Weather and Marine Aquaculture Workers' Safety in Atlantic Canada

Marine aquaculture workers are at high risk of injury and fatalities. Understanding the role of weather in occupational safety and health (OSH) in marine aquaculture is important for work design, planning, and for safety management and hazard reduction, but there is limited research on this subject.

Using findings from a review of research and grey literature and from key informant interviews and roundtable discussions in Atlantic Canada, this paper explores the impact of weather-driven hazards on marine aquaculture in Northern and temperate regions, along with the strategies employed to mitigate these impacts.

Findings indicate primary concerns for aquaculture OSH include sun and cold exposures; working on and under surface ice; strong winds; waves; current; reduced visibility; and ice build-up.

Key changes that could help reduce weather-related injury risk include improved forecasting capacity; improved reporting of weather conditions at the time of an incident in administrative injury and fatality data; incorporation of weather-related OSH hazards and risks in industry risk assessments; mechanization, including increased use of remote operation technologies on farm sites; and improved infrastructure standards and design.