Have you met Angus? Development and evaluation of a social marketing intervention to improve personal flotation device use in commercial fishing.

INTRODUCTION: Drowning is the leading cause of death among commercial fishermen in the United States. Approximately 30% of all commercial fishing fatalities are attributed to falls overboard. One of the simplest and most affordable ways to prevent these fatalities is for crewmembers to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) while on deck. An examination of over 200 fatal falls overboard in the U.S. fishing industry revealed that none of the victims were wearing PFDs when they died. PFDs are not required to be worn by commercial fishermen in the United States, so this study was designed to encourage behavior change using targeted health communication and social marketing. METHODS: This study developed, implemented, and evaluated a multi-media social marketing campaign featuring a fictitious, culturally-relevant spokesman designed to look, talk, and act like the target audience. The messages were crafted to address common barriers to PFD adoption and misconceptions about fleet-specific risks for fatalities from falls overboard. The campaign was evaluated over two seasons of fishing to look at message retention and intent toward action following exposure to the campaign materials. RESULTS: Survey respondents indicated overall positive opinions about the spokesman and the messages. Results also show a reported change in behavior related to using PFDs while working on deck. DISCUSSION: Targeted multi-media messaging can influence behavior of workers in high-risk occupations in remote locations. Safety message development should focus on occupational culture to create valid and authentic communication products for workers in high-risk industries.

Linking Datasets to Characterize Injury and Illness in Alaska's Fishing Industry.

Limited research has characterized nonfatal injury/illness in Alaska's hazardous fishing industry. This study aimed to determine (a) the utility of linking datasets to conduct surveillance, and (b) injury/illness patterns during 2012-2016. Data were obtained from the Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR), Fishermen's Fund (FF), and US Coast Guard (USCG). Datasets were coded to identify patterns in injury/illness characteristics and circumstances. Probabilistic linkage methods were utilized to identify unique incidents that appeared in more than one dataset. After linking datasets, 3,014 unique injury/illness cases were identified. By dataset, 2,365 cases appeared only in FF, 486 only in USCG, 110 only in ATR, 25 in ATR and FF, 15 in ATR and USCG, 10 in USCG and FF, and 3 in all datasets. FF mainly captured claims submitted by small, independently-owned vessels in Southcentral and Southeastern Alaska. In contrast, USCG mainly captured reports from large, company-owned vessels in Western Alaska. By nature, cases were most frequently sprains, strain, and tears (27%), cuts (15%), and fractures (11%). Across fleets, injuries/illnesses most frequently resulted from contact with objects and equipment (41%), overexertion and bodily reaction (27%), and slips, trips, and falls (20%). Work processes associated with traumatic injuries were most frequently hauling gear (18%) and walking, climbing, and descending (18%). Half of all injuries were of moderate severity (53%). Linking datasets, which capture different segments of Alaska's fishing industry, provides the most comprehensive understanding of nonfatal injury/illness to date. These results, stratified by fleet and severity, will inform prevention strategies.

Predicting commercial fishing vessel disasters through a novel application of the theory of man-made disasters.

INTRODUCTION: Vessel disasters (e.g., sinkings, capsizings) are a leading contributor to fatalities in the U.S. commercial fishing industry. Primary prevention strategies are needed to reduce the occurrence of vessel disasters, which can only be done by developing an understanding of their causes and risk factors. If less serious vessel casualties (e.g., loss of propulsion, fire, flooding) are predictors of future disasters, then reducing vessel casualties should in turn reduce vessel disasters and the accompanying loss of life. METHOD: This case-control study examined the association between vessel casualties and disasters using fishing vessels in Alaska during 2010-2015. RESULTS: The findings show that vessels that experienced casualties within a preceding 10-year period were at increased odds of disaster. Other significant predictors included safety decal status and hull material. Practical Applications: The results of this analysis emphasize the importance of implementing vessel-specific preventive maintenance plans. At an industry level, specific prevention policies should be developed focusing on high-risk fleets to identify and correct a wide range of safety deficits before they have catastrophic and fatal consequences.

Workers' compensation injury claims of aviation industry worker injuries in Alaska, 2014-2015.

