Home & Dry campaign - Fishermen's safety

Created by the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG), the Home & Dry campaign aims to connect and engage with fishermen on the issues of staying safe at sea.

The purpose of the new website https://www.homeanddry.uk/ is to act as an information hub, a collection of all the relevant safety information to help members of the commercial fishing industry get access to sea safety training, guidance and technical expertise. It’s here to make the transition to safer fishing simple.

Check if you are complying with the law by visiting https://www.homeanddry.uk/ and see below.

HOW TO COMPLY WITH ILO 188

THE FACTS

• The latest figures show that commercial fishing is by far the most dangerous job and UK fishermen face a risk of death over six times higher than the most dangerous land-based industry.
• The major causes of fatalities are going overboard, flooding, and capsize. For example:
  • 45% of all fatalities on vessels under 15m are due to flooding and capsize
  • 52% of fatalities on al vessels result from going Overboard

THE LAW

• You must have written and discussed a formal risk assessment on your vessel. More guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fishing-vessel-health-and-safety
• You must wear a PFD on deck unless your risk assessment can discount it. More information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-588-ilo-work-in-fishing-convention-health-and-safety-pfds
• You must have a written fisherman’s work agreement for all the fishermen on your vessel. Example here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/model-fishermans-work-agreements
• You must have checked that all the fishermen on your vessel have a certificate of medical fitness in advance of the required date. More information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/msn-1883-ilo-work-in-fishing-convention-medical-examination-and-certification
• You must have insurance or another form of financial security so that you can meet your liabilities for compensation if a fisherman is ill, is injured or dies as a result of working on your vessel. More information here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1106/contents/made
• Having a Safety Management System will help you comply with the requirements of ILO188, as well as help comply with Codes of Practice and make your MCA survey quicker and cheaper. More information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-596-fishing-safety-helping-to-improve-safety-fishing-vessels

RESPONSIBILITIES

Owners of UK-flagged fishing vessels are responsible for basic health and safety on board their boats, safe working practices and safety equipment

THE CONSEQUENCES

• Failure to take adequate measures for the health and safety of crew is a criminal offence punishable with a fine or a prison sentence.
• Failure to wear a PFD when provided may be a criminal offence punishable with a fine.

Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ilo-work-in-fishing-convention

Note - The FISG is a stakeholder group, whose aim is to improve the safety of commercial fishing at sea. Its ultimate goal is zero preventable deaths at sea and to reduce the number of serious accidents and vessels lost at sea due to health and safety issues. The FISG is made up of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Seafish, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation (NIFF), Welsh Fishermen’s Association – Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru (WFA-CPC), the RNLI and the Shipbuilders & Shiprepairers Association (SSA).

The Home and Dry campaign is supported by Trinity House.