How to Prevent Injury in Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. The fatality rate in this industry is 39 times higher than the national average. Man overboard fatalities are the second leading cause of death among workers in professional fishing nationwide. Between 2000 and 2014, 210 fishermen died after falling overboard from their vessel. None were wearing PFDs (personal flotation device) when they drowned. During the same period, vessel disasters were the leading cause of death, accounting for 50% fatalities in commercial fishing. On-deck injuries caused 12% of all fatal injuries and the largest number of non-fatal hospitalized injuries. Between 2000 and 2014,