Thorvaldsen Trine, Størkersen Kristine, Kongsvik Trond, Holmen Ingunn Marie
SINTEF Ocean, PO Box 4762 Torgarden, 7465, Trondheim, Norway.
NTNU Social Research, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Saf Health Work. 2021 Mar;12(1):28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2020.08.004. Epub 2020 Aug 27.
Safety management is required to ensure health and safety of personnel in Norwegian fish farming. However, few studies have addressed the status and practical relevance of this risk-reducing measure.
This article provides new knowledge through interviews with 35 employees at different company levels, addressing perceptions of various safety management activities according to managers and operational personnel.
The interviews show that managers and operational personnel at fish farms agree that the quantity of measures aimed to improve safety has increased in recent years. However, some activities are perceived to have higher practical relevance than others. In general, measures that fit well with the practical reality are well received by the employees at the fish farms.
Suggested improvements include involving operational personnel in the design of procedures, considering all risk dimensions that may affect occupational health and safety, and challenging the value of specific safety activities based on a detailed knowledge of the distinctive characteristics of work practice in fish farming.
