The Most Dangerous Jobs in America: Commercial Fishing Still Tops the List
No matter how the statistics are figured, commercial fishing is named in every recent study as the most dangerous job in America. This is probably no surprise to the Gulf Coast men and women who earn their livings in this industry. Fishermen deal with rough weather, dangerous working conditions, strenuous work, and long working hours every day on the job.
The fatality rate for fishermen from 1992-2008 was 128 per 100,000 workers, compared with four per 100,000 among all American workers. Of these fatalities, over 95% were male and the average age was 41. It is no wonder that the television series, Deadliest Catch, is a hit with viewers who like the reality of danger.
Most fishing fatalities occurred during the above time period as a result of:
Vessel disaster (%52) caused by flooding, vessel instability, being struck by a large wave and severe weather conditions
Falling Overboard (31%) caused by trips or slips, losing balance or gear entanglement.
Onboard Injury (10%)
Diving or Onshore Injury (7%)
And where are the most dangerous places to fish? Here are the regions and the percentage of fatalities in each:
Wear a comfortable personal flotation device (PFD) on deck at all times.
Practice monthly drills including flooding, fire, man overboard and abandon ship.
Watch weather forecasts carefully.
Perform regular inspections of the hull, doors, hatches, and high water alarms.
Use a man overboard alarm system.
Test immersion suits used in cold water for leaks.
In addition, NIOSH says that all vessel owners and operators should:
Have a policy for PFD use.
Require monthly drills for the procedures listed above.
Install a man overboard alarm system and a man overboard retrieval device.
Make sure all hydraulic deck machinery is equipped with an emergency stop.
Make sure all crewmembers are up to date on safety training.
If you or a loved one has had a commercial fishing injury and you feel that an employer or co-worker was at fault, you have strong protection in the Jones Act. Let our expert Jones Act law