish stocksDiminishing fish stocks
 International competitionInternational competition
 Significant health and safety issuesSignificant health and safety issues
 Still little is know of the employment & OHSStill little is know of the employment & OHS
practices in the NZ fishing industrypractices in the NZ fishing industry

5. Occ Injury & Illness RatesOcc Injury & Illness Rates
 NZ’s commercial fishing sector represents aNZ’s commercial fishing sector represents a
disproportionately high number of maritimedisproportionately high number of maritime
accidents & fatalities.accidents & fatalities.
 241 claims for every 1000 fulltime workers &241 claims for every 1000 fulltime workers &
"shocking" rate of deaths at work."shocking" rate of deaths at work.
 With the exception of 2007, (14 fatalities) the rate ofWith the exception of 2007, (14 fatalities) the rate of
reported fatalities and accidents within thereported fatalities and accidents within the
commercial fishing sectorcommercial fishing sector has remained statichas remained static
between 2000-2008 – (average of 6 fatalities)between 2000-2008 – (average of 6 fatalities)
 Fatality rate has been declining slightly in 2009, butFatality rate has been declining slightly in 2009, but
we need to question whether the industry has alsowe need to question whether the industry has also
been shrinking.been shrinking.

6. Accidents within theAccidents within the
Commercial Fishing SectorCommercial Fishing Sector
Accidents
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2000-
2001
2001-
2002
2002-
2003
2003-
2004
2004-
2005
2005-
2006
2006-
2007
Accidents

7. OHS Initiatives:OHS Initiatives: Safe ShipSafe Ship
ManagementManagement
 Introduced in 1998, the aims of Safe ShipIntroduced in 1998, the aims of Safe Ship
Management programme are:Management programme are:
 to raise the health and safety on NZ-ownedto raise the health and safety on NZ-owned
commercial vessels, andcommercial vessels, and
 to make ship owners and operators responsible forto make ship owners and operators responsible for
daily maintenance and operation of their vessels.daily maintenance and operation of their vessels.
 Covers NZ-owned commercial vessels operatingCovers NZ-owned commercial vessels operating
in NZ waters to improve their day-to-day safetyin NZ waters to improve their day-to-day safety
on small domestic cargo, passenger and fishingon small domestic cargo, passenger and fishing
vessels,vessels,
 Safe Ship Management replaced the earlierSafe Ship Management replaced the earlier
system of annual surveyssystem of annual surveys

8. OHS Initiatives:OHS Initiatives: Safe ShipSafe Ship
ManagementManagement
 Operating under the umbrella of Safe ShipOperating under the umbrella of Safe Ship
Management are a number of sub-initiatives -Management are a number of sub-initiatives -
the 3 main ones being:the 3 main ones being:
 Safe Operational PlansSafe Operational Plans : introduced in 1999,: introduced in 1999,
it is a scaled-down version of Safe Shipit is a scaled-down version of Safe Ship
Management.Management.
 Safety ProfilingSafety Profiling (the Safety Profile(the Safety Profile
Assessment Number (SPAN) scheme wasAssessment Number (SPAN) scheme was
introduced in July 2001.introduced in July 2001.
 FishSafeFishSafe: Supported by Maritime NZ, DoL,: Supported by Maritime NZ, DoL,
ACC and industryACC and industry

9. OHS Initiatives:OHS Initiatives: Safe ShipSafe Ship
ManagementManagement
 External audits have revealed a numberExternal audits have revealed a number
failings with the Safety Managementfailings with the Safety Management
System:System:
 A lack of consistencyA lack of consistency
 Overcharging for auditsOvercharging for audits
 Reluctance by some owners and operators toReluctance by some owners and operators to
undergo auditundergo audit
 Maritime NZ slow to implementMaritime NZ slow to implement
improvements.improvements.

10. Preliminary StudyPreliminary Study
 The aim of this study is therefore to investigateThe aim of this study is therefore to investigate
barriers to implementing and maintaining OSHbarriers to implementing and maintaining OSH
measures; and to explore the integration ofmeasures; and to explore the integration of
health and safety in the NZ fishing industry.health and safety in the NZ fishing industry.
 Two techniques were used in this study:Two techniques were used in this study:
 An extensive literature review was undertakenAn extensive literature review was undertaken
 A series of interviews with owners andA series of interviews with owners and
operators of commercial fishing ventures wereoperators of commercial fishing ventures were
carried out to explore key themes found in thecarried out to explore key themes found in the
related literature.related literature.

