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

Abstract

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 US. 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. Conclusions This study found fatality rates in fishing fleets during 2010–2014 ranging from 21 to 147 deaths per 100,000 FTEs, many times higher than the rate for all US workers.

Opioid‐related overdose deaths by industry and occupation—Massachusetts, 2011‐2015

“…Fishing workers were also found to have high rates of OROD. Commercial fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States with a work‐related injury fatality rate 25 times higher than the national average . Nonfatal injuries and musculoskeletal disorders among fishermen are common.…”

Fatal Falls Overboard in Commercial Fishing — United States, 2000–2016

“…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.…”

Follow-up of citations of maritime epidemiological injury studies

“…Krenz et al [22] also found the "Jensen" System useful for activity classification for claims. lucas et al [23] applied a framework based on our system to code processes specifically related to long-liners and trawlers.…”

“…Based on the trend's analyses of fatalities in fishing in Study 2, the preventive programs seem to have good effects. Still, the authors call for continued effort to improve safety in fishing in all the studies [23,30,36].…”