Safety checklist

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT:
Information collected through the observer program will be used to: (1) monitor catch and bycatch; (2) understand the
population status and trends of fish stocks and protected species, as well as the interactions between them; (3) determine the
quantity and distribution of net benefits derived from living marine resources; (4) predict the biological, ecological, and
economic impacts of existing management actions and proposed management options; and (5) ensure that the observer
programs can safely and efficiently collect the information required for the previous four uses. In particular, the observer
program provides information that is used in analyses that support the conservation and management of living marine resources
and that are required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the Endangered Species
Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other applicable law. Most of the information collected by
observers is obtained through “direct observation by an employee or agent of the sponsoring agency or through nonstandardized oral communication in connection with such direct observations.” Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
regulations at 5 C.F.R. 1320.3(h)(3), facts or opinions obtained through such observations and communications are not
considered to be “information” subject to the PRA. The public reporting burden for responding to the questions that observers
ask and that are subject to the PRA is estimated to average 60 minutes per trip, including the time for hearing and understanding
the questions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center,
Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Providing the requested safety
information is mandatory under regulations at 50 C.F.R. 600.746; however, providing the other requested information is
voluntary. All information collected by observers will be kept confidential as required under Section 402(b) of the MSA (18
U.S.C. 1881a(b)) and regulations at 50 C.F.R. Part 600, Subpart E. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person
is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid
OMB Control Number. This is an approved information collection under OMB Control No. 0648-0593, expires 9-30-2012.

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Vessel Safety Checklist
VES SEL N AM E : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

VESS EL P E R M I T : _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ensure the USCG Commercial Fishing Vessel
Safety decal is not expired based on the
information noted on the face of the decal.

Is the decal valid?

Y N

S UR VI VA L C R AF T :
Number of:________________________

E P IR B : (Visual inspection only. Please leave all testing/handling to crew)
Location(s):_______________________________________

Total capacity:_____________________

Battery exp. date: __________ (expires on date displayed)

# of crew & observer/s on board________

Hydrostatic release expiration date:______/_____ (expires
on date displayed)

Sufficient capacity?

Y N

Survival craft(s) able to float free? (Note:

Y N

some vessels have their rafts in a float free cradle this is an approved cradling system, so long as the
painter line is properly attached to a weak link.)

Service Due decal exp. date:____/____
(expires on date displayed)
Hydrostatic release exp. date:___/_____
(expires on date displayed)

Located in a float free location?:

Y

N

Registered to this vessel (name of vessel displayed):

Y

N

Alphanumeric code on decal matches code on EPIRB:

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

Y

N

NOAA Registration Decal:
Exp. date: _________ (expires on date displayed)

Signal tested (or asked to see station log in wheelhouse for
most recent test. Signal should be tested monthly):

Your raft assignment:________________
I M M E R S I O N S UIT / P F D S :
Available for everyone on board?
Location(s):________________________

F IRE E XT INGU IS HERS :
Y N Extinguisher(s) found in every main area/corridor?
Extinguishers in “good and serviceable condition” (gauge in
the green, low amounts of rust, canister in good condition,
unobstructed, hoses attached, service tags available)?

F L A RES : (ask captain for assistance)

T H RO W A B L E F L O TAT IO N D EVI CES :

Location(s):________________________

Number of flotation devices appropriate for vessel size?

Expiration dates checked?

Y N Easily accessible?:

(expires on date displayed)

Name of vessel displayed on each?

If checked, number of flares:__________

Location(s):_______________________________________
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A D D IT IO N AL S A FE T Y C H E C K S :

F IR ST A ID M ATE RIA LS :

Watertight doors - do they close properly?

Y N Location(s):_____________________________________

Hatches/passageways - are they unobstructed?

Y N Is there an individual trained in CPR/First Aid on board?

Discussed safe places to work on deck and in
factory with captain/crew?

Y N Who?:_________________________________________

Discussed refrigerant leak procedures?

Y N

Type of refrigerant used___________________
Discussed reporting/identifying inoperative
alarm/fire systems?

Radios:
Y N How many SSB and VHF radios?: _________ / ________
Are emergency call instructions posted?

Did you hear the general alarm?
Where will you go during emergencies:
______________________________________

Y N Were procedures for making an emergency call discussed?

S AF ET Y O R I E NT A T I O N :

E M ERG E NC Y D R IL L S A ND D AT E ( S ) CO N D UC T E D :

If you did not complete drills upon embarking
the vessel, did the captain use this safety
checklist to complete the required vessel safety
orientation?

Fire____________________________________________
Y N Abandon Ship ___________________________________

Did the vessel conduct a safety orientation?

Y N Vessel Flooding/stabilization ________________________
General alarm activation ___________________________

(Detail what was covered in the comment
section below)

Donning immersion suits ___________________________

UIN:__________________________________
NOAA Registration Decal Expiration
Date:__________________________________
Immersion Suit with Strobe Light and
Battery?
Serial #:_______________________________
Personal Flotation Device with Strobe Light
and Battery?

Y N

Radio/visual distress signals ________________________

O B S E RV E R P E R SO N A L P RO TE CTIV E
E QUIPMENT:
Personal Locator Beacon?

Y N

Man Overboard __________________________________

Who gave the orientation? ________________

Were the drills hands-on involving actual gear?

Y N

Did you participate in the drills?

Y N

COMMENTS
COMME NT ) :

( A LL “ N ” RES P O NS ES REQ U IRE A

Y N _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Y N _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Y N _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

Observer Name: ___________________________________________________________ Cruise #: _______________
Observer Signature: ________________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Captain Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Captain Signature (optional): _________________________________________________ Date: __________________
*Did the vessel request a copy of the Checklist? Y N

*If so, were you able to supply a copy?

Blue indicates “no go” items!
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Y N

Y N