Plan In Works To Make Fishing Safer In Nova Scotia

A local safety group is doing what it can to keep fishermen safe. The Workers’ Compensation Board reports eight deaths last year in Nova Scotia’s fishing industry. The Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia believes most of them could have been prevented. Executive Director Stewart Franck says they’re emphasizing two steps for safety. He says, “To have plans in place in the event someone does go overboard and trying to get people to wear personal floatation devices, so if they have a PFD on, they really increase their chances of a successful rescue.” The group is trying to save lives by working with its partners to offer training and discounts on equipment. The association along with the WCB, Department of Labour and others are developing a Fishing Safety Action Plan. Franck says parts of the plan could be launched by February 2015. He says, “It may be a five year plan, it may be a lot longer than that, but we hope to get at all of the issues that the industry presents to us in order to satisfy those problems so people can go to work safely and come home safely.” Fishermen, their families and communities will come together to discuss safety issues and help develop the plan, which is expected to improve the overall safety of fishing in Nova Scotia.