18 research outputs found
Safer work clothing for fishermen
The fisherman’s work environment consists of many potential risks. A study of
occupational accidents in the Norwegian fishing industry in the nine-year period from 1998 to 2006 shows that more than 3/4 of the deaths were caused by loss of fishing
vessel or man-overboard accidents. Furthermore, the greatest risk of drowning is found
in the smallest fleet.
The aim of our project was to develop safer work clothing and through this
contribute to a reduction in work accidents and injuries in the fishing fleet. We
considered that it is possible to produce protective work clothing that satisfies a
specification of requirements covering the fishermen’s needs for protection and comfort
during work.
An end user-centred process including twenty-three personal interviews and a
questionnaire was used to clarify the fishermen’s needs and wishes before detailed
design and product development. We identified an overview of all the fishermen’s
needs for protection during work, and produced a prioritised list of functional
requirements for the clothing.
The results show that the clothing previously preferred by fishermen does not
satisfy all the users’ demands for safety, functionality and comfort. These demands have
been taken into consideration when designing improved work clothing for the fishing
fleet. A selected number of prototypes were developed on the basis of the established
specification of requirements. The prototypes were evaluated according to the users’
requirements through tests in SINTEF’s Work Physiology Laboratory and on board
fishing vessels. The results demonstrate that the new protective clothing satisfies the
fishermen’s requirements
Design for end-user acceptance: requirements for work clothing for fishermen in mediterranean and northern fishing grounds
Fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations, and as many as 24,000 fishermen around
the world suffer fatal injuries or drowning at sea every year. Although fishermen in the European
fishing fleet work in harsh and dangerous environments, many fishermen do not use personal
protective clothing and buoyancy aids due to reduced work comfort and poor functionality. This
emphasizes the importance of designing work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
with functionality that matches the fishermen’s needs.
The aim of this study was to identify the requirements for work clothing in terms of comfort,
protection, and safety for fishermen operating in northern fishing grounds and in the Mediterranean.
Furthermore, we investigated whether fishermen in the Mediterranean prioritize workclothing
requirements differently from fishermen in northern fishing grounds. Interviews and
observations of fishermen provided us with the requirements for work clothing for fishermen.
A questionnaire was then distributed to a selection of European fishermen.
The study showed that fishermen operating in the Mediterranean prioritized their requirements
differently from fishermen in northern fishing grounds. There was good agreement on requirements
regarding work comfort. Safety requirements, such as integrated buoyancy, were ranked
as less important by the Mediterranean fishermen compared to fishermen in northern fishing
grounds. The results of this study provide a basis for the development of work clothing and PPE
for fishermen. Work clothing and PPE that fulfil the requirements are likely to obtain end-user
acceptance and thus improve safety for fishermen at sea