By the time fisherman Robbie Roberge spotted flames engulfing the galley of his boat last August, he knew he had only minutes to act. Thanks to a safety workshop he attended just three months prior, he swiftly evacuated his crew, deployed a life raft, and issued a mayday call from over 100 miles offshore. All lives were saved.
But vital safety trainings like the one Roberge credits with saving his life are now under threat. Budget cuts proposed by President Trump’s administration could lead to the scaling back or complete shutdown of programs that provide essential safety education to workers in America’s most hazardous industries, including fishing, farming, and logging.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which funds these safety trainings, has seen significant staff reductions. In April, approximately 875 of its 1,000 employees were terminated. Though some staff were reinstated, the future of the safety centers remains uncertain.
“I have years of experience, but not dealing with emergencies,” Roberge said. “I make it a point to be at these trainings.”
Organizations like the Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS), which has trained thousands of East Coast fishermen, fear they may have to cut back on lifesaving workshops. Similar concerns are echoed by safety centers across the country.
Without these programs, experts warn that not only are workers’ lives at greater risk, but the burden on federal rescue services could increase. “If they give us this money to do this training, it’s going to lessen how much money has to be spent to rescue the untrained,” said John Roberts, an FPSS instructor and former Coast Guard member.
The Department of Health and Human Services stated that work would continue, supporting farmers, fishermen, and logging workers, but many remain skeptical as funding uncertainties loom.
