NIOSH, US Coast Guard Makes Funding Available for Safety Training, Research for Commercial Fishing

NIOSH, US Coast Guard Makes Funding Available for Safety Training, Research for Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing is a dangerous occupation and exposes workers to many hazardous conditions.

This week, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the U.S. Coast Guard announced funding for safety research and training for commercial fishing.

According to a news release, $6 million will be available to “qualified individuals in academia, members of non-profit organizations, municipalities, and businesses involved in the fishing and maritime industries” through two grants: The Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research Cooperative Agreement and the Training Project Grants.

“These grants directly improve the lives and safety of those working in the maritime industry where applicants reflect the diversity of the fishing industry and clearly outline a path to enhance safety within commercial fishing nationally,” said Joseph Myers, chief of the Coast Guard’s Fishing Vessel Safety Division in the news release.

Over the course of three years, up to $975k for each grant can be allocated to organizations. Funding will be made available in the fiscal year 2023.

In what NIOSH calls “one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States,” commercial fishing can expose workers to many hazards. In fact, the fatality rate for employees in this occupation is higher than the overall average of all occupations.

According to NIOSH, from 2000 to 2015, the average fatality rate in commercial fishing was 117 deaths per 100,000 workers. The fatality rate in all industries was 4 per 100,000 workers. The two incidents that resulted in the most fatalities from 2000 to 2015 were vessel disasters and falls overboard, according to NIOSH.

Applications are due by January 31, 2023.

About the Author

Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.

Product Showcase

  • Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker WBGT Monitoring for Workplace Safety

    Ensure safety with the Kestrel® 5400 Heat Stress Tracker, the go-to choice for safety professionals and endorsed by the Heat Safety & Performance Coalition. This robust, waterless WBGT meter is ideal for both indoor and outdoor environments, offering advanced monitoring and data logging essential for OSHA compliance. It features pre-programmed ACGIH guidelines and alert settings to quickly signal critical conditions. Integrated with the cloud-based Ambient Weather Network, the 5400 allows managers to view, track, and log job site conditions remotely, ensuring constant awareness of potential hazards. Its capability for real-time mobile alerts and remote data access promotes proactive safety management and workplace protection, solidifying its role as a crucial tool in industrial hygiene. Read More

  • Safety Knives

    The Safety Knife Company has developed a quality range of safety knives for all industries. Designed so that fingers cannot get to the blades, these knives will safely cut through cardboard, tape, strapping, shrink or plastic wrap or a variety of other packing materials. Because these knives have no exposed blades and only cut cardboard deep, they will not only protect employees against lacerations but they will also save product. The Metal Detectable versions have revolutionary metal detectable polypropylene knife bodies specifically for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This material can be detected and rejected by typical detection machines and is X-ray visible. Read More

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars