Turning the Tide: PFDs in the Fishing Industry

“When you get on that boat, you have a chance of rolling over.  But if you get on that boat and you have a PFD on, you have a big chance of surviving”. 

Chris Cook – Skipper, FV Westisle.

In an open and honest fashion this new video from WorkSafeBC explores the first-hand stories of individuals touched by tragedy and near-tragedy while working out on the water.

With an emphasis on PFD (personal floatation device) wear, this new video demonstrates the speed at which accidents happen, the reality of cold water immersion as well as the inescapable fact that PFDs give an individual a fighting chance in circumstances where everything and everyone is at stake.

In this video, we hear the story of two commercial fishermen whose boat capsized while fishing, one sport fisherman who fell overboard while guiding guests at sea, and a young commercial fisherman who died when he fell overboard. In each case, wearing a PFD could have changed the outcome of these events.