Trends in the number of deaths, and corresponding mortality rates, for different causes of traumatic work related death in British merchant shipping, 1976–79, 1980–89, and 1990–2002
| Cause of death | 1976–79 | 1980–89 | 1990–2002 | 1976–2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of deaths | (mortality rate per 100 000 seafarer-years) | No. of deaths | (mortality rate per 100 000 seafarer-years) | No. of deaths | (mortality rate per 100 000 seafarer-years) | No. of deaths | (mortality rate per 100 000 seafarer-years) | |
| Accidents | ||||||||
| Maritime disasters | ||||||||
| Foundered | 21 | (5.8) | 89 | (18.6) | 110 | (9.7) | ||
| Fire or explosion | 18 | (5.0) | 35 | (7.3) | 4 | (1.4) | 57 | (5.0) |
| Other | 5 | (1.4) | 4 | (0.8) | 9 | (0.8) | ||
| Occupational accidents | ||||||||
| Asphyxiated in holds | 18 | (5.0) | 2 | (0.4) | 20 | (1.8) | ||
| Asphyxiated in the engine room | 4 | (1.1) | 6 | (1.3) | 10 | (0.9) | ||
| Falls overboard | 13 | (3.6) | 17 | (3.6) | 5 | (1.7) | 35 | (3.1) |
| Falls down or inside holds | 20 | (5.5) | 8 | (1.7) | 2 | (0.7) | 30 | (2.6) |
| Other falls on board | 14 | (3.9) | 1 | (0.2) | 4 | (1.4) | 19 | (1.7) |
| Struck by heavy seas on deck | 7 | (1.9) | 9 | (1.9) | 1 | (0.3) | 17 | (1.5) |
| Struck by mooring and towing ropes | 8 | (2.2) | 6 | (1.3) | 4 | (1.4) | 18 | (1.6) |
| Struck by other moving objects | 20 | (5.5) | 21 | (4.4) | 11 | (3.7) | 52 | (4.6) |
| Other occupational accidents | 10 | (2.8) | 9 | (1.9) | 5 | (1.7) | 24 | (2.1) |
| Off-duty accidents | ||||||||
| Falls into docks—returning to ship | 39 | (10.7) | 32 | (6.7) | 6 | (2.0) | 77 | (6.8) |
| Falls overboard | 2 | (0.6) | 3 | (0.6) | 2 | (0.7) | 7 | (0.6) |
| Falls on board | 8 | (2.2) | 5 | (1.0) | 2 | (0.7) | 15 | (1.3) |
| Traffic accidents ashore | 12 | (3.3) | 16 | (3.3) | 6 | (2.0) | 34 | (3.0) |
| Swimming and diving accidents | 4 | (1.1) | 8 | (1.7) | 2 | (0.7) | 14 | (1.2) |
| Other off-duty accidents | 8 | (2.2) | 8 | (1.7) | 16 | (1.4) | ||
| Homicide | 10 | (2.8) | 6 | (1.3) | 1 | (0.3) | 17 | (1.5) |
| Suicide | 20 | (5.5) | 26 | (5.4) | 9 | (3.0) | 55 | (4.8) |
| Drug and alcohol intoxication | 4 | (1.1) | 8 | (1.7) | 2 | (0.7) | 14 | (1.2) |
| Unknown circumstances | ||||||||
| Drowned | 53 | (14.6) | 28 | (5.9) | 10 | (3.4) | 91 | (8.0) |
| Missing | 45 | (12.4) | 35 | (7.3) | 7 | (2.4) | 87 | (7.7) |
| Other | 4 | (1.1) | 2 | (0.4) | 1 | (0.3) | 7 | (0.6) |
| Total | 367 | (101.2) | 384 | (80.4) | 84 | (28.4) | 835 | (73.5) |