Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03)

The Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03) are sponsored by the Coast Guard and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with the aim to improve the quality and accessibility of safety training for commercial fishermen in the United States. The program is designed to increase the availability of training, considering factors such as frequency, geographical location and distribution channels or partners.

The objective is to create a successful training program that is educationally and culturally tailored to meet the needs of this sector. The program will focus on developing and implementing education courses that address the specific needs of commercial fishermen, ensuring the presence of qualified marine safety instructors, evaluating the effectiveness of the program in reducing injuries among fishermen, and collaborating closely with existing training programs, partnerships with industry fishermen, and other applicable agencies.

The training program also upholds the safety standards for commercial fishing safety training as outlined in 46 U.S.C. § 4502 (i). A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Coast Guard and NIOSH on May 17, 2018, to facilitate the administration of this grant program.

While the Coast Guard and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provide regulation of safety and health matters within the commercial fishing industry, NIOSH operates under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NIOSH's mandate involves generating and implementing new occupational safety and health knowledge to prevent worker injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The agency carries out and funds scientific research, creates prevention methods for occupational hazards, and develops and disseminate guidance and recommendations. It also translates scientific knowledge into practical applications, uncovers the reasons behind work-related disease and injury, and responds to requests for workplace health hazard assessments.