Local Union Helps Keep Fishermen Safe
The province's fishing industry is becoming safer, with more fishermen recognizing the importance and comfort of state-of-the-art life jackets.
The Maritime Fishermen's Union Local 4 recently purchased life jackets for its 40 members in Antigonish and Pictou counties.
"I am pleased with the leadership this group is showing to protect the safety of their members," said MLA for Pictou East Clarrie MacKinnon, on behalf of Labour and Advanced Education Minister Frank Corbett. "Safety is vitally important, and we all have a role to play to ensure fishermen come home safely to their families."
Union members, representatives from the province, the Workers' Compensation Board, and the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia joined fishermen and community members at the Lismore Wharf, today, May 8, to celebrate union local's dedication to workplace safety. North American Occupational Safety and Health Week goes until Saturday.
The fishermen received life jackets on the opening day of the season, April 29.
"Members of Local 4 attended the ministers conference in February and it was focused on safety," said union local president Gordon Beaton. "It made us aware of the PFD regulations and we decided it was a good way to help our membership."
"This is money well spent in our estimation," said Bryce Thompson, union local treasurer. "This is a good way to support safety and our membership at the same time."
Fishermen are 19 times more likely to die on the job, than the Nova Scotia average. Since 2009, 26 fishermen have died at sea, almost half the fishing fatalities in the entire country.
"We want all workers across the province to come home safe to their families. Unfortunately far too many fish harvesters never come home," said Mr. MacKinnon. "I am very pleased to see all of the collaboration, conversations and work being done across the industry to better protect these people, and look forward to many more organizations making wearing PFDs a priority."
The province is working with the Workers' Compensation Board, Fisheries Safety Association and the Fisheries Sector Council to increase safety awareness in the industry. These efforts include promoting life jackets use. Nova Scotia's Occupational Health and Safety Act states that an employer must provide and ensure a life jacket or personal safety device is used when there is a risk of drowning.
"Fishing has a long proud legacy in Nova Scotia, but for far too long now it has been associated with great tragedy," said Stuart MacLean, CEO of the compensation board. "This union local is showing great leadership by outfitting every member with a personal floatation device. The investment will no doubt save lives and is proof that no matter how small the local or the organization, safety can and must be first priority."