Nets help make commercial fishing vessels efficient. They can sweep up thousands of fish rapidly when properly deployed.
Professional fishermen often spend much of their time handling, deploying, emptying and repairing the nets used on their vessels. They become so accustomed to the nets on board their vessels that they may stop seeing them as the legitimate source of risk they actually are.
Whenever commercial fishermen are near nets, they are theoretically at risk of injury. What safety hazards have an association with commercial fishing nets?
1. Tension-related injuries
Fishing lines under pressure can theoretically snap without any warning. The force of their movement when they break can lead to whip-like motions. Loose lines from snapped nets can cause serious traumatic injuries, ranging from deep lacerations to broken bones. Fishermen struck by snapped lines may require emergency medical attention.
2. Repetitive motion injuries
Handling fishing nets repeatedly can be very damaging to people’s bodies. The gripping, lifting and pulling required to physically handle nets can damage the body over time. From injuries to their hands to damage to their lower backs and hips from lifting and twisting, there are numerous repetitive motion injuries commercial fishermen develop that begin with net handling.
3. Tangling incidents
Some of the worst commercial fishing incidents often involve workers who become tangled in nets. One wrong step can lead to a fisherman going overboard and experiencing a near-drowning incident.
When fishermen suffer net-related injuries on commercial fishing vessels, they may need help seeking compensation. Getting the right legal guidance can help commercial fishermen understand their compensation options after a maritime injury.