Signaling and mayday: training Vietnamese shrimp fishermen of the Gulf Coast.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Carruth A ; Elliott J ; Evert W ; Gallardo G ; Gilmore K ; Levin J ; Nonnenmann M ; Shepherd S ; Vo M ; Wickman A
• Description:
  Background: The commercial fishing trades are among the most dangerous jobs in the world. In the United States, the Eighth Coast Guard District has the second highest level of vessel losses and crew fatalities among commercial fishermen. Preparation of commercial fishermen for emergencies aboard fishing vessels can enhance crew survival. The current study examines how occupational morbidity and mortality among commercial fishermen along the U.S. Gulf Coast may be influenced by cultural factors and attitudes/beliefs toward occupational exposures and workplace risk factors. During the study it became apparent that language was a significant barrier among Vietnamese shrimp fishermen learning sound signals and making mayday calls. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has reported multiple navigational incidents resulting from failure to properly signal or communicate ship-to-ship via VHF radios. Poor outcomes from emergencies have been the result of failure to effectively perform a mayday call. Methods: Two key skills identified by the USCG for training are sound signaling and executing a mayday call. Reported training obstacles have been lack of knowledge and language barriers. A model was built replicating a vessel's steering wheel, speed control, horn blast, and radio, in order to simulate the bridge of a fishing vessel. Professional video/audio footage of approaching freighters was produced. Using this footage, vessel captains were instructed by an experienced mariner in Vietnamese how to listen to and signal approaching vessels with the horn. A tip card, with English and Vietnamese instructions, guides practice of the mayday call. Results: This training has been well received by Vietnamese shrimp fishermen along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. From 2004-2010, over 500 fishermen were trained (including repeats). The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 has since introduced a new provision requiring individuals in charge of the vessel to pass a training program which includes, among other things, collision prevention, navigation, and ability to communicate in an emergency situation. In response to this prior experience and these new regulatory requirements, the NIOSH Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education, in collaboration with USCG Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety, has developed an interactive CD to teach captains critical information about navigational sound signals and the execution of a mayday call. It has been produced in three languages (English, Vietnamese, and Spanish). Conclusions: The findings of a larger study pointed to an important cultural barrier thought to have an impact on occupational morbidity and mortality. The resulting hands-on training module and CD serve as examples of research to practice (r2p), coincident with new regulation which mandates certification of these competencies or skills. It further illustrates the importance of partnerships and considering cultural factors, including language, in the design and delivery of workplace safety training interventions.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Energy Metabolism Food Contamination Metals, Heavy Occupational Health Poisoning Safety
• Keywords:
  Behavior Emergency Preparedness Fishing Industry Language Barrier Risk Factors Signaling Systems Sociological Factors
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  Louisiana ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  25
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057309
• Citation:
  NORA Symposium 2011: Achieving Impact Through Research and Partnerships, July 12-13, 2011, Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2011 Jul; :25
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Center at Tyler
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  NORA Symposium 2011: Achieving Impact Through Research and Partnerships, July 12-13, 2011, Cincinnati, Ohio
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:651bc888425bbe882a20bc1c07d118c87110d3f60100a672646e9b7810fedd08a1104f9a4067f5dff6b2a51af2d7c3ec473b8ab1d74ba9807849b9dd0e89dda7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181811/cdc_181811_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 294.02 KB ]