Aviation operations in Alaska often occur in remote locations and during inclement weather. Limited infrastructure and staff in some locations often requires aviation workers to perform tasks outside of their specific job descriptions. Researchers identified workers' compensation claims as a valuable data source to characterise nonfatal injuries among Alaskan aviation workers. Keyword searches of injury claim narrative fields and industry codes were used to identify potentially aviation-related workers' compensation claims during 2014-2015. These claims were manually reviewed to verify whether aviation related and manually coded according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics' Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System. There were 875 aviation-related injury claims accepted during 2014-2015. Ramp/baggage/cargo agents incurred the most injuries (35%), followed by mechanics/maintenance workers (15%). Among all workers, Overexertion and Bodily Reaction (40%) was most often cited as the injury event, followed by Contact with Objects and Equipment (28%), and Falls, Slips, Trips (22%). Sprains, strains, tears were the most frequent nature of injury (55%). Cargo/freight/luggage was the most frequent source of injury (24%). The 3 most frequently identified injury event types were responsible for over 90% of all injuries, which indicates that preventive interventions should be directed towards tasks rather than occupational groups.

Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska.

BACKGROUND: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers' compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers' compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among occupations in Alaska, characterize injury patterns, and prioritize future research. METHODS: A dataset with information on all submitted claims during 2014-2015 was provided for analysis. Claims were manually reviewed and coded. For inclusion in this study, claims had to represent incidents that resulted in a nonfatal acute traumatic injury, occurred in Alaska during 2014-2015, and were approved for compensation. RESULTS: Construction workers had the highest number of injuries (2,220), but a rate lower than the overall rate (34 per 1,000 construction workers, compared to 40 per 1,000 workers overall). Fire fighters had the highest rate of injuries on the job, with 162 injuries per 1,000 workers, followed by law enforcement officers with 121 injuries per 1,000 workers. The most common types of injuries across all occupations were sprains/strains/tears, contusions, and lacerations. CONCLUSION: The successful use of Alaska workers' compensation data demonstrates that the information provided in the claims dataset is meaningful for epidemiologic research. The predominance of sprains, strains, and tears among all occupations in Alaska indicates that ergonomic interventions to prevent overexertion are needed. These findings will be used to promote and guide future injury prevention research and interventions.

Injury and illness among onshore workers in Alaska's seafood processing industry: Analysis of workers' compensation claims, 2014-2015.

BACKGROUND: Alaska's onshore seafood processing industry is economically vital and hazardous. METHODS: Accepted Alaska workers' compensation claims data from 2014 to 2015 were manually reviewed and coded with the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System and associated work activity. Workforce data were utilized to calculate rates. RESULTS: 2,889 claims of nonfatal injuries/illnesses were accepted for compensation. The average annual claim rate was 63 per 1000 workers. This was significantly higher than Alaska's all-industry rate of 44 claims per 1000 workers (RR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.37-1.48). The most frequently occurring injuries/illnesses, were by nature, sprains/strains/tears (n = 993, 36%); by body part, upper limbs (1212, 43%); and by event, contact with objects/equipment (1020, 37%) and overexertion/bodily reaction (933, 34%). Incidents associated with seafood processing/canning/freezing (n = 818) frequently involved: repetitive motion; overexertion while handling pans, fish, and buckets; and contact with fish, pans, and machinery. CONCLUSIONS: Ergonomic and safety solutions should be implemented to prevent musculoskeletal injuries/illnesses in seafood processing.

Occupational traumatic injuries among offshore seafood processors in Alaska, 2010-2015.

INTRODUCTION: The U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration have identified the Alaskan offshore seafood processing industry as high-risk. This study used Coast Guard injury reports to describe patterns of traumatic injury among offshore seafood processors, as well as identify modifiable hazards. METHODS: From the reports, we manually reviewed and abstracted information on the incident circumstances, injury characteristics and circumstances, and vessel. Traumatic injury cases were coded using the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System, and a Work Process Classification System. Descriptive statistics characterized worker demographics, injuries, and fleets. RESULTS: One fatal and 304 nonfatal injuries among processors were reported to the Coast Guard during 2010-2015 across multiple fleets of catcher-processor and mothership vessels. The most frequently occurring injuries were: by nature of injury, sprains/strains/tears (75, 25%), contusions (50, 16%), and fractures (45, 15%); by body part affected, upper extremities (121, 40%), and trunk (75, 25%); by event/exposure resulting in injury, contact with objects and equipment (150, 49%), and overexertion and bodily reaction (76, 25%); and by source of injury, processing equipment and machinery (85, 28%). The work processes most frequently associated with injuries were: processing seafood on the production line (68, 22%); stacking blocks/bags of frozen product (50, 17%); and repairing/maintaining/cleaning factory equipment (28, 9%). CONCLUSIONS: Preventing musculoskeletal injuries, particularly to workers' upper extremities and trunks, is paramount. Some injuries, such as serious back injuries, intracranial injuries, and finger crushing or amputations, had the potential to lead to disability. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Safety professionals and researchers can use the study findings to inform future intervention efforts in this industry. Hazard control measures should target: (a) overexertion from lifting and lowering objects and equipment; (b) equipment and boxes falling and striking workers; (c) workers being caught in running machinery during regular operations; and (d) slips, trips, and falls.

