Deck Machinery Identified as Leading Cause of Serious Injury for Alaska Harvesters
A study published in the online Journal of Agromedicine in late January identifies deck machinery as a leading source of hospitalized injury for commercial fishermen in Alaska, but says more data is needed about specific circumstances leading to injuries in order to develop steps for targeted prevention.
The study, which was conducted by four researchers at the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Spokane, Wash., analyzed claims submitted to the Alaska Fisherman’s Fund to identify patterns of injuries in Alaska from commercial fishing winches.
Researchers found that from Jan. 1, 2000 to Nov. 1, 2020, 125 traumatic injuries from commercial fishing winches were identified, mainly among men (94%), frequently among fishermen age...