NIOSH Safety and Health Topic:

Commercial Fishing Safety

Commercial fishing is part of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry sector. Commercial fishing employs between 80,000-160,000 fishermen on approximately 80,000 fishing vessels in the U.S. The commercial fishing industry consistently experiences one of the highest occupational fatality rates in the country. In 2006, commercial fishermen had the most dangerous job in the United States, with an annual fatality rate that was 36 times greater than the rate of all U.S. workers (142 and 4 per 100,000, respectively). A review of commercial fishing fatalities conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) found that during 1994-2004:

641 commercial fishermen died while fishing in the U.S.
More than 100 vessels were lost each year and these lost-vessel events resulted in more than half of all fatalities
Another 184 (29%) fatalities were due to fisherman falling overboard
The remainder of the fatalities were due to deck injuries (8%), diving (5%), fires or explosions (5%), and other causes (2%)

Commercial Fishing in Alaska

Alaska's commercial fishermen work in one of the world's harshest environments and experience conditions that have a strong impact on their safety. One-third (327) of all work-related deaths that took place in Alaska during 1990-2007 occurred to fishermen. This results in an annual fatality rate that is 26 times greater than the rate for all U.S. workers (128 and 4 per 100,000 workers per year, respectively). While the work-related fatality rate for commercial fishermen in Alaska is still very high, it has decreased by 47 percent since the early 1990s (Figure 1).

Commercial Fishing Fatalities by Year, Alaska, 1990-2007

The successes in commercial fishing are due in part to the USCG implementing new safety requirements in the early 1990s. These safety requirements contributed to 96 percent of the commercial fishermen surviving vessel sinkings/capsizings in 2004, whereas in 1991, only 73 percent survived. While the number of occupational deaths in commercial fishermen in Alaska has been reduced, between 20 and 40 vessels are lost every year and about 100 fishermen must be rescued each year from Alaskan waters.

Expanding Research Nationally

Substantial progress has been made in Alaska's most hazardous industry through the thoughtful application of the public health model. Surveillance, training, intervention, and evaluation of progress provide a useful blueprint for prevention of commercial fishing deaths elsewhere in the United States. The NIOSH Alaska Pacific Regional Office is currently expanding its research and prevention activities to include commercial fishing fleets throughout the U.S.

NIOSH is collecting data on all deaths in the fishing industry nationally since 2000. Sources of data include the USCG and state based occupational injury surveillance programs. NIOSH is also calculating employment estimates for fishing regions across the U.S. so that rates can be used to assess risk in different fisheries. This kind of focused research has never been done before on a national level for the fishing industry.

Preliminary findings for the West Coast were published in the April 25, 2008 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Current Commercial Fishing Research at NIOSH

Improving surveillance for commercial fishing
This project has established a national commercial fishing surveillance system for fatal injuries. Surveillance data will be used to provide baseline information for analysis, produce annual updates on current hazards and longitudinal trends, and to develop engineering solutions for pressing problems that are identified.

NIOSH deck safety project
Purse seine winch with NIOSH E-stop button NIOSH researchers and engineers worked with purse seine fishermen on the design and testing of an emergency stop (e-stop) switch that stops the deck winch if someone becomes entangled. The e-stop system allows the winch to be stopped by a worker, even if the worker is caught in the winch. The system was successfully tested on vessels during the 2005-2007 fishing seasons and is now commercially available as a retrofit-kit from Go2Marine. External link: http://www.go2marine.com

Developing a hatch monitoring system
In response to a tragic incident that was linked to a watertight door that was left open, NIOSH is working to develop a hatch and door monitoring system for commercial fishing vessels that is inexpensive, easy to install, robust, and able to be retrofitted on existing vessels. NIOSH engineers are in the process of installing such a system on a fishing vessel to evaluate it at sea. Sea trial results will be used to refine the system and make recommendations for installation in commercial fishing vessels.

Improving PFD use among commercial fisherman
There are many types and styles of PFDs available, with several styles to fit the needs of commercial fishermen, including several lightweight, inflatable PFDs that are worn like suspenders and PFDs that are integrated into raingear. NIOSH is conducting a field study in Alaska with commercial fishermen to test the available PFDs to identify the PFDs with the features that fishermen like and will use.

