§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number and nature of accidents, fatal and otherwise, during each of the last five years at sea and on shore to workers in and about fishing vessels and other vessels, respectively; and what steps the Government has taken and plans to take in these trades to prevent such accidents and to compensate the workers killed and injured and their dependants.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe statistical information required is detailed and voluminous. It relates only to fishermen and to members of the Merchant Navy. Figures are not available for non-fatal accidents on shore or for non-fatal accidents on board merchant ships. Deaths of seamen on shore where there is no indication that they occurred about the ship are not included.
The safety of merchant ships and fishing vessels and their crews is under continuous and urgent study.
Fishermen and other seafarers are in general covered for the benefits of the Industrial Injuries Scheme.
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NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS ON FISHING BOATS, 1962–1966 Cause of Accident 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 Slipped, fell or thrown … … 299 444 388 364 375 Struck by Ship's Equipment … … 106 182 151 163 148 Caught or wedged in Ship's Equipment … … 134 206 176 213 209 Other Accidents … … 322 366 310 241 269 Cause of accident not stated … … 170 191 175 276 294 TOTALS … … 1,031 1,389 1,200 1,257 1,295 Note: Many of these accidents were of a minor nature and would not have prevented the man from following his employment.
DEATHS REGISTERED AS HAVING BEEN CAUSED BY ACCIDENT AMONGST MEMBERS OF CREWS OF MERCHANT SHIPS, 1962–1966 Year Death resulting from casualty to vessel Accidents etc, in the engineroom and stokehold Falls from aloft Killed on deck of vessel Fell down hatch way etc. Fell overboard from deck of vessel Washed over board Killed or downed coming aboard from ashore Drowned in dock etc. ashore Drown by bathing Missing at sea Other causes Total 1962 … 34 6 2 11 16 24 1 3 12 4 30 7 150 1963 … 8 3 3 7 9 22 4 2 20 1 12 8 99 1964 … 28 5 3 10 4 8 — 11 12 4 22 23 130 1965 … 17 2 — 5 12 8 1 7 16 2 16 21 107 1966 … 49 4 — 4 13 6 7 3 11 6 19 19 141 TOTAL … 136 20 8 37 54 68 13 26 71 17 99* 78 627 * It is not possible to determine how many of these deaths were in fact accidental.