Overview of the U.S. Observer Programs National Safety Training Standards

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world and deploying observers on fishing vessels exposes them to the same hazards.  To mitigate some of these hazards, National Safety Training Standards were finalized in 2005 and updated in 2014 with new requirements for frequency and standards for refresher trainings.  The standards also include minimum qualifications for observer safety trainers’, frequency of refresher training, e.g. cross training, and minimum safety equipment required for observers prior to deployment.  In some instances the impact of this training has meant the difference between life and death.