Factors associated with crewmember survival of commercial fishing vessel sinkings in Alaska.

Occupational fatality surveillance has identified that fishing vessel disasters, such as sinkings and capsizings, continue to contribute to the most deaths among crewmembers in the US fishing industry. When a fishing vessel sinks at sea, crewmembers are at risk of immersion in water and subsequent drowning. This study examined survival factors for crewmembers following cold water immersion after the sinking of decked commercial fishing vessels in Alaskan waters during 2000-2014. Two immersion scenarios were considered separately: immersion for any length of time, and long-term immersion defined as immersion lasting over 30 minutes. Logistic regression was used to predict the odds of crewmember survival. Of the 617 crewmembers onboard 187 fishing vessels that sank in Alaska during 2000-2014, 557 (90.3%) survived and 60 died. For crewmembers immersed for any length of time, the significant adjusted predictors of survival were: entering a life-raft, sinking within three miles of shore, the sinking not being weather-related, and working as a deckhand. For crewmembers immersed for over 30 minutes, the significant adjusted predictors of survival were: wearing an immersion suit, entering a life-raft, working as a deckhand, and the sinking not being weather-related. The results of this analysis demonstrate that in situations where cold water immersion becomes inevitable, having access to well-maintained, serviceable lifesaving equipment and the knowledge and skills to use it properly are critical.

Work-related nonfatal injuries in Alaska's aviation industry, 2000-2013.

Aviation is a critical component of life in Alaska, connecting communities off the road system across the state. Crash-related fatalities in the state are well understood and many intervention efforts have been aimed at reducing aircraft crashes and resulting fatalities; however, nonfatal injuries among workers who perform aviation-related duties have not been studied in Alaska. This study aimed to characterize hospitalized nonfatal injuries among these workers using data from the Alaska Trauma Registry. During 2000-2013, 28 crash-related and 89 non-crash injuries were identified, spanning various occupational groups. Falls were a major cause of injuries, accounting for over half of non-crash injuries. Based on the study findings, aviation stakeholders should review existing policies and procedures regarding aircraft restraint systems, fall protection, and other injury prevention strategies. To supplement these findings, further study describing injuries that did not result in hospitalization is recommended.

Fatal Falls Overboard in Commercial Fishing - United States, 2000-2016.

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, with a 2016 work-related fatality rate (86.0 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) 23 times higher than that for all U.S. workers (3.6) (1). Sinking vessels cause the most fatalities in the industry; however, falling from a fishing vessel is a serious hazard responsible for the second highest number of commercial fishing-associated fatalities (2,3). CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed data on unintentional fatal falls overboard in the U.S. commercial fishing industry to identify gaps in the use of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies. During 2000-2016, a total of 204 commercial fishermen died after unintentionally falling overboard. The majority of falls (121; 59.3%) were not witnessed, and 108 (89.3%) of these victims were not found. Among 83 witnessed falls overboard, 56 rescue attempts were made; 22 victims were recovered but were not successfully resuscitated. The circumstances, rescue attempts, and limited use of lifesaving and recovery equipment indicate that efforts to reduce these preventable fatalities are needed during pre-event, event, and post-event sequences of falls overboard. Vessel owners could consider strategies to prevent future fatalities, including lifeline tethers, line management, personal flotation devices (PFDs), man-overboard alarms, recovery devices, and rescue training.

Work-related mortality in the US fishing industry during 2000-2014: New findings based on improved workforce exposure estimates.