Improving access to vessel stability data
NIOSH is currently working with Jensen Maritime Consulting, Inc. to explore ways to make stability information more accessible and affordable to fishermen.

Assessing the impact of Fisheries Management Policies on Safety
NIOSH recently completed a study assessing the safety impacts of Fisheries Management Policies in Alaska. NIOSH is coordinating with the Food and Agricultural Organization to access these types of policies around the world.

NIOSHTIC-2 Search

NIOSHTIC-2 search results on Commercial Fishing in Alaska
NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by the NIOSH.

NIOSH and other Peer Reviewed Publications on Commercial Fishing Safety

National Academies’ Panel Report from Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing Program Review
The National Research Council convened a committee of experts to review the NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Research Program (AFF Program) to evaluate the relevance of its work to improvements in occupational safety and health and the impact of NIOSH research in reducing workplace illnesses and injuries. Relevance was evaluated in terms of the priority of work carried out and its connection to improvements in workplace protection. Impact was evaluated in terms of its contributions to worker safety and health. The committee was also asked to assess the program’s identification and targeting of new research areas, to identify emerging research issues, and to provide advice on ways the program might be strengthened.

Fatal Falls Overboard on Commercial Fishing Vessels in Alaska
Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:962-968, 2007
This article describes the problem of falls overboard and discusses possible ways to reduce the risk factors. 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. Many fatal falls overboard may be prevented by understanding the circumstances involved and targeting interventions at those specific risk factors.

NIOSH testimony on commercial fishing vessel safety by J. Lincoln
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation (April 25, 2007)
Substantial progress has been made in Alaska's most hazardous industry through the thoughtful application of the public health model. Surveillance, training, intervention, and evaluation of progress provide a useful blueprint for prevention of similar deaths elsewhere in the United States. NIOSH plans to continue to support the safety of the commercial fishing industry by assisting with research and evaluation of interventions in the areas of preventing vessel losses, fatalities, and severe injuries. NIOSH will strive for strong surveillance and thorough data gathering so that we can better understand the issues, mitigate the worst problems, and identify emerging hazards. NIOSH looks forward to continuing our work with stakeholders to improve safety for fishing vessel workers.

The most powerful thing...deck safety awareness for purse seiners
The most powerful thing is a safety awareness video designed to help crew members be more aware of safety hazards on board purse seining vessels. It features interviews with fishermen about their experiences working around, and in some cases being injured by, the capstan winch. In addition, the video highlights an engineering solution developed to help prevent injuries that occur as a result of getting entangled around the winch.

All hands on deck: improving deck safety on commercial fishing vessels
Proc Mar Saf Secur Counc 2007 Mar; 64(1):29-31
Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Sinkings like the Arctic Rose and Big Valley in Alaska, as well as other tragedies like the fatal fire aboard the Galaxy, take dozens of lives each year. In 2005, 48 commercial fishermen were killed on the job, resulting in an occupational mortality rate of 118 for every 100,000 workers. That's the highest of all occupations in the country-30 times higher than the mortality rate for the average U.S. worker of four per 100,000. Although most fatalities in the commercial fishing industry are due to the loss of a fishing vessel, researchers at NIOSH have shown that most severe non-fatal injuries occur on deck during the deployment and retrieval of fishing gear.

