Preventing commercial fishing deaths in Alaska.

Abstract

Objectives-To evaluate the eVectiveness of the United States Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 in reducing the high occupational death rate (200/100 000/year in 1991-2) among Alaska's commercial fishermen. Methods-Comprehensive surveillance of deaths in commercial fishing was established by our oYce during 1991 and 1992 for Alaska. Demographic data and data on risk factors and incidents were compiled and analysed for trend. Results-During 1991-8, there was a significant (p<0.001) decrease in deaths in Alaska related to commercial fishing. Although drownings from fishermen falling overboard and events related to crab fishing vessels (often conducted far oVshore and in winter) have continued to occur, marked progress (significant downward trend, p<0.001) has been made in saving the lives of people involved in vessels capsising and sinking. Conclusions-Specific measures tailored to prevent drowning associated with vessels capsising and sinking in Alaska's commercial fishing industry have been successful. However, these events continue to occur, and place fishermen and rescue personnel at substantial risk. Additional strategies must be identified to reduce the frequency of vessels capsising and sinking, to enable parallel improvements in the mortality among crab fishermen, and to prevent fishermen falling overboard and drownings associated with them. (Occup Environ Med 1999;56:691-695)

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

“…It also found that the two leading causes of vessel disaster in the GoM were flooding and collision, as shown in Figure 2 [18].…”

“…In 2010, CDC reported on 504 US commercial fishing fatalities for the years 2000-2009 [18]. The sources of the data included reports from the USCG, enforcement agencies, media, death certificates, and state-based systems.…”

“…Across the nation, of all decedents recovered from a FOB, none wore a personal flotation device (PFD). In addition, 88 fatalities were caused by onboard injuries (51), diving (19), and onshore injuries (18). A vessel disaster is defined as a sinking, capsizing, grounding, fire, or other event that forces the crew to abandon ship [4], and a fatal FOB is defined as "unintentionally entering the water outside the hull of a commercial fishing vessel resulting in a fatality" [19].…”

Task-dependent cold stress during expeditions in Antarctic environments

“…Literature in other maritime industries suggests cold stress should be a serious concern, but unique factors limit the generalizability of these findings [26]. Although cold temperatures contribute to cold stress, factors such as clothing insulation, thermogenesis from movement, personal experience, cold perception and subjective discomfort have all been shown to moderate the thermal stress/performance relationship [27].…”

Drowning in Alaska: progress and persistent problems

“…Other states with substantial shorelines (rivers, lakes and marine), colder climates and sizeable rural populations (Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Maine) had drowning death rates between 1.25 and 1.81 per 100,000. Although several drowning prevention programs have been instituted and significant research has focused on occupational drowning deaths in Alaska, there has been limited examination of non-occupational drowning data (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8).…”