BACKGROUND: Commercial fishing is a global industry that has been frequently classified as high-risk. The use of detailed surveillance data is critical in identifying hazards. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to provide updated statistics for the entire US fishing industry during 2010-2014, generate fleet-specific fatality rates using a revised calculation of full-time equivalent estimates, and examine changes in the patterns of fatalities and in risk over a 15-year period (2000-2014). RESULTS: During 2010-2014, 188 commercial fishing fatalities occurred in the United States. Vessel disasters and falls overboard remain leading contributors to commercial fishing deaths. The Atlantic scallop fleet stands out for achieving substantial declines in the risk of fatalities over the 15-year study period. However, fatality rates ranged from 21 to 147 deaths per 100 000 FTEs, many times higher than the rate for all US workers. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of fatalities among commercial fishermen in the United States has generally declined since 2000, commercial fishing continues to have one of the highest occupational fatality rates in the United States. The sustainable seafood movement could assist in improving the health and safety of fishing industry workers if worker well-being was integrated into the definition of sustainable seafood.

Work-related injuries in the Alaska logging industry, 1991-2014.

BACKGROUND: Although loggers in Alaska are at high risk for occupational injury, no comprehensive review of such injuries has been performed since the mid-1990s. We investigated work-related injuries in the Alaska logging industry during 1991-2014. METHODS: Using data from the Alaska Trauma Registry and the Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System, we described fatal and nonfatal injuries by factors including worker sex and age, timing and geographic location of injuries, and four injury characteristics. Annual injury rates and associated 5-year simple moving averages were calculated. RESULTS: We identified an increase in the 5-year simple moving averages of fatal injury rates beginning around 2005. While injury characteristics were largely consistent between the first 14 and most recent 10 years of the investigation, the size of logging companies declined significantly between these periods. CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with declines in the size of Alaska logging companies might have contributed to the observed increase in fatal injury rates.

Preventing fatal winch entanglements in the US southern shrimp fleet: A research to practice approach.

INTRODUCTION: During 2000-2011, 35 injuries (8 fatal) involving winches were reported to the Coast Guard in the Southern shrimp fleet. Injuries involving the main winch drums had a higher risk for fatal outcomes compared to injuries involving the winch cathead (RR=7.5; 1.1-53.7). The objective of this study was to design effective solutions to protect deckhands from entanglement hazards posed by winches found on the vessels in the Southern shrimp fleet. METHODS: Based on injury characteristics, site visit observations, and input from vessel owners, NIOSH determined that the design and implementation of effective main-winch guarding was a feasible first-step in mitigating the entanglement hazard. Design considerations for stationary guards favor systems that are simple, affordable, durable, unobtrusive, and will not interfere with normal fishing operations. In addition, an auxiliary-stop method was tested to prevent entanglements in try-net winches. RESULTS: Standardized passive guards were designed for three commonly found main winch models. Initial prototype guards have been sea-tested. The design of six additional guards is underway, for a total of three iterations for each winch model identified. These will incorporate features found to be valued by fishermen, will be more efficient, and will reduce the overall cost of fabrication and maintenance. Sea testing of these iterations continues. The auxiliary-stop circuit control prototype system was designed to prevent entanglements in the try-net winch and is currently being sea tested. DISCUSSION: NIOSH has completed initial designs for stationary-winch guards. Through collaborations with shrimper associations and safety groups, the successfully tested winch guard and auxiliary stop designs will be made available to qualified welders and craftsmen to use. This approach has proven effective in preventing other types of winch injuries. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Injury epidemiologic methods and industry input are an effective way to identify workplace hazards and to design effective safety interventions to control hazards.

Utility of a Work Process Classification System for characterizing non-fatal injuries in the Alaskan commercial fishing industry.

