most dangerous job

[codprawn]

With typical Yank understatement they have claimed the "Most dangerous job in the world" title. Most people take this to be true - myself included - until my brother said with his usual sarcasm "of course nobody else in the world goes fishing"!!!

I watched a few progs the other night on the discovery channel about these crab fishermen. Yes of course it's dangerous - yes of course they work really hard and go out in terrible conditions BUT is it really any worse than what countless generations of British fishermen have gone out in? Or oil workers or many other jobs at sea?

[Chopppywaters]

yes its much worse......these crabs r hugeee and they lose 1-2 men each trip

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

yes its much worse......these crabs r hugeee and they lose 1-2 men each trip

Why do the crabs eat them???

[eupa]

why dont you like our american friends???

Jonathan

[Nick Thompson]

It's long been accepted that commercial fishing is the most dangerous job in the UK, but UK fishermen pretty much can pick & choose when they go to sea whereas, from what I saw in the TV program, these men can only go to sea during a very short season, so have to go whatever the weather.

[Chopppywaters]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Why do the crabs eat them???

heh yep...the crabs eat them

on a more true note its because they fall overboard and cant be saved or somethin....lol i dunno i just kno 1-2 men each trip r lost

[hannah]

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

heh yep...the crabs eat them

on a more true note its because they fall overboard and cant be saved or somethin....lol i dunno i just kno 1-2 men each trip r lost

should be wearin life jackets den!! lol , but honestly , how can 1-2 people die every time , dont these people learn any thing????????

[Nick Thompson]

Originally Posted by hannah

should be wearin life jackets den!!

They do, but the survival time in those seas is minutes before hypothermia sets in & they are big boats that can't just stop or turn round instantly.

[Chopppywaters]

plus...the money involved in alaskan crab fishing in unreal(a lot)

[Jimbob]

I watched some of those programs, for me anybody who does this sort of thing Fishing, Oil rigs, RNLI going out in shitty conditions all deserve a big hand.

To be honest, what i saw of those crab fishing program, i dont think i have the guts to do it, so i dont think we should start a league of the most whatever, just thank f**k most of us will never experience this

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by hannah

should be wearin life jackets den!! lol , but honestly , how can 1-2 people die every time , dont these people learn any thing????????

You DO have a point there Hannah!!!

One of the reasons it's so dangerous is because they often don't bother taking the proper precautions and cut corners to make as much money as possible - also many of the workers are just there to make a fast buck and don't have much experience!!!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by eupa

why dont you like our american friends???

Jonathan

The Yanks are our best allies - even though they are usually late!!! Seriously though just because I don't like Bush and I don't like the way they ALWAYS claim to be bigger better faster than anyone else doesn't mean I don't like them in general.....

At the end of the day loads of them are of British decent anyway!!!

[pressman]

Originally Posted by Jimbob

I watched some of those programs, for me anybody who does this sort of thing Fishing, Oil rigs, RNLI going out in shitty conditions all deserve a big hand.

To be honest, what i saw of those crab fishing program, i dont think i have the guts to do it, so i dont think we should start a league of the most whatever, just thank f**k most of us will never experience this

The other thing that people do not understand is that these vessels freeze up, ice forms very heavily on all the superstructure, if not chipped off can also make the vessel unstable and lead to capsize.

Has anyone seen the documentry on Cape dissapointment, the US coastgaurd training school? they get there boats knocked down on a regular basis!!

[limeydal]

Saw the one episode lately where 3 men were lost and the crew on its sister ship did put on their PFD's (for all of about 1 hour! ) Seems just too bulky and slows them down too much.
Seems 2 factors ;if you go into the water, you only have a couple of minutes to live anyway. As said, by the time the boat turns around and tries to find you in heaving seas, you are a gonner anyway.
Also get a line from a 600lb pot around your leg and no matter what amount of flotation you have its not going to make any differance.
It surprised me that they havnt developed a fast deployable rescue system !.Its a multi million dollar industry and no-one seems to look out for the individual.Its as though they get paid well ($12,00 to $40,000 for a good 4 week season) and its the risk they take.
You would think some boffin would develope a system on the stern that deploys a string of bouys with maybe a small self inflated raft in the middle.Could be fired off the back at the first shout of man overboard.; something like the "squid' anti submarine charges in WWII.
Some sobering facts below;
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fishdisc.html
Dal

[hannah]

Originally Posted by codprawn

You DO have a point there Hannah!!!

One of the reasons it's so dangerous is because they often don't bother taking the proper precautions and cut corners to make as much money as possible - also many of the workers are just there to make a fast buck and don't have much experience!!!

there u have it then , shortcuts dont get you anywhere ,
Be my guest 2 take ur chance , !!! lol

[SOLENTER]

Just come across this post brings back a few memories not all good
Unless you have worked deep sea in the northen hemisphere you really
have no idea of working conditions thay can become quite shall we say
unplesent at times
Most of the crews are made up of young guys who need the money
and dont ask questions of which there is a endless supply & the older ones
are there because thay have pisted last trips payof up against the wall
once again
The older reader will probably no the type i mean and younger one
dosent want to

[Rodan]

I want to be a lion tamer please.

[SOLENTER]

Join a zoo then

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by codprawn

You DO have a point there Hannah!!!

One of the reasons it's so dangerous is because they often don't bother taking the proper precautions and cut corners to make as much money as possible - also many of the workers are just there to make a fast buck and don't have much experience!!!

No commercial fishermen wear life jackets as they are paying out gear of various descriptions over the side constantly. Something as strong as the webbing on a lifejacket getting caught up would be lethal. Oilers etc. can usually been torn free. There would be a place for a survival suit which offered plenty of mobility I would have thought.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

No commercial fishermen wear life jackets as they are paying out gear of various descriptions over the side constantly. Something as strong as the webbing on a lifejacket getting caught up would be lethal. Oilers etc. can usually been torn free. There would be a place for a survival suit which offered plenty of mobility I would have thought.

There are many occupations where safety gear is provided by law but never worn because they are too impractical.

It wouldn't be too restrictive to wear a breathable drysuit under some workgear though. If the company wont supply them then at the end of the day it is your life on the line you should look after No1.

The North sea oil industry had a really bad safety record at one time - they have tightened things up considerably - and there is no way anyone can convince me that the North Sea is any more "safe" than the conditions the Alaskans work in - they are one as bad as the other.