Assessment of occupational hazards among small-scale motorised fishers in the southernmost coasts of India

Abstract

Fishing is widely recognised as one of the most hazardous professions worldwide. The risks faced by fishers are compounded by the unpredictable nature of the ocean, which includes powerful sea currents, varying wind speeds, high wave heights, and other climate-related factors. These conditions contribute to a heightened risk of accidents at sea, especially in the absence of safety and quality management systems onboard to draw detailed insights on these aspects through an empirical assessment. This study focuses on the prevalence and incidence of occupational hazards/accidents among small-scale motorised fishermen of southern India’s coastal districts, such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Kanyakumari. To characterise the risks and prioritise them based on observed probabilities, the analysis employed two statistical methods: Relative Importance Indices (RII) and Latent Class Analysis (LCA), using quantitative primary data. The findings revealed several critical occupational hazards encountered by the sample fishers, which were measured with the help of 32 selected indicators. The top six hazards included heat-related stress (RII: 0.83, LCA: 4.27), musculoskeletal issues (RII: 0.76, LCA: 4.18), cyclones (RII: 0.75, LCA: 4.27), heavy rain (RII: 0.73, LCA: 4.09), insomnia (RII: 0.71, LCA: 3.95), and overexertion (RII: 0.65, LCA: 4.05). These identified hazards can be categorised into three primary groups: health, ergonomic, environmental, and psychological. By examining these key occupational hazards, this research contributes valuable insights that can guide efforts to improve safety and health outcomes for small-scale motorised fishermen in India's southern coastal regions.