Factors Influencing Safety Among a Group of Commercial Fishermen Along the Texas Gulf Coast

ABSTRACT

The commercial fishing trades are among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Little published information exists regarding some populations of commercial fishermen such as along the United States Gulf Coast. Studying these unique and often vulnerable groups is important to characterize potential influences on or barriers to safety in anticipation of designing interventions that can change safety behaviors. Working closely with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), a cross-sectional convenience sample of Gulf Coast shrimp fishermen in and near the Port of Galveston, Texas, was surveyed. The survey included demographic factors and broadly covered areas such as type of work and fishing activities, general or global perceptions and beliefs related to safety and accidents, self-report of ability to use safety equipment or apply procedures aboard vessel, and training considerations. Surveys were obtained following informed consent (n = 133). Of the participants, 96.7% were male with 60.9% ≥40 years old. A majority were of Asian descent (57.1% of all fishermen, 82.1% of shrimp fishermen). Over half claimed to speak little or no English and nearly 60% considered the job to be very safe to neutral. A third to half of respondents expressed doubt about their knowledge of using essential safety equipment in the event of emergency. A large portion of the participants preferred hands-on safety training (40.6%). Important findings about this group of commercial fishermen will help with future development of effective prevention practices through the delivery of culturally appropriate safety awareness training. One element that must be addressed in training programs is to increase the awareness among fishermen about the severe occupational risks inherent in this type of work. Community trust and collaborative partnerships are essential to the success of such initiatives.

Keywords:

• Behavior
• commercial fishing
• cultural factors
• fishermen
• safety
• Gulf Coast
• shrimp
• US Coast Guard
• Vietnamese

The authors thank Mr. Mike White, Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator for USCG Eighth District, based in New Orleans at the time of the survey; and Leslie Hargrove, BA, CHES, Executive Director of the Coastal Area Health Education Center (AHEC), and her staff, for assistance with coordinating and carrying out the survey and the provision of translation resources.

This work was supported by NIOSH Cooperative Agreement 1 U50 OH07541 to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, the Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Texas at Tyler.