The Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Health and Safety Research in Progress June 2010 contains short summaries of continuing projects as well as those that were completed during 2009-2010. This Program aims to undertake R&D and research application activities that improve the:

• Physical health of farming and fishing workers and their families
• Mental health of farming and fishing families
• The safety of the work environment and practices in farming and fishing industries.

This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications which are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au.  Purchases can also be made by phoning 1 300 634 313.

This project emanates from the identification of gaps in occupation health and safety (OHS) data for the fishing industry by the Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Health and Safety Program across all three of its objectives. The research is important as it provides a basis upon which to understand the OHS issues and challenges of the fishing industry and where further efforts and investment could most effectively be targeted.

The primary beneficiaries of this research are the commercial fishing industry, research and funding providers. The information contained in this report provides a clear guidance to the industry of its OHS circumstance relative to other primary industries (forestry and agriculture). It identifies the most ‘at risk’ groups in the industry, and the existing and emerging high risk elements of the industry. It also identifies those areas and issues that are in most need of further investment, and those which would produce the most effective outcomes in terms of reducing the incidences of OHS claims in commercial fishing.

The key finding is that a lack of awareness of occupational health and safety, and a culture of safety, still fails to be effectively dealt with across all States of Australia. The OHS data identifies that the commercial fishing industry has rates of claims that are average for the overall Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry sector, but that claims for fatal injuries in aquaculture and non fatal in marine (or wild capture) fisheries are both increasing relative to employment. The most ‘at risk’ group in the industry are those between the age of 20 to 24 years, with those aged 45 – 54 years being the next most at risk group, and will receive injuries from non powered hand tools, to their upper bodies.

The importance of this report is that on the basis of the best available statistical data (which represents in the vicinity of only 18% of the industry’s participants), it provides some fifteen suggestions and recommendations for the industry and funding agencies to consider in regard to research, communication and training in the commercial fishing industry. It is the most useful basis that has been provided in recent years for framing a coherent approach to redressing the OHS issues in the commercial fishing industry and to arrest increasing rates of OHS claims.

This project was funded by the Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Health and Safety.

This report, an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications, forms part of our Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Health and Safety Research and Development Program, which aims to improve the physical and mental health of farming and fishing workers and their families, and the safety environment and work practices in farming and fishing industries.

Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313.

This research report extends the evidence base regarding effective interventions and adoption in relation to the farming and fishing industries. Specifically, it aligns with the objectives of the Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Safety addressing physical and mental health, along with the safety environment and work practices. The findings of this report will assist the Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Safety to undertake the necessary work that will inform a portfolio of farm and fishing health and safety programs that are underpinned by “best practice”.

This report details the experience of the cognitive-based safety training provided to crews and skippers of the Northern Prawn Fishery in 2015 and 2016 as a way to increase safety on board fishing vessels through enhancing safety attitudes and behaviours.