PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Driscoll, T R
AU  - Ansari, G
AU  - Harrison, J E
AU  - Frommer, M S
AU  - Ruck, E A
TI  - Traumatic work related fatalities in commercial fishermen in Australia.
AID  - 10.1136/oem.51.9.612
DP  - 1994 Sep 01
TA  - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
PG  - 612--616
VI  - 51
IP  - 9
4099  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/51/9/612.short
4100  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/51/9/612.full
SO  - Occup Environ Med1994 Sep 01; 51
AB  - OBJECTIVES--To describe the types and circumstances of traumatic work related fatalities in Australian commercial fishermen. METHODS--Work related traumatic fishing fatalities were studied as part of a larger study of all work related traumatic fatalities in Australia from 1982 to 1984. Data on 47 cases were obtained from inspection of coroners' files. RESULTS--The incidence of fatality of 143/100,000 person-years was 18 times higher than the incidence of fatality for the entire workforce, and considerably higher than that of the mining and agricultural workforces. 68% of decedents drowned and 13% died from physical trauma. Rough weather, non-seaworthy vessels, inadequate use of personal flotation devices, and inexperience were associated with many of the fatal incidents. DISCUSSION--Improved vessel and equipment maintenance, better training of workers, greater use of personal flotation devices, and development of improved clothing and personal flotation devices are recommended.