It’s time to update or refresh safety training

With tough new workplace safety laws now in place and backed by significantly upgraded penalties, it is important that all commercial fishing industry businesses undertake, or refresh, safety training to ensure they are compliant and meet duty of care requirements– particularly for those working on vessels.

Specialist fishing industry training program,  SeSAFE, helps achieve this outcome with the development of targeted training video modules covering the key safety areas.

The modules are packaged to cover key safety areas so boat owners and skippers can select which modules they want crew to complete to ensure they are properly trained and compliant with new safety regimes. Modules can be completed at once or over a period of time, and are designed to complement onboard safety inductions and drills.

Best of all, much of the training can be completed by crew at home, or provided through informal workshops and classes at no cost. Additional fishery-specific modules can be developed upon request at cost.

Ten reasons why boat owners and skippers should consider SeSAFE training for their crew

1. SeSAFE training is designed to save lives.

By increasing safety knowledge and awareness, crew can respond confidently in an emergency and reduce risks to the health and safety of all onboard, including the skipper if incapacitated.

2. SeSAFE training is relevant, convenient and available to all crew.

Module content has been developed in collaboration with fishers, industry bodies, and AMSA to ensure relevance. Training can be completed at any time, in almost any location, and is available to crew before they step onboard irrespective of their location. An ability to complete modules on a mobile phone is under development. Modules can be completed at once or over a longer period, and are ideal for providing refresher training of experienced crew.

3. SeSAFE training complements existing safety training offerings.

This training serves as a foundation to onboard safety inductions and prepares crew for boat-specific safety training delivered by the skipper.

4. SeSAFE training covers a wider range of topics than many other land-based safety training offerings.

This training includes not only emergency response, but personal safety, operational safety, risk assessment, and in some instances, fishery-specific safety, thus filling important gaps in current safety training offerings.

5. SeSAFE training can be accessed online, or completed offline.

Modules can be assessed and completed online, or downloaded and completed at a later date when Wi-Fi is unavailable.

6. SeSAFE training requires almost no involvement or time by the boat owner or skipper.

After selecting modules for their crew, no further involvement of the boat owner or skipper is required. SeSAFE does the rest, working closely with the crew.

7. SeSAFE training is available at no cost.

There is no financial risk to boat owners and skippers.

8. SeSAFE training contributes to meeting workplace health and safety duty of care requirements.

Boat owners and skippers have a duty of care under Workplace Health and Safety Law to take all steps deemed reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of their crew. SeSAFE training, combined with onboard safety inductions, demonstrates greater commitment to crew safety than inductions alone.

9. SeSAFE training may reduce the liability of boat owners and skippers.

Recently introduced industrial manslaughter laws means an employer can face a fine and be sent to jail if an employee suffers a fatal injury in the workplace. This could apply to boat owners and skippers, particularly if the court considers they did not take all steps deemed reasonably practicable to ensure crew health and safety.

10. You have nothing to lose.

TRAINING MODULES

Introductory modules

  • Module introduction
  • Fundamentals of safety law
  • Boat Policies
  • Safety inductions, drills, and safety management systems

Personal safety

  • Working safely at sea
  • Personal hygiene
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Manual handling
  • Hand safety
  • Noise hazards
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls
  • Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
  • Sun protection
  • Heat-related illness
  • Fatigue awareness and management
  • Mental Health

Emergency procedures

  • Medical emergency
  • Man overboard
  • Fire onboard
  • Abandon ship

Risk Assessment

  • Basic risk assessment 1 – Job safety analysis
  • Basic risk assessment 2 – Hierarchy of controls
  • Basic risk assessment 3 – Risk matrix

Boat operations (general)

  • Electrical safety
  • Fuelling safety
  • Confined spaces
  • Chemical substances and SDS
  • Gas safety
  • Stability
  • Safe anchoring
  • Safe berthing
  • Safe transfer of crew, catch and equipment
  • Dinghy safety
  • Safe watchkeeping
  • Heavy weather

Fishery specific modules (Prawn fisheries) – safety

  • Catch processing – safety
  • Hazardous animals
  • Booms and fishing gear in and out
  • Hook up response
  • Winch safety
  • Try net safety

Fishery specific modules (Prawn fisheries) – practices

  • Workplace hygiene
  • Prawn processing and quality
  • Discharge and waste management

Fishery specific modules (Western rock lobster) – safety

  • Pot diving safety
  • Pot preparation and stacking
  • Pot setting
  • Pot hauling

The SeSAFE project commenced in 2018 to raise awareness and improve safety performance in the fishing and aquaculture industry Australia wide. SeSAFE is funded by the FRDC, fishing industry, and AMSA.

You’ll find more information at www.sesafe.com.au. Alternately you can email [email protected] or phone 0472 784 530.

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