BACKGROUND: The US commercial fishing industry is hazardous, as measured by mortality data. However, research on non-fatal injuries is limited. Non-fatal injuries constitute the majority of occupational injuries and can result in workers' lowered productivity and wages, lost quality of life, and disability. In the United States, a Work Process Classification System (WPCS) has previously been applied in Alaskan freezer-trawl and freezer-longline fleets to identify causes of injuries and specific hazards, but not to other fishing fleets. OBJECTIVES: This descriptive epidemiologic study aimed to explore the application and modification of the WPCS in multiple Alaskan fleets, characterize non-fatal occupational injuries in these fleets, and identify work processes that could be targeted for further investigation and future injury prevention efforts. DESIGN: Traumatic, non-fatal injuries on-board Alaskan commercial fishing vessels were identified through United States Coast Guard investigative reports. Characteristics of injuries, as well as worker characteristics, were analysed. Injuries were coded using the WPCS. RESULTS: We successfully utilized the WPCS to code non-fatal injury cases (n = 136). The most frequent main work processes associated with non-fatal injuries included: on-board trawlers, handling frozen fish and processing the catch; on-board vessels using pot/trap gear, handling the gear and shooting/setting the gear; on-board longliners, traffic on board and hauling the gear; and on-board processor vessels, processing the catch, other work with the catch, and handling frozen fish. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed that a WPCS can be applied to multiple Alaskan fleets to identify hazardous tasks. Hazards were unique for each vessel gear type. Future injury prevention efforts should target work processes associated with the most frequent and most severe injuries. Future studies should establish time estimates for work processes in order to determine risk estimates. Efforts to improve non-fatal injury reporting, especially on smaller commercial fishing vessels, should be undertaken.

Work-related traumatic injuries onboard freezer-trawlers and freezer-longliners operating in Alaskan waters during 2001-2012.

BACKGROUND: Workers onboard freezer-trawl (FT) and freezer-longline (FL) vessels in Alaska may be at high risk for fatal and non-fatal injuries. METHODS: Traumatic occupational injuries onboard vessels in the FT and FL fleets were identified through two government data sources. RESULTS: The annual risk of fatal injuries was 125 per 100,000 FTEs in the FT fleet, and 63 per 100,000 FTEs in the FL fleet. The annual risk of non-fatal injuries was 43 per 1,000 FTEs in the FT fleet and 35 per 1,000 FTEs in the FL fleet. The majority of injuries in the FT fleet occurred in the factories and freezer holds, whereas the most common injuries in the FL fleet occurred on deck while working the fishing gear. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirmed that workers in those fleets were at high risk for work-related injuries. Injury prevention should focus on removing hazards in the work processes injuring the most workers.

Occupational fatalities in Alaska: two decades of progress, 1990-1999 and 2000-2009.

INTRODUCTION: Alaska had the highest work-related fatality rate of any state during 1980-1989. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health established the Alaska Field Station (AFS) to address this problem. METHODS: AFS established surveillance systems to provide scientific assessments of occupational hazards. Interventions were developed in collaboration with partners and evaluated. RESULTS: During 2000-2009, Alaska experienced a 42.5% decline in work-related fatalities over the previous decade of 1990-1999. In 2009, the workplace fatality rate for Alaska was 5.6/100,000 workers. Commercial pilot deaths were reduced by 50% and Bering Sea crab fishing death rates were reduced by 60%. Building on this success, AFS established national programs to improve safety in the commercial fishing and oil and gas extraction industries. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: A focused, epidemiological approach to reducing fatalities in high-risk occupations is effective. Ongoing commitment to this type of approach will assist in continued success in Alaska and elsewhere.

Occupational fatalities in the United States commercial fishing industry, 2000-2009.

The occupational fatality rate among commercial fishermen decreased in the United States during 1992-2008; however, commercial fishing continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, with an average annual fatality rate of 129 deaths per 100,000 fishermen in 2008. By contrast, the average annual occupational fatality rate among all US workers during the same period was four deaths per 100,000 workers. During the 1990s, numerous safety interventions were developed for Alaska fisheries that resulted in a significant decline in the state's commercial fishing fatality rate. In 2007, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) expanded surveillance of commercial fishing fatalities to the rest of the United States. The purpose of this report is to identify the hazards and risk factors for all causes of occupational mortality in the US commercial fishing industry, and to explore how those hazards and risk factors differ among fisheries and locations. During 2000-2009, 504 commercial fishing fatalities occurred in the United States. Most (261, 52%) occurred following a vessel disaster (defined as a sinking, capsizing, or other event in which the crew was forced to abandon ship) or a fall overboard (155, 31%). Fatalities occurred in Alaska (133, 26%), Northeast (124, 25%), Gulf of Mexico (116, 23%), West Coast (83, 16%), and the Mid- and South Atlantic (41, 8%) regions. Fatalities occurred most commonly while fishing for shellfish (226, 47%), groundfish (144, 30%) and pelagic fish (97, 20%). Average annual fatality rates were calculated for selected fisheries. The Northeast multispecies groundfish fleet had the highest average annual fatality rate (600 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent [FTE] fishermen) followed by the Atlantic scallop fleet (425 deaths per 100,000 FTE fishermen) and the West Coast Dungeness crab fleet (310 deaths per 100,000 FTE fishermen). To reduce fatalities among fishermen at greatest risk, additional prevention measures tailored to specific high-risk fisheries should be considered.

