Commercial fishing in Oregon is a hazardous occupation. Fishermen often work with heavy machinery and equipment. The wet and slippery conditions on fishing vessels increase the risk of slips, trips and falls. Long hours and demanding work schedules can lead to fatigue and sleep deprivation, which increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
A nutrition module was piloted at three FFAST training courses in 2024, with most participants rating the components of the module as “very useful.”
Efforts like Oregon State University’s Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training (FFAST) program aim to mitigate these risks by providing specialized training and resources to improve safety and preparedness at sea. FFAST provides first aid and safety training specifically tailored for commercial fishermen.
The training, offered through Oregon Sea Grant Extension, builds upon wilderness first aid to create a first aid course for the fishing community that addresses potential hazards and scenarios more common in commercial fishing. FFAST addresses specific work tasks and situations found on fishing vessels. The goal is to improve safety and preparedness at sea by using real-life injury data to create realistic training scenarios. The program ensures that every participating vessel leaves the training with a fully equipped first aid kit and offers first aid kit guides and micro-lessons to reinforce key concepts.
The national Alliance for Fishing First Aid and Safety Training has expanded FFAST from Oregon to Alaska, Washington, California, Massachusetts and now Georgia and Pacific Northwest tribal fishers. Oregon Sea Grant Extension provides ongoing coordination, identification and sharing of best practices and instructional materials.
Through the alliance, the pool of trained instructors expanded to 20, with six more in the pipeline, and brought in new collaborators at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to serve tribal fishers with this critical training throughout the Pacific Northwest.
With funding from Northwest Oregon Works, Oregon Sea Grant is integrating FFAST and Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor courses this spring for high school students.
Nutrition-related factors, including energy malnutrition and dehydration, can contribute to the physical dangers in commercial fishing. OSU Extension’s Family and Community Health program partnered with Oregon Sea Grant Extension to develop a nutrition module for the FFAST training to provide education on how to reduce nutrition-related risks for injury and prevent malnutrition.
This instruction module promotes healthy dietary behaviors for people working on fishing vessels and incudes a food guide with information about preparing meals and snacks on vessels that meet the unique nutrient needs of people working in commercial fishing.
The nutrition module was piloted at three FFAST training courses in 2024. The instruction combined lecture, activity and group discussion. Each participant received a student booklet. A total of 36 participants completed surveys following the trainings. Most participants rated the components of the nutrition module as “very useful.”
The module components most often rated as “very useful” were recognizing signs of energy malnutrition (90%), recognizing dehydration (87%), energy needs of fisherman (84%) and the participant booklet with resources and recipes (84%). The nutrition module developed by OSU Extension’s Family and Community Health program educates fishermen on reducing nutrition-related risks, further promoting health and safety.
OSU’s Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training significantly benefits Oregon's commercial fishing industry by addressing the numerous hazards fishermen face. These include working with heavy machinery, slippery conditions on vessels, and the risks associated with long hours and fatigue.
FFAST also addresses concerns facing any workforce that operates at distance from primary care, including respiratory and cardiovascular concerns, and includes CPR and AED modules. The program has expanded nationally, enhancing safety and preparedness at sea on both coasts.