NIOSH Announces Availability of $6 Million in Grants for Commercial Fishing Safety and Research
The grants will support research to improve the workplace safety of those in the commercial fishing industry and important training for this high-risk occupation.
NIOSH, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, is making $6 million in grand funding available for commercial fishing safety training and research, the agency announced Jan. 2.
The grants are supported and administered by NIOSH and will provide funding to qualified individuals in academia, members of nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses involved in the fishing and maritime industries. The grants will support research to improve the workplace safety of those in the commercial fishing industry and important training for this high-risk occupation.
"NIOSH is excited to partner with the U.S. Coast Guard to administer these grants," said Jennifer M. Lincoln, Ph.D., co-director of the NIOSH Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies. "The research and training supported by this funding should further reduce occupational safety risks in the commercial fishing industry."
Commercial fishing is one of the United States' most dangerous occupations; workers in the industry can face a wide variety of hazards, depending on the vessel and fishery. Research and training to address best practices for a specific fleet and/or region are critical to ensure U.S. fishermen are receiving the best possible information and training for safety. There have been some recent successes in reducing fatal workplace injuries within the commercial fishing industry, but targeted safety research and training remains necessary and essential, according to the announcement.
"These grant programs will help further education and awareness throughout the commercial fishing fleet, as well as provide research into better equipment and operational processes," said Joseph D. Myers, chief of the Coast Guard's Fishing Vessel Safety Division. "Enhanced education, equipment and processes go hand-in-hand with the Coast Guard's longstanding premise that being properly prepared increases survivability and prevents loss of life at sea."
The Fishing Safety Research and Training Grants will provide up to 75 percent of an organization's costs, and grants will range from $250,000 to $650,000 each over a two-year funding period.
Those interested in applying for a grant can view both funding opportunities on grants.gov. The research and training grant opportunities are listened as RFA-OH-19-004 and RFA-OH-19-005, respectively, and the application deadline for both is Feb. 21, 2019.