Occupational safety in aquaculture – Part 1: Injuries in Norway

Abstract

This article presents an overview of reported injuries in the Norwegian aquaculture industry focusing on the production of Atlantic salmon and trout, which dominates the fish farming industry in Norway. Two different data sets form the basis for the analysis: (i) occupational injuries reported to the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration, and (ii) serious occupational injuries reported to the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority. The data sets on occupational injuries and serious injuries provide information about mode of injury, type of injury, affected body parts, and time of year of the reported injuries. The results and the injury trends are analyzed and discussed in light of important characteristics and changes in the Norwegian fish farming industry, including underreporting. This information is useful in safety management and for allocating resources for risk-reducing measures.

Occupational Safety and Health in U.S. Aquaculture: A Review

“…In Norway, found that blows by objects, falls, entanglement or crush injuries, and pricks/cuts/punctures were the most common causes of injury, and open wounds, sprains, contusions, and fractures were the most frequently sustained injuries in Atlantic salmon net-pen culture from 2001 to 2014. 68 In a second report, Holen et al (2017) reported 34 fatalities in Norwegian aquaculture from 1982 to 2015, with most fatalities caused by loss of vessel (n = 15), man overboard (n = 5), and blow from an object (n = 6). 69 The authors suggested that seafaring vessel use and crane use represent critical intervention points for future worker safety interventions.…”

Gulf of Mexico Seafood Harvesters: Part 1. Occupational Injury and Fatigue Risk Factors

“…The second and third highest frequency injuries were related to entanglements or crushes and falls, respectively. A unique risk was voltage-related injuries from exposure to static electricity released from plastic fodder tubes [46]. Mariculture is an emerging practice in the GoM, which involves shellfish farming but has the potential for expanding into deeper waters and different fisheries.…”

“…Baker and Ferguson stated in 2006 that Australian fishers routinely work 24 to 96 h or more with little or no sleep [46]. A finding was that fatigue was responsible for 2% of human-related vessel collisions and 4% of groundings.…”

A Framework Based on a Systems Approach to Developing Safety Indicators in Fish Farming

“…These operations require work vessels with cranes, winches, and arrangements to secure the equipment that is undergoing maintenance. An analysis of serious injuries and fatalities shows that blows from an object, entanglements and crush, and man over board are the most common modes of injuries and causes for fatalities [5,48]. Equipment such as cranes, winches, the net cage, and work vessels, used in operations where subcontractors are involved, are often involved in these types of injuries.…”

“…Employees are exposed to hazards through manual labor using sharp objects, such as hooks and knives. Serious injuries and fatalities have been reported in relation to operations using heavy machinery, such as cranes and winches [5]. In addition to the intrinsic challenges of working with such equipment, the forces from the environment constantly influence operations.…”