Deck machinery, winches, and hydraulics are essential systems in commercial fishing and aquaculture, but they are also some of the highest risk hazards on board. These systems create serious pinch point and entanglement dangers. Unlike weather or navigation, these risks are part of everyday work and can quickly become normalised, especially in small crews where speed, skill, and getting the job done are highly valued.

When incidents occur, the consequences are often immediate and severe. Injuries can include crushing, amputations, entanglement drownings, and major equipment failures that affect vessel stability and safe operations.

While machinery risks are widely recognised through incident reporting and general safety duties, practical, fishing specific controls that crews can use in real time on deck are less consistently available.