Summary report
The project activities started in March 2014 and ended in August 2014. The project included a literature study on health and safety information related to commercial fishing. The project team visited fishermen and occupational health service providers in Finland (Vaasa area) and Norway (Lofoten) and completed interviews regarding the current state and demand for occupational health services specifically designed for fishermen. The project team visited key stakeholders, particularly representatives of fishing organizations, to hear their views on safety and health in the fishing industry. We obtained occupational injury claim data for Finnish fishermen, analyzed the data, and compared it to similar data for Norwegian fishermen. The finding of this short pilot project was that occupational health services are available for fishermen in Finland but they are not well developed, and not well utilized. More information about the availability and benefits of the services are needed, and specialized courses for health providers about fishermen’s work environment are needed. In Norway the fishermen do not have specific occupational health services currently, and there is a need to establish such services, educate advisors and health providers, and promote the services among fishermen.
The findings clearly show that there is a need for further developing the competence of occupational health service providers by better training. Further, there is a need for fishermen to utilize occupational health services to reduce their high risk of injuries and occupational disease and maintaining their health, wellbeing, profitability and sustainability in their profession.
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The findings clearly show that there is a need for further developing the competence of occupational health service providers by better training. Further, there is a need for fishermen to utilize occupational health services to reduce their high risk of injuries and occupational disease and maintaining their health, wellbeing, profitability and sustainability in their profession.
Download the whole summary report here