Fighting the Opioid Epidemic by Training Fishermen as First Responders

Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03) RFA-OH-22-006
Fighting the Opioid Epidemic by Training Fishermen as First Responders
Project Summary/Abstract
Commercial fishermen are at a significantly higher risk for opioid overdose death, and they are
also often the first people to encounter opioid overdoses at sea. The proposed training by
Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS) will use a community-based model to provide
targeted opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) training to a diverse
group of commercial fishermen.
Trainings are delivered by FPSS' Navigators and safety trainers, who are commercial fishermen
or members of the fishing community. FPSS has found that fishermen are receptive to trainings
delivered by trusted instructors in a manner positioning them as first responders at sea. FPSS
has conducted a highly successful pilot program providing targeted OEND training and
naloxone to commercial fishermen in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Post-training, the vast
majority indicated a willingness to change their health-related behaviors. NIOSH grant funding
would enable us to expand training throughout New England and the Mid Atlantic and meet our
project's objective: to provide fishermen with the ability to combat the opioid epidemic and
reduce the risk of casualties in the maritime and coastal communities.
This training grant program supports NORA's objectives by (1) reducing opioid-related injuries
and fatalities in the commercial fishing sector; (2) reducing the risk and prevalence of work-
related injuries and illness to workers in the commercial fishing sub-sector, by providing
preventive ergonomics training and education regarding risk factors; and (3) employing a
diverse group of trainers to better reach vulnerable worker groups. It also supports the objective
of contributing to enhanced data sharing and collaboration among commercial fishing industry
researchers and policymakers, as we plan to engage fishermen, industry leaders, policymakers,
health providers, and key stakeholders in providing input and feedback on our trainings,
evaluation, and our plan to disseminate knowledge and technological advances.
FPSS believes that the proposed training program will enhance Research to Practice by
providing a model for related industries; engaging multiple stakeholders to collaboratively
identify research needs and questions; designing evaluation tools and conduct studies; and
translating and sharing knowledge, interventions, and learnings.

Grant Number: 1T03OH012655-01
NIH Institute/Center: ALLCDC
Principal Investigator: John Bartlett