Boat-fire deaths raise health and safety concerns

The health and safety conditions of commercial fishing vessels in Scotland have been called into question following the deaths of three people on board a ship in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

Norrie McVicar, coordinator of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), is calling on Alex Salmond, the first minister, to act and back its demands for a wider inquiry into the issue.

The ITF claims it was contacted last week by Filipino fishermen complaining of sub-standard working conditions and poor wages.

According to Mr McVicar, the fear of reprisals had prevented many fishermen from raising the issue of health and safety before.

Now, Mr McVicar wants Mr Salmond to show his support for an inquiry into the incident which led to the fishermen dying.

"We ask your support in calling in calling upon the Health and Safety Executive and maritime authorities to carry out a full and wide-ranging inquiry not only into the deaths … but into the living and safety conditions on all commercial fishing vessels in Scotland," he wrote in a letter to the first minister.

Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' Scotland Occupational Safety and Health at Work Congress, to be held on September 24, will feature speakers from Scottish organisations that are playing a leading role in improving workplace health and safety.