Deck safety in the commercial fishing industry: development of an emergency-stop system for a hydraulic deck winch (April 2006)
The NIOSH Alaska Field Station has found that most (67%) severe non-fatal injuries occur on deck during the deployment and retrieval of fishing gear. During 1991-1998, machinery and fishing equipment accounted for 40% of non-fatal injuries. Being trapped in a winch caused 35% of these machinery injuries. Deck machinery and gear is also a factor in many fatal injuries aboard fishing vessels. These fatalities can be prevented when practical engineering solutions can be developed. The purpose of this study was to take epidemiological data to industry to learn about hazards on deck and then to work with engineers to design out the identified hazards. In November 2004, NIOSH AFS partnered with the NIOSH Spokane Research Laboratory to develop an engineering intervention to improve safety on the deck of fishing vessels. Staff met with vessel owners, fishermen, and winch manufacturers to discuss various design options. The final design, an emergency-stop (e-stop) system, incorporates a momentary contact switch mounted directly on the winch. The prototype e-stop was installed on a fishing vessel and successfully tested during the summer 2005 fishing season and the system is currently being refined in preparation for additional testing in 2006. By using epidemiology to identify problems, industry to provide practical input and engineering design to control hazards, effective safety interventions can be implemented.

Proceedings, Second International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-114 (April 2006)
This proceedings volume includes manuscripts submitted for 28 of the 40 presentations given at the Second International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference in Sitka, Alaska, on September 22 through September 24, 2003. The range of subjects is impressive, from risk factor analyses to intervention approaches, some rooted in practicalities and success, some more theoretical. The presentations and resulting papers represent tremendous geographic diversity as well, with papers presented and submitted by fishermen from the South Pacific all the way to the Arctic Circle.

Dangers of Entanglement During Lobstering
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-137 (August 2005)
Lobster fishing is a hazardous occupation that has resulted in drownings from entanglement in trap line and being pulled overboard. A survey of 103 lobstermen developed recommended work practices and controls to (1) reduce entanglement, (2) escape entanglement, and (3) provide opportunities to reboard the vessel.

Proceedings of the International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-102 (October 2002)
The findings in this document represent health and safety recommendations for commercial fishermen, from some of the most knowledgeable researchers in the world. This proceedings volume contains articles from commercial fishing safety experts from the Nordic Nations, United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, Israel, and other areas, as well as articles from researchers throughout the United States.

Surveillance and Prevention of Occupational Injuries in Alaska: A Decade of Progress, 1990-1999
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-115 (May 2002)
To learn more about Alaska, and the problems that affect workers in this state, click on the link below. A Decade of Progress provides a good overview of the dangerous conditions that many workers in Alaska face in the commercial fishing and aviation industries. The book contains a chapter on commercial fishing that outlines the working conditions of commercial fishermen, the safety problems they encounter, and the progress that has been made in reducing work-related deaths in this industry.

Is it Safe on Deck? Fatal and Non-Fatal Workplace Injuries among Alaskan Commercial Fishermen
Am. J. Ind. Med., 40:693-702 (2001)
Commercial fishing in Alaska accounts for an occupational fatality rate that is 28 times the rate for all U.S. workers. Most deaths are attributed to vessel sinking or capsizing. However, many deaths and most non-fatal injuries are not related to vessel loss. This paper describes injuries that occur on the dock or on the fishing vessel. Data from fishing fatalities and non-fatal injuries between 1991-1998 were analyzed using the Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System and the Alaska Trauma Registry. There were 60 workplace deaths unrelated to vessel loss; most from falls overboard, others from trauma caused by equipment on deck. There were 574 hospitalized injuries, often from falls on deck, entanglement in machinery, or being struck by an object. Fishing boats are hazardous working environments. Further efforts are required to prevent falls overboard and on deck, and to redesign or install safety features on fishing machinery and equipment.

Improving Safety in the Alaskan Commercial Fishing Industry
Int J Circumpolar Health, 2001 Nov 60(4):705-713
Over 90% of deaths in Alaska's commercial fishing industry were due to drowning, following vessel sinkings. In the early 1990's, the U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act required the implementation of safety measures for all fishing vessels. The purpose of our study was to examine the effectiveness of these measures in reducing the high fatality rate of Alaska's commercial fishermen. During 1991-1998, there was a significant (p<0.001) decrease in Alaskan commercial fishing deaths. During 1991-1997, 536 fishermen suffered severe injuries (437/100,000/year). These injuries resulted from being entangled, struck or crushed by equipment (60%) and from falls (25%). Vessel sinkings still continue to occur, placing fishermen at substantial risk. Efforts toward improving vessel stability and hull integrity and avoidance of harsh weather conditions must be made to further reduce the fatality rate. Measures are needed to prevent falls and improve equipment handling and machinery guarding.