11. Preliminary StudyPreliminary Study
Interviewees: 6 representativesInterviewees: 6 representatives
 3 captains of in-shore and off-shore fishing vessels;3 captains of in-shore and off-shore fishing vessels;
 2 operators of fish processing facilities;2 operators of fish processing facilities;
 1 First-mate off-shore tuna vessel.1 First-mate off-shore tuna vessel.
 All operations are based in the Bay of Plenty, &All operations are based in the Bay of Plenty, &
 were small businesses supplying fish for distributionwere small businesses supplying fish for distribution
to local and export markets.to local and export markets.
 In-shore fishing activities performed throughout theIn-shore fishing activities performed throughout the
year in close proximity to the NZ coastline.year in close proximity to the NZ coastline.
 Off-shore fishing operations generally performedOff-shore fishing operations generally performed
during the tuna season (December - March), noduring the tuna season (December - March), no
more than 200 miles from the New Zealandmore than 200 miles from the New Zealand
coastline.coastline.

12. Summary of the Main IssuesSummary of the Main Issues
Changes in the IndustryChanges in the Industry::
 The impact of new technology & issues aroundThe impact of new technology & issues around
resource sustainabilityresource sustainability
 The changing nature and skill capacity of theThe changing nature and skill capacity of the
workforceworkforce
 Overseas interests = unsustainable, poorOverseas interests = unsustainable, poor
fishing and employment practicesfishing and employment practices
 Those employed in the fishing are poorly paidThose employed in the fishing are poorly paid
compared to employees in other occupationscompared to employees in other occupations
 Research shows that fishermen have a high rateResearch shows that fishermen have a high rate
of alcoholismof alcoholism

13. Summary of the Main IssuesSummary of the Main Issues
Barriers to OHS complianceBarriers to OHS compliance ::
 Tight operating margins generated by increasingTight operating margins generated by increasing
fuel, compliance and wages costs, as well asfuel, compliance and wages costs, as well as
diminishing fishing stocks, all of which havediminishing fishing stocks, all of which have
contributed to reduced profitscontributed to reduced profits
 Reduced profits in turn have a flow-on effect onReduced profits in turn have a flow-on effect on
the ability of employer to fund health and safetythe ability of employer to fund health and safety
improvementsimprovements
 Inconsistent standards and enforcement fromInconsistent standards and enforcement from
Maritime NZ (a perennial complaint that has alsoMaritime NZ (a perennial complaint that has also
been registered by TAIC in its reports)been registered by TAIC in its reports)

14. Summary of the Main IssuesSummary of the Main Issues
Employment PracticesEmployment Practices
 Typically crews of fishing vessels in NZ are paidTypically crews of fishing vessels in NZ are paid
on aon a "share of catch"share of catch" basis." basis.
 At the end of every voyage, each member of theAt the end of every voyage, each member of the
crew received a % of the value of the fish caughtcrew received a % of the value of the fish caught
less certain expenses.less certain expenses.
 Most crew are independent contractors who areMost crew are independent contractors who are
not entitled to paid holidays & do not receive anynot entitled to paid holidays & do not receive any
income when they were not at sea.income when they were not at sea.
 This makes the responsibility for OHSThis makes the responsibility for OHS
complicated and has implications for workers’complicated and has implications for workers’
compensationcompensation

15. Summary of the Main IssuesSummary of the Main Issues
 Knowledge of OHS, Legislation, and OSHKnowledge of OHS, Legislation, and OSH
Programmes:Programmes:
 The interviewee’s years of training & industryThe interviewee’s years of training & industry
expertise = level of OHS knowledgeexpertise = level of OHS knowledge
 Interviewees utilised industry experts,Interviewees utilised industry experts,
colleagues and government agencies tocolleagues and government agencies to
obtain additional OHS information and advice,obtain additional OHS information and advice,
 3 interviewees had not participated in the3 interviewees had not participated in the
FishSafe programmeFishSafe programme

16. Summary of the Main IssuesSummary of the Main Issues
 Integrating health and safety throughoutIntegrating health and safety throughout
the workplacethe workplace::
 Lack of understanding of OHS preventativeLack of understanding of OHS preventative
measuresmeasures
 OHS initiatives are often introduced after aOHS initiatives are often introduced after a
incidentincident
 Hard to introduce preventative measuresHard to introduce preventative measures
when the workplace and environment arewhen the workplace and environment are
constantly changingconstantly changing
 Requires a level of expertise that owners &Requires a level of expertise that owners &
employees may not possess.employees may not possess.

17. ConclusionConclusion
 While fishing is a lucrative but diminishingWhile fishing is a lucrative but diminishing
industry, there are still significant OHSindustry, there are still significant OHS
issues.issues.
 OHS regulations and enforcement areOHS regulations and enforcement are
piecemeal and inconsistent and dividedpiecemeal and inconsistent and divided
between different agenciesbetween different agencies
 There is, therefore, a need for aThere is, therefore, a need for a
comprehensive review of the OHS in thecomprehensive review of the OHS in the
fishing industry.fishing industry.

18. THANK YOUTHANK YOU
Questions?Questions?