By Kevin McCauley
The federal government is trolling for an agency to increase the use of personal floatation devices among commercial fisherman in the country’s bountiful northwest, including the Bering Sea crabbers made famous by Discovery’s reality series “Deadliest Catch.”
NIOSH conducted a field study in Alaska with commercial fishermen in 2011 to test available PFDs and identify those fishermen like and will use.
Photo: NIOSH |
PFDs are not mandated under federal law for commercial fishermen but the Centers for Disease Control, which will fund the communications campaign, notes that of the 155 fatalities among such anglers from 2000-09, none were wearing one.
The CDC’s National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health recently wrapped a research project among Alaskan commercial fishermen who rated PFDs for comfort and “wearability,” and produced a DVD on responding to overboard events.
The federal entity seeks an agency to work with NIOSH staffers who conducted the study to develop a strategy communication campaign utilizing tactics such as social media, the Internet, media relations, printer products, PSAs or other tools.
Three groups of fisherman are to be targeted. Alaskan salmon fisherman, Bering Sea crab fishermen, and west coast Dungeness crab fishermen.
A one-year contract is planned.
Proposals are due Aug. 4. View the solicitation. |