Boundary Line Not the Way to Figure Risk

Details

• Personal Author:
  Backus A
• Description:
  From the standpoint of fishing safety regulations established under the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Act (CFVSA) of 2988 the "boundary line" marks the point beyond which federally documented vessels must have specific safety equipment. As an imaginary line marking the "difference" between low-risk and high-risk waters - a concept we might infer from the fact that more safety equipment is required outside of the "boundary line" than inside it - the boundary line has no real meaning. The boundary line from Maine to Massachusetts zigzags from lighthouse to lighthouse, and sometimes to buoys, from Kendall Head Light in Eastport to the Cape Ann Lighted Whistle Buoy. At times the boundary line is close to or on shore while at other times it is miles at sea. For this reason it is not a realistic or meaningful line of demarcation as far as risk to crew and vessel is concerned. The CFVSA boundary line is not marked on any chart, but it is "discernable" if one has a chart handy and can identify the lighthouses and buoys that determine the line. Originally used for customs purposes, as I understand it, this boundary line was a simple solution during the negotiations that produced the CFVSA that did not require any fancy technical measurements. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Disaster Planning Education Electrical Equipment And Supplies Emergencies Environmental Exposure First Aid Hunting Mortality Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Accidents Communication Systems Electronic Equipment Emergency Equipment Emergency Preparedness Exposure Levels Fatalities First Aid Fishing Fishing Industry Hazards Injuries Injury Prevention Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Protective Measures Risk Factors Safety Culture Safety Education Safety Equipment Safety Measures Safety Practices Safety Programs Training Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  0273-6713
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062132
• Citation:
  Commercial Fish News 2007 Jul; :19A
• Contact Point Address:
  Ann Backus, MS, Director of Outreach, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston MA
• Email:
  abackus@hohp.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Commercial Fisheries News
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5c8ee7a097ed374fdc0f4a1e66cb1b51978fe6c0c9e956c6167591f0e78f45583a5c750be0c4c47070c73d891594f2f85d977a49341a61e9226b8985f4549f59
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225441/cdc_225441_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 196.46 KB ]