With the fishing season in full swing, safety officials want to ensure that Island fishermen are working safely.
Over the coming weeks, there will be an education and compliance initiative where occupational health and safety officials will be visiting wharves to ensure that fishermen are wearing their personal flotation devices (PFDs).
Under the, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, a fishing vessel is considered a workplace.
Within the regulations under the act, there are provisions set out to address worker and employer responsibilities where there is a risk of drowning.
According to a 2017 study by the Globe and Mail, fishing has the single highest fatality rate of any sector in the country.
During the past few years, there have been a number of fatalities in the fishing industry in P.E.I.
For more information about the act and regulations, contact the WCB occupational health and safety division at 902‐368‐5680 or 1‐800‐237‐5049, or visit Wcb.pe.ca.
