2018 North Pacific Observer Safety and Security

North Pacific Observer Safety and Security
Survey
Hello, I'm Jackie Smith, the Alaska Enforcement Division's observer liaison agent. I created
this anonymous survey because I believe that observers are experiencing a lot more victim
type incidents than what is actually reported. If you are a returning observer, you may
recognize that this survey is a replication of one I did last year. The results of the previous
survey is displayed at the Sand Point campus and in the Anchorage field office.
It is important to continue to assess the actual number of incidents observer are experiencing
in the field, as well as the barriers that may prevent observers from reporting. This
information is used to establish changes that can improve observer work environments and
reduce risk of victim type crimes.
This survey is completely anonymous. My information will be provided if you would like to
speak with me or report an incident. Individual data will not be released to the public.
Aggregate data will be analyzed by myself and made public in reports, but the data source
will be kept in confidence.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes,
including the time for reviewing instructions, 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 suggestions for reducing this
burden to Jackie Smith, NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement, 222 W. 7th Ave. Box
10, Anchorage, AK 99513; or via email at Jaclyn.Smith@noaa.gov.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall
any person be subjected 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.
* Required

Skip to question 1.

Demographics
Data is needed to determine if there is any correlation based on demographics. All questions
require a response.
1. What is your gender? *
Mark only one oval.
Male
Female
Other
Prefer not to answer

2. What age range do you fall in? *
Mark only one oval.
24 and under
25 to 29
30 to 34
35 to 39
40 to 44
45 and over
Prefer not to answer
3. Who is your contractor? *
Mark only one oval.
AIS
AOI
MRAG
Saltwater
Tech Sea
Prefer not to answer
4. What year did you begin observing? *

5. Did you deploy as an observer in the North Pacific Observer Program in 2018? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No

Skip to question 6.
Skip to "Thank you for your time. ."

2018 Deployments
This section is specific to deployments in 2018. Respond for only 2018 deployments.
There will be 20 questions asking about behaviors that potentially affect your safety and
security on your assigned vessel or shoreside processor, as well as questions about the
security of your data. Some questions sound similar, and it is to gauge escalation of behavior.
It is followed by questions assessing impediments to disclosure.

6. 1. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone, by their actions toward you,
ever make you fear physical injury? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
7. 2. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone threaten to physically injure
you? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
8. 3. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever intentionally physically
injure you? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
9. 4. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever physically prevent you
from performing your duties? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
10. 5. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever use a threat to prevent
you from performing your duties? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.

11. 6. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever make you change your
data, or attempt to make you change your data? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
12. 7. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever offer you something in
exchange to change your data? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
13. 8. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever make offensive comments
regarding your age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or race/ethnicity? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
14. 9. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever make unwelcome or
unwanted comments of a sexual nature towards you? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
15. 10. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever attempt to touch you in
an unwelcome or unwanted sexual manner? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.

16. 11. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever touch you in an
unwelcome or unwanted sexual manner? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
17. 12. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever force you to participate
in any sexual activity against your will, or without your expressed consent? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
18. 13. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever interfere with or bias
your sampling procedure, including physical, mechanical, or other sorting or
discarding of catch before sampling? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
19. 14. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever tamper with, destroy, or
discard your samples, equipment, records, photographic film, papers, or personal
items? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
20. 15. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone’s refusal to provide
reasonable assistance impact your data or ability to collect your data? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.

21. 16. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone’s behavior or actions toward
you cause you to change your own behavior or work schedule? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
22. 17. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever require or pressure you
to perform any duties normally performed by crew members? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
23. 18. At any time while on contract in 2018, did any vessel ever fail to have a proper
look-out by sight and sound as well as by all available means appropriate for the
prevailing conditions to assess for at-sea dangers such as collision? (commonly
known as "wheel watch' or "lookout") *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
24. 19. At any time while on contract in 2018, did anyone ever use drugs or alcohol
while operating the vessel, equipment or machinery? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.
25. 20. At any time while on contract in 2018, were there conditions onboard the
vessel/at the processor that made you fear for your general safety? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes, and I reported this to NMFS and/or OLE.
Yes. I did not report this issue.
No. I did not experience this issue.

26. IMPEDIMENTS TO DISCLOSURE: If you experienced one of the issues above but
did not report it, please indicate why. You may choose multiple options. *
Check all that apply.
I did not experiences any of the above issues
I didn't want someone getting me back for reporting
I didn't think it was that big a deal
I didn't want everyone to know what happened to me
I thought it was too late to report
I couldn't remember all the details
I felt some guilt about what happened
I don't trust NMFS
I don't trust my provider
I don't trust OLE
I don't think anything would be done about it anyway
I was afraid I'd lose my job
I didn't want to get anyone in trouble
I don't want to go to court.
None of the above
27. IMPEDIMENTS TO DISCLOSURE: What other reasons did you decide not to report
an incident to NMFS and/or OLE?

Skip to "Thank you for your time.."

Thank you for your time.
We are only collecting responses for those who deployed in 2018.
If you wish to speak to Jackie with NMFS Enforcement regarding an experience that occurred
outside of 2018, you can contact her via email at: Jaclyn.Smith@noaa.gov or call her at 907271-1869.
Stop filling out this form.

Thank you for your time.
Hi, I am Jackie with the Alaska Division's Office for Law Enforcement. Thank you for taking the
time to take this survey. I want to do what I can to make your work environment safe and free
from harassment.

If you want to speak with me on the survey, or anything that you may have experienced in the
field, even if you never reported it, please feel free to contact me directly via email:
Jaclyn.Smith@noaa.gov, or via my office number at 907-271-1869.
If you need someone to talk to about your experience, Standing Together Against Rape
(STAR) has an anonymous crisis line you can call: (800) 478-8999.

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