The IFISH Innovation Exchange Hub

Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown NY

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary The long-term objective of this proposal is to address emerging hazards and prevent occupational injuries and illnesses in the commercial fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing industries. To do this, the team will organize a novel initiative entitled, “The IFISH Innovation Exchange” that will facilitate year-round collaboration among researchers, safety specialists and industry advocates through an Exchange Hub on the IFISH website. The Hub will offer much needed support and engagement for those seeking to improve and protect aquatic food supply workers. This is important work given the fact that fishing has long been recognized as one of the most dangerous industries and in the United States is second only to logging in documented occupational fatality rates (75 deaths per 100,000 workers. Hazards in the commercial fishing work environment are numerous and include extreme weather, equipment failure, entanglement in nets, traps or winches, lacerations, infection, drug overdose, cardiac arrest, drowning, heat stroke, frost bite, repetitive use injuries, broken bones, amputation and other severe injuries that jeopardize workers’ health temporarily or permanently. These issues underscore the need for effective solutions that can be tailored to the needs of fisheries workers. Collaboration between researchers, safety specialists and advocates will be essential for increasing health and safety progress, because it will allow individuals with varied areas of expertise to share ideas, brainstorm solutions and compare experiences. Research-to-Practice: Encouraging the translation of research into action is a primary goal of the conference application. By bringing researchers together through the Exchange Hub, effective solutions can be shared and implementation support can be provided. Outputs and Outcomes: a) The creation of an information exchange webpage, b) increased networking, c) increased dissemination of research solutions, d) increased awareness of emerging issues, e) increased dissemination of health and safety curriculum, f) increased trans- regional and transdisciplinary problem solving, g) improvements in worker health and safety. Conference activities will focus on NORA Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) Sector Council Goals, as well as all NORA Cross-Sector Council Objectives. The following fisheries specific NORA objectives will be addressed: FI-01 Reduce the risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the fishing sector; FI-02 Reduce the risk of work-related illness in the fishing sub-sector; FI-03 Increase safety and health data meshing, information sharing, and collaboration among fishing safety researchers; FI-04 Reduce injuries and illness in vulnerable fisheries worker populations.