Gulf of Mexico Seafood Harvesters: Part 1. Occupational Injury and Fatigue Risk Factors

Abstract

During 2000During -2009 Gulf of Mexico (GoM) fishers were killed (23% of the US total) while working in the shrimp, finfish, oyster, clam, and crab fisheries. The purpose of this literature review is to identify injury-related risk factors to better assess the frequency and severity of injuries experienced by fish harvesters in the GoM. Methods: The method of this study is a comprehensive narrative literature review of findings useful for the prevention of fatal and non-fatal injuries among GoM fish harvesters published since 2005. Search engine terms were used to identify relevant literature that included fatalities, injuries, fatigue, and several other terms in combination (e.g., string search with "fishing"). Results: We reviewed 48 articles; the most common cause of fish harvester deaths in the GoM is falls overboard with scant use of personal flotation devices and vessel disasters in which flooding and collision were the most lethal. The root cause of errors resulting in many disasters may have been operator fatigue, but fatigue is also an adverse health effect resulting from working conditions. Non-fatal injuries arise from multiple sources that include working with gears, slips and trips, struck-by or against objects, machine or line entanglements, and falls. Conclusion: Principal risk factors are a lack of sleep aboard fishing vessels, vessel flooding and collisions, poor weather, slips on deck, contact with gear, not wearing personal flotation devices, poor swimming ability, and fishing alone on a vessel or the deck.

Working hours, sleep, and fatigue in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector: A scoping review

“…Screening for sleep disorders to improve sleep quality was mentioned 63,75 . Further exploration of the relationship between sleep and injury and illness specifically for this sector was a suggested topic of future research 63,120–123 . Suggestions for future research also focused on targeting interventions, 49,124 the effect of mood disorders on fatigue and injury, 125 exploring the relationship of policies and regulations, 126 and testing a causal link between vessel disasters and fatigue 74 …”

“…63,75 Further exploration of the relationship between sleep and injury and illness specifically for this sector was a suggested topic of future research. 63,[120][121][122][123] Suggestions for future research also focused on targeting interventions, 49,124 the effect of mood disorders on fatigue and injury, 125 exploring the relationship of policies and regulations, 126 and testing a causal link between vessel disasters and fatigue. 74 Studies stressed interventions must address the effects of long hours and fatigue, not necessarily create prescriptive rules in an effort to prevent it.…”

Dissemination and Implementation of a Text Messaging Campaign to Improve Health Disparities among Im/Migrant Workers

“…On average, commercial fishermen have a fatality rate 29 times higher than the average worker [ 3 ]. The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is the second-most productive commercial fishing industry in the US and one of the most dangerous sectors for employment [ 4 , 5 ]. Moreover, in the US, im/migrant and seasonal workers support the commercial fishing industry and were considered essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Work Safety Aspects on the Sea on Small-Scale Fishermen in Jember Regency, Indonesia

“…This rate is way higher than fatality rates in other employment sectors. Another research (Myers, Durborow and Kane, 2018) further discovered that the fatality rates in the fisheries sector are 20 times greater than in the mining sector which is known to be dangerous. In Indonesia, this figure is of course expected to be much higher considering that Indonesia is a developing country (a country with lower middle income).…”