U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

Safe Housekeeping and 

Sanitation Practices

Workers in commercial fishing face hazardous working conditions on a daily basis that can lead to 

injuries and fatalities. The most common hazards are associated with unsafe work practices and working 

around moving deck machinery, rigging, or equipment, while other hazards are caused by harsh weather 

conditions. Over half of the recordable injuries in commercial fishing are preventable through good 

housekeeping and sanitary practices. 

To protect workers on commercial fishing vessels, employers must 

identify the hazards and take steps to address them. For example, 

improperly storing tools and fishing gear, or allowing water or fish parts 

to accumulate from processing activities increase the risk for slips, 

trips, and falls. The poor storage and ineffective labeling of chemicals, 

cleaning solvents as well as poor maintenance of machinery and 

equipment can result in worker exposure to harmful substances. Also, 

workers can be injured or killed when they are struck by equipment, 

materials, and cargo that are stacked at unsafe heights. 

Source: OSHA

Authority over working conditions on uninspected commercial 

fishing vessels is shared by OSHA and the U.S. Coast Guard, 

with the U.S. Coast Guard being the lead agency. This fact sheet 

summarizes work practices and safety measures for effective 

housekeeping and sanitation in commercial fishing operations. 

For information on OSHA’s jurisdiction of commercial fishing, see 

CPL 02-01-047, OSHA Authority Over Vessels and Facilities on 

or Adjacent to U.S. Navigable Waters and the Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS).

Good Housekeeping and Sanitary Practices 

to Prevent Worker Injuries

• Start by cleaning up: Begin with a thorough housecleaning. 

Remove all trash, accumulations of scrap, and unused materials.

• Make housekeeping an ongoing priority: Ensure workers 

understand that housekeeping is a priority and that each 

person is accountable for making sure that their work area 

remains clean and well-kept.

• Properly dispose of trash: Provide appropriate containers 

for trash and waste. Recyclables, trash, and hazardous waste 

(e.g., liquids, chemicals, and soaked rags must be stored in 

approved containers. Trash and waste containers must be 

emptied frequently to prevent overflow. 

• Keep regular and routine schedules: Sanitation facilities must 

be serviced, cleaned, and stocked as needed.

Commercial 

Fishing Fact Sheet

BLS, 2011-2015
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

Generally, the applicable OSHA standards depend on the 

work activity taking place. For example, 29 CFR Part 1910, 

OSHA’s General Industry standard, applies to vessels 

engaged in fishing or fish processing activities. When the 

vessel or its machinery undergoes servicing, the provisions 

in 29 CFR Part 1915, OSHA’s Shipyard Employment standard, 

must be followed. Also, in some cases, 29 CFR Parts 1917

and 1918 apply when materials handling operations, such 

as loading, unloading, movement, or other handling of cargo, 

ship’s stores or gear take place.

Walking and Working Surfaces

• Keep surfaces clean and free of debris, protruding objects, 

holes or loose boards, and tools.

• Make sure equipment, materials, and cargo are stowed at safe 

heights to allow for easy reach and prevent objects from falling 

on workers or causing tip or fall hazards.

• Use grates or other temporary flooring where standing water 

is unavoidable.

• Eliminate slippery conditions, such as snow and ice, on all 

outdoor walking and working areas, or designate safe areas for 

workers. Where this is not possible, employers must provide 

workers with slip-resistant footwear.

• Properly stow or position hoses and electrical cords to prevent 

trip hazards and damage to the hoses and cords. 

• Keep heavy traffic work areas and access to vessels, cranes, 

vehicles, and buildings unobstructed.

Restrooms and Sanitation

• Routinely inspect areas for signs of rodents, insects, or other 

vermin, and implement a control program when necessary.

• Have an adequate number of toilet facilities available close to 

work locations with a means for handwashing at or adjacent 

to each.

• Develop a schedule for regular servicing, cleaning, and stocking 

of restrooms and handwashing facilities. It is important to 

evaluate the effectiveness of set frequencies and make 

adjustments as needed.

• Ensure that trash bins in eating, drinking, and break areas are 

emptied daily.

• Ensure an adequate supply of potable water is available for 

drinking, worker health and personal needs, cooking, and food 

preparation. All potable and non-potable water supplies must 

be labeled for their designated uses. 

• Provide changing rooms where the work activity requires using 

protective clothing with privacy, and separate storage for street 

and protective clothing.

Movement of Cargo, Ship’s Stores or Gear

• During offloading, ensure that dunnage, hatch beams, 

tarpaulins and gear are stored at least three feet from weather 

deck hatch coamings.

Entrance and Exit Routes

• Maintain sufficient lighting for exit routes, gangways, stairs, 

and walkways.

• Provide workers with a flashlight or other portable light where 

permanent lighting is not available.

• Keep workers from entering dark holds, compartments, decks, 

or other spaces without a flashlight or other portable light.

• Make sure exits and fire equipment are appropriately marked 

and easily accessible. 

Photos by: Amy Duz — iWorkWise

Evaluation of Atmospheric Conditions

• Perform the appropriate atmospheric testing of confined 

and enclosed spaces, such as fish holds, tanks, or cargo 

compartments, to ensure safe entry. 

• Frequently check on workers working alone in tanks or cargo 

compartments to ensure their safety.

• Dispose of flammable and combustible substances, such as 

paint thinners, solvents, rags, scrap, and waste, or store them 

in covered fire-resistant containers.
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any 

new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer 

to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon 

request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: 1-877-889-5627.

DSG FS-3871 11/2017

Workers’ Rights

Workers have the right to:

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.

• Receive information and training (in a language and 

vocabulary the worker understands) about workplace 

hazards, methods to prevent them, and the OSHA standards 

that apply to their workplace.

• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.

• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if 

they believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer 

is not following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities 

confidential.

• Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including 

reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with 

their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against 

for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as 

soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.

For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers page.

How to Contact OSHA

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers 

are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for 

their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for 

America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing 

standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For 

more information, visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-

OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.