Alaska's Model Program for Surveillance and Prevention of Occupational Injury Deaths
Public Health Reports, 114:550-558 (1999)
External link: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=10670623
To learn more about Alaska's Model Program for surveillance and prevention of occupational injury deaths, please link to the article below, which discusses the usefulness of a collaborative approach to safety programming. Collaborative efforts have contributed to reducing crash rates and mortality in Alaska's helicopter logging industry, and have played an important supportive role in the progress made in reducing the mortality rate in Alaska's commercial fishing industry.

Preventing commercial fishing deaths in Alaska
Occup Environ Med 1999 Oct; 56(10):691-695
To evaluate the effectiveness of the U.S. 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. 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 have continued to occur, marked progress has been made in saving the lives of people involved in vessels capsizing and sinking. Specific measures tailored to prevent drowning associated with vessels capsizing 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 capsizing and sinking, to enable parallel improvements in the mortality among crab fishermen, and to prevent fishermen falling overboard and drownings associated with them.

Preventing death in Alaska’s commercial fishing industry
Int J Circumpolar Health, 1998 vol:57 Suppl 1 pg:503-9
The arctic and sub-arctic waters of Alaska provide a very hazardous work setting, with special hazards posed by great distances, seasonal darkness, cold waters, high winds, brief fishing seasons, and icing. Our intent is to reduce the remarkably high occupational fatality rate (200/100,000/year in 1991-1992) among Alaska's commercial fishing workers. During 1990 through 1994, the U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 required the implementation of comprehensive prevention measures for all fishing vessels in offshore cold waters. Parallel to this, voluntary training efforts by nonprofit organizations have greatly increased. During 1990-1994, drowning was the leading cause of occupational death in Alaska. During this period, 117 fishers died, 101 of them from drowning or drowning/hypothermia. During 1991-1994, there was a substantial decrease in Alaskan commercial fishing-related deaths, from 34 in 1991 to 10 in 1994. While man-overboard drownings and some other categories of deaths (falls, fires) have continued to occur, the most marked progress has been in vessel-related events. Specific measures tailored to prevent drowning in vessel capsizings and sinkings in Alaska's commercial fishing industry have been very successful so far. Additional efforts must be made to reduce the frequency of vessel events and to prevent man-overboard events and drownings associated with them.

Commercial fishing fatalities in Alaska: risk factors and prevention strategies
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-163 (September 1997)
NIOSH published a Current Intelligence Bulletin in September 1997 that outlined risk factors and prevention strategies for commercial fishing deaths in Alaska. The document includes a discussion of management regimes and the safety roles of the USCG in implementing CFIVSA. It has recommendations for vessel stability and hull integrity, licensing and training of skippers, human factors associated with injuries, crew training, harsh sea and weather conditions, and man overboard.

Drowning in Alaskan Waters
Public Health Reports, 111(6):531-535 (1996)
External link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8955701
This article, published in 1996, discusses the patterns associated with drowning deaths in Alaska. The incidence rate for drowning in Alaska at the time of this study was 20 drownings per 100,000 population per year, a rate that was 10 times higher than the overall US rate. The study found that commercial fishermen and young Alaska Native males were at highest risk for drowning deaths.

Evaluation of an Alaskan Marine Safety Training Program
Public Health Reports, 110(6):701-702 (1995)
External link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8570822&dopt=Abstract
This article discusses the effectiveness of a vessel safety drill instructor training program - the author used NIOSH data to conduct a retrospective evaluation. Since the implementation of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act (CFIVSA) in the 1990s, most commercial fishing vessels are required to hold safety drills onboard their vessels. This article demonstrates the positive effects of such programs.

In-house Fatality Investigation Reports (conducted under the FACE Program)
State-based Fatality Investigation Reports (conducted under the FACE Program)
The Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program investigates fatal worker injuries. These links provide lists of fatality investigation reports of commercial fishing deaths; each report listed links to the full-text reports on the FACEWeb.