Drowning in Alaska: progress and persistent problems.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate and describe the current problem of drowning in Alaska, measure changes in the rates since earlier studies have been done and compare occupational and non-occupational drowning characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: This is a descriptive observational study, using existing records obtained from several sources to describe and compare drowning victims and event characteristics. METHODS: Drowning fatality data were collected from death certificates, law-enforcement reports and news articles. Descriptive statistics and risk ratios were calculated to compare levels of risk based on incident and victim characteristics. RESULTS: During 2000-2006, 402 unintentional drowning deaths, 108 of them occupational, occurred in Alaska, with an average annual fatality rate of 8.9 deaths per 100,000 Alaskans. The victim population was 86% male and 44% Alaska Native; 40% drowned in the south-west region of Alaska. For non-occupational cases with alcohol use documented, 33% were associated with alcohol consumption, as were 78% of those involved with all-terrain vehicle crashes. Only 17% of non-occupational victims who drowned while boating wore a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). CONCLUSIONS: The drowning rate in Alaska during 2000-2006 was 8.9 drowning deaths per 100,000 population. This shows a decrease from the rate reported in a 1996 study, but several problems persist. Males and Alaska Natives had elevated risks for drowning. A substantial portion of fatalities were associated with alcohol consumption. PFD use remains low, and child drowning rates were unchanged from earlier studies. Increased data on water temperature and immersion time may help demonstrate the benefits of PFD use to those at risk. Social marketing efforts should be adapted for at-risk populations.

Reducing commercial fishing deck hazards with engineering solutions for winch design.

INTRODUCTION: The majority (67%) of hospitalized injuries among Alaska commercial fishermen are associated with deck machinery. This paper describes the "Prevention Through Design" process to mitigate one serious machinery entanglement hazard posed by a capstan deck winch. METHODS: After observing that the capstan winch provides no entanglement protection and the hydraulic controls are usually out of reach of the entangled person, NIOSH personnel met with fishermen and winch manufacturers to discuss various design solutions to mitigate these hazards. RESULTS: An emergency-stop ("e-stop") system was developed that incorporated a momentary contact button that when pushed, switches a safety-relay that de-energizes the solenoid of an electro-hydraulic valve stopping the rotating winch. The vessel owners that had the e-stop installed enthusiastically recommend it to other fishermen. NIOSH entered into a Proprietary Technology Licensing Agreement with a company to develop the system for commercial use. CONCLUSIONS: This is an example of a practical engineering control that effectively protects workers from a hazardous piece of equipment by preventing injuries due to entanglement. This solution could reduce these types of debilitating injuries and fatalities in this industry.

Fatal falls overboard on commercial fishing vessels in Alaska.

BACKGROUND: Falls overboard are a major contributor to commercial fishing fatalities in Alaska. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has repeatedly identified falls overboard as a critical issue in commercial fishing safety. This article describes the problem of falls overboard and discusses possible ways to reduce the risk factors. METHODS: Data from the Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System on fatal falls overboard in Alaska between 1990 and 2005 were used. An in-depth descriptive analysis of these fatalities was performed to identify areas for intervention. RESULTS: There were 71 fatal falls overboard on commercial fishing vessels in Alaska during the 16-year time period. Falls overboard did not decline significantly during those years. The most common circumstances associated with falling overboard were working with fishing gear, being alone on deck, losing balance or slipping, heavy weather, gear entanglement, and alcohol. The level of involvement of those circumstances varied by region and gear type. SUMMARY: Many fatal falls overboard may be prevented by understanding the circumstances involved and targeting interventions at those specific risk factors. Interventions include creating more enclosed work spaces, managing lines, avoiding fishing alone, wearing personal flotation devices and man overboard alarms, and reducing alcohol use. Subsequent research should identify further interventions for each circumstance and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions with the fishing industry.