Mass mortality events (MMEs) threaten the health of fish and are also a potential threat to the health and safety of workers. This paper presents findings from a desktop risk assessment exercise focused on potential aquaculture occupational health and safety (AOHS) hazards and risks associated with MMEs in Chile. The study reviews academic and grey literature, government regulations and MME reports and statistics to assess the scale and distribution of MMEs; identifies associated documented and potential health and safety hazards; and documents and assesses policy responses to MMEs in the Chilean context through the lens of health and safety. The paper documents the size and regional distribution of salmon MME occurrences in Chile from 2016 to 2022. It discusses AOHS hazards associated with MMEs such as exposure to hydrogen sulfide, drowning and diving-related illnesses and potential issues around accessing hospitals and hyperbaric chambers for workers in remote aquaculture regions, as well as exposure to antibiotics and antibiotic residues. Recent Chilean regulatory requirements around reporting and management of MMEs that have the potential to help reduce identified MME-related risks for workers are described and addressed.

Key policy highlights

• Risk of mass mortality events (MMEs) in marine aquaculture is increasing as the industry expands and climate change increases fluctuations in marine conditions. Policies need to be developed to counteract these risks.

• MMEs-related worker accidents and environmental degradation point to the urgent need to develop environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines that prevent MMEs and protect workers and the environment.

• The Chilean OHS guidelines related to aquaculture MMEs may be adapted and used in other countries.

• Surveillance programs on harmful algal blooms and antibiotic resistance (AMR) markers may be a preventive measure towards MMEs and exposure to AMR markers.

大规模死亡事件 (MME) 威胁着鱼类的健康，也是对工人健康和安全的潜在威胁。本文介绍了一项桌面风险评估活动的结果，该活动的重点是与智利 MME 相关的潜在水产养殖职业健康与安全 (AOHS) 危害和风险。该研究回顾了学术和灰色文献、政府法规和 MME 报告和统计数据，以评估 MME 的规模和分布；确定相关的记录在案的和潜在的健康和安全危害；并通过健康和安全的视角记录和评估在智利背景下对 MME 的政策回应。该论文记录了 2016 年至 2022 年智利鲑鱼 MME 发生的规模和区域分布。它讨论了与 MME 相关的 AOHS 危害，例如接触硫化氢、溺水和潜水相关的疾病以及偏远水产养殖地区工人进入医院和高压舱的潜在问题，以及接触抗生素和抗生素残留物。描述和解决了最近智利关于 MME 报告和管理的监管要求，这些要求有可能帮助减少已确定的与 MME 相关的工人风险。

主要政策亮点

• 随着行业的扩张和气候变化加剧海洋条件的波动，海水养殖中大规模死亡事件 (MME) 的风险正在增加。需要制定政策来抵消这些风险。

• 与 MME 相关的工人事故和环境退化表明迫切需要制定环境和职业健康与安全 (OHS) 指南，以防止 MME 并保护工人和环境。

• 与水产养殖 MME 相关的智利职业健康安全指南可能会在其他国家进行调整和使用。

• 对有害藻华和抗生素抗性 (AMR) 标记的监测计划可能是针对 MME 和暴露于 AMR 标记的预防措施。