Accidents with Fish Processing Equipment

Processing fish at sea and aboard ships is a standard part of the commercial fishing industry. Accidents with fish processing equipment are unfortunately common and include severe injuries and even fatalities. Injured maritime workers have a right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. 

Commercial Fishermen Face Big Risks on the Job

Any job in commercial fishing is dangerous for workers. Some of the factors that make fishing dangerous include:

• Long hours
• Fatigue
• Terrible weather
• The possibility of falling overboard
• Rough seas
• Large equipment that can malfunction

The equipment used for processing fish can also lead to severe injuries and fatalities in several unfortunate situations.

While all maritime jobs come with risks and dangers, those positions in commercial fishing are particularly hazardous. Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous industries in the world.

If you work on fish processing equipment, you have a physically demanding job that can lead to injuries. In the worst-case scenario, an accident with the equipment could cause fatalities. You have rights, though, and maritime laws are your protection.

What Fish Processors Do

Fish processing factory trawlers are ships that include processing of the catch that has been pulled from the water. There are several roles to play on this type of ship, from deckhands and supervisors to packers and cleanup crews.

There are also quality controllers aboard the ship, as well as mates, equipment operators, and freezer workers. Some people work multiple jobs on the processing ship. These people work hard and long hours and must be ready to navigate tight spaces and perform several tasks.

The main work of the ship is to clean and process the fish and shellfish caught out at sea, typically groundfish. The job of fish processing is grueling and requires long hours, up to 16 per day, so the fish can be processed and stored on ice while still fresh.

Workers produce filets, fish pieces, and fish meal for various products and use large equipment with many moving parts.

This is a time-sensitive job that requires quick work. This means that workers often go on little sleep and may be seriously fatigued. They also have rough waters and bad weather conditions to endure while working.

The Hazards of Fish Processing

There are many hazards associated with working on a fish processing ship:

• Rough water and weather. Commercial fishermen are often far out to sea where waters may be rough and weather cold and brutal. Conditions like these make work aboard any kind of ship dangerous. It can cause shifting cargo to hit someone, slip and falls on wet decks, hypothermia, and frostbite, and falls overboard. These conditions are particularly hazardous for someone working with dangerous equipment. A slip-up with heavy machinery can cause serious damage.

• Inadequate training. Lack of training can lead to dangerous incidents, and inadequate safety training or equipment can worsen the resulting injuries.

• Lack of equipment maintenance. Improper maintenance of the equipment is dangerous too. A broken component or a malfunction can lead to accidents and injuries.

• Lack of safety gear. Working with this equipment without proper clothing or safety guards can lead to snags and tangles in the machine.

• Illness. Workers on these vessels also face becoming ill from being around fish. The quick processing of fish and shellfish leads to an aerosol of biological particles that hangs in the air. If those fish had been infected with bacteria or fungi, inhaling the particles can cause workers to get sick. Contact with the fish may also cause allergic reactions and skin irritations for sensitive workers.

Common Injuries in Fish Processing

With all these potential risks of the job of fish processing, there are many injuries sustained by processing workers. Some are more common than others:

• Frostbite on exposed hands and fingers occurs in cold working conditions.
• Cuts are also common among fish processors because they work with sharp equipment, such as knives for manual work and blades in automatic machinery.
• The fish can also cause injuries, including cuts and punctures from spines and bones.
• Repetitive stress injuries are common for fish processors. These workers stand for long hours and repeat the same motions repeatedly.
• They also have to lift a lot of heavy cargo and carry processed fish into freezers, which can lead to back and joint injuries.
• The worst kinds of accidents with fish processing equipment happen when a worker gets caught in a machine. This can be fatal or cause lost limbs and amputations.

One such tragic incident exemplifies how easy it is to get injured doing this work and how devastating the consequences can be. A man working in the industry in 2014 died violently while cleaning a machine for shucking shellfish.

Working the night shift, the man became tangled in the rotary engine and died on the scene. The rescue workers took an hour to remove his remains from the machine. An investigation determined that the processing company was negligent and had not provided adequate safety precautions for workers.

Fishermen’s Rights under Maritime Law

All workers in the maritime industry have rights when injured on the job. Whether you work in fish processing or another role on a ship, you qualify under one or more laws to get compensation if you are injured.

If you die on the job, your dependent loved ones also have rights. Even if negligence on the part of your employer played no role in the accident you experienced, you still are entitled to money to cover your lost income while you are healing and to cover medical expenses.

When you are injured and suffering from your maritime job and your employer is denying you the money you need to pay your bills, you can rely on a professional and experienced maritime attorney to guide you through the process of making a claim and getting the money you deserve. Maritime law can be confusing, but with the right professional, you can fight for what you are owed.