Guidance

Safety responsibilities under ILO 188

How to comply with the safety requirements and responsibilities under ILO Work In Fishing Convention (ILO 188)

From:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Published
20 April 2021

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published a number of Merchant Shipping Notices and Marine Guidance regarding the safety responsibilities of fishing vessel owners, managers, skippers and fishermen on how to comply with the International Labour Organization’s Work in Fishing Convention (ILO 188).

This page details safety responsibilities under ILO 188, and should be read in conjunction with Living and Working Conditions under ILO 188 and the ILO work in fishing convention collection page.

More information about completing a risk assessment can be found on the Fishing vessel risk assessments and safety management procedures guidance page.

Health and safety responsibilities

Responsibilities of fishing vessel owners, managers, skippers and fishermen

MGN 587 (F) ILO health and safety responsibilities contains information and guidance on responsibilities of the fishing vessel owner (which includes the manager), skipper and fishermen for health and safety on board UK fishing vessels.

This includes:

  • The owner’s responsibility to provide a safe working environment, suitable accommodation and sufficient resources on board the fishing vessel to ensure that everyone can work and stay on board safely and without risk to their health;
  • The skipper’s responsibility for the safety of fishers on board, and the safe operation of the vessel;
  • The right of the skipper to take any decision necessary for the safety of the vessel, its navigation, operation and those on board;
  • The responsibility of fishermen to comply with the orders of the skipper and any safety and health measures on board.
  • The fishing vessel owner must ensure the health and safety of all fishermen (both employed and share fishermen); section 4 sets out the principles to be applied and some of the key measures to be taken to do this.
  • A documented risk assessment is required, and safety measures put in place.
  • For vessels over 24m, there must be documented safety procedures.
  • All fishermen must have enough training so that they can work safely on board, including familiarisation with on-board equipment and procedures.
  • The fishing vessel owner should consult with fishermen working on the vessel on the health and safety measures on board.
  • Each fisherman has a duty to look after their own health and safety and that of others working with them, and comply with the measures put in place for their safety.

For more information, see the complete marine guidance note:

Personal flotation devices

Compulsory provision and wearing of personal flotation devices on fishing vessels

MGN 588 ILO work in fishing convention health and safety PFDs outlines how, where risks cannot be reduced to a safe level by other measures, personal protective equipment must be provided and used.

Statistics show that there is a significant risk of fishermen working on open decks falling overboard.

Following risk assessment, measures should be established to reduce the risk of fishermen falling overboard wherever practicable. MGN 571 (F) Fishing vessels: prevention of man overboard gives guidance on preventing man overboard on fishing vessels.

MCA will expect to see a record of any risk assessment and measures put in place.

From the date of publication of this Notice, failure to ensure the provision and wearing of PFDs and/or fall restraint harnesses by all fishermen working where there is a risk of falling overboard will be considered by the MCA to be a breach of health and safety legislation.

The only exception to this is where the fishing vessel owner can demonstrate, through a documented risk assessment, that the risk of falling overboard has been eliminated by other measures.

For more information about the compulsory provision and wearing of personal flotation devices on fishing vessels see:

Fishing safety management code

Helping to improve the management of safety on fishing vessels

MGN 596 - Fishing Safety Management Code provides guidance on the new Fishing Safety Management Code (FSM), and how to ensure it remains relevant to your vessel or company as things change over time which will also assist in complying with the Codes of Practice:

The FSM itself will help you keep on top of the documentation required and to ensure that when you need to take action to check equipment, service it or carry out maintenance, the system can remind you of what is needed.

The FSM can also help you to ensure that everyone on your vessel carries out their work safely.

It is recognised that there are a wide variety of fishing vessels, undertaking a wide variety of fishing with different methods of operation. The purpose therefore, of developing the FSM, is to establish a common structure which everyone can use.

For more information about the Fishing Safety Management Code see:

Updates to this page

Published 20 April 2021

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