The fishing industry as a whole needs to work together to:

• reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities;
• encourage the safe return to work where possible; and
• reduce the cost of WCB claims.

The first and most significant area of concern is proper reporting and follow up on accidents and injuries. The cost to the industry is buried in the cost of fish so is not often apparent, but it is there. The second will be to investigate accidents, understand the causes, and distribute the solutions so accidents do not repeat needlessly.

The responsibility for completing an accident or injury report belongs to the vessel owner or master.

Fishing Industry Regulations

Section 10   Reporting Injury, death or disease on fishing vessels

..."the employer in respect of a fishing vessel owned or chartered by a commercial buyer or other commercial recipient of fish is the vessel owner or charterer."

..."the employer of a fishing vessel not owned or chartered by a commercial buyer or other commercial recipient of fish is the vessel master, or where there is no vessel master, the vessel owner..."

For this reason we have updated both Form 7 (Employers report of injury or occupational disease) and the Accident Investigation Form.  The new forms are fishing friendly and will in-turn provide more accurate information to assist case managers in dealing with claims more effectively.  Providing proper contact information and communicating with your fish buyer are important to reduce the costs associated claims management and ensure claims are handled quickly and efficiently.

 SafetyForm7F       "Employers Report of Injury or Occupational Disease"

• This is to be filled out by the Master or Owner of the vessel, preferably by whoever was present when the accident occurred. Please forward the completed copy to the WCB AND to your fish buyer. The Workers Compensation Act requires the employer (Master/Owner) to complete and submit this report within three days of a claimed injury, even if the employer is contesting the claim.
• Failure to do so is an offence and may result in the employer being charged with part of the cost of the claim.

• Give this form to the worker, this is the workers responsibility to fill out.
• The worker can mail this form into the WCB with the Incident Investigation Report Form when completed or hand in to First aid to send to the first buyer who forwards forms to the WCB.
• Remember to remind worker to fill out this form ASAP.

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"Fishing Incident Investigation Report"

• The Fishing Incident Investigation Report is to be completed by the Fishing Master or Owner.
• The Incident Report should be forwarded to the WCB