This document summarizes safety challenges in the Norwegian fishing industry. It presents statistics showing declines in fishermen numbers and increases in catch per fisherman over time. Several graphs show trends in fatal accidents at sea, with the highest numbers occurring in the 1990s and a generally decreasing frequency since. The document outlines various safety measures and research projects aimed at improving safety, such as training programs, safety manuals, emergency devices, safer vessels and clothing. It discusses current initiatives to further understand and prevent accidents and injuries among fishermen.

1. Safety challenges in the
Norwegian fishing fleet
NSHC 2012
Trine Thorvaldsen
PhD research fellow
SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture
SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture

2. SINTEF (www.sintef.no)
SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture 2

3. Focus for this presentation
• Fatalities in the Norwegian fishing fleet
all data analyses done by Halvard Aasjord, senior scientist at SINTEF Fisheries
and Aquaculture (slides 4-6).
• Some important measures to improve safety
all research projects presented funded by The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund
(Fiskeri – og havbruksnæringens forskningsfond) http://www.fiskerifond.no/
• Current initiatives and research
• Future research
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4. Trends in the Norwegian fishing industry
160 4 000 000
140 3 500 000
Fiskere/fangst pr fisker
120 3 000 000
No of fishermen/catch per fisherman
100 2 500 000
Kvantum
80 2 000 000
Quantity
60 1 500 000
40 1 000 000
20 500 000
0 -
45
48
51
54
57
60
63
66
69
72
75
78
81
84
87
90
93
96
99
02
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
Kvantum(tonn)
Quantity (tons) Fiskere (i 1000)
Fishermen Fangst (tonn) pr fisker
Catch per fisherman (tons)
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5. Fatal accidents and frequency - Period 1990 - 2011
Total fatal losses Frequency rel man-years Linear (Frequency rel man-years)
45 25,00
23,78
40
39
20,00
35
17,08
30
Frequency per 10.000 Man-Years
Number of lost fishermen
14,03 28 15,00
25
23
10,98 10,73
20 10,32
9,76 10,00
9,15 9,15 10,00
18 8,47
17
15 16 7,65
7,24
15 15 6,83
6,12 6,10
5,49 5,61
5,17 12
10 4,88 11
10 10 5,00
9 9 9
8 8 3,18 8
5 6 6
4
0,00
0
0 0,00
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
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6. Fatal Accidents in the Norwegian Fishing fleet - 1990 - 2011
45
40
35
30
Number of lost fishermen
25
20
15
10
5
0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Deep Sea Fishing fleet > 28 meter 2 3 9 15 2 1 2 2 5 4 3 1 2 1 0 1 1 2 0 3 2 0
Medium & Large Coastal 13 - 27,9 m 8 2 4 2 1 5 2 2 5 6 1 4 1 2 0 2 2 1 0 2 6 0
Small Coastal fleet < 13 meter 13 13 15 22 13 2 5 11 5 7 4 4 7 9 4 6 5 3 0 6 2 6
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7. Some important measures to improve safety
Photo by Trine
Thorvaldsen
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8. Safety and survival training for fishermen
Ireland 1975
Norway 1982
Iceland 1985
Taiwan 1985
Faroe islands 1989
Lithuania 1992
Denmark 1994
USA 1994
Finland 1998
Sweden 1998
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9. Safety manuals
http://www.fisk
erifond.no/ind
ex.php?current
_page=prosjek
ter&subpage=
archive&detail
=1&id=279&gi
d=3
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10. Technology: Emergency-stop devices
Reference:
Aasjord HL, Aas C.
SINTEF report SFH80
A083043, 2008
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11. Vessels: Sea keeping abilities
MK ”Nordheimson”– rebuilt 47 foot fishingvessel
Referece: SINTEF report SFH80 A073011, 2008
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12. Safer work clothing
1. Water-proof
2. Reinforced on parts especially
exposed to wear and tear
3. Keeps the body warm
4. Provides freedom of movement
5. Ensures good visibility
6. Withstands tearing by fishing hooks
7. Ventilates water vapour and sweat
8. Feels light when wearing
9. Reduces risk of getting caught in
fishing equipment and installations Reference: Geving, IH et al Safer work clothing for
fishermen, Internat Marit Health 57:94-102
10. Integrated buoyancy aid
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13. SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture 13

14. SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture 14

15. Highest prioritized requirements by fishermen
TRAINING: New employees are given sufficient time for
training.
EXTERNAL CONDITIONS: Safety is ensured despite a high
demand for cost-efficient operation.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK: The legal framework is adjusted to the
realities within the fishing fleet.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY: The personal protective equipment
is easily accessible on board.
Reference: Geving, I et al.
SINTEF Report A8573,
2008
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16. Current initiatives and research
• Conference funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers
Tromsø, Norway 24-25.october 2012
• European Fisheries Technology Centre
(contact: Roar.Solbakken@sintef.no)
• Underlying causes for fatalities and serious injuries
http://www.sintef.no/Fiskeri-og-Havbruk-AS/Prosjekter/2011/Fiskebaten-som-sikker-arbeidsplass/
• A working group established by the Norwegian Maritime Authority
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17. Future research
• Long term consequences of
accidents
• Work-related exposures and
working health
Contact: Trine.M.Thorvaldsen@sintef.no
Drawing from Fugelli and Aasjord (1992): Fishermen’s
work environment guide
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18. Thank you for your attention!
e-mail: Trine.M.Thorvaldsen@sintef.no
Phone: +4792422971
http://www.sintef.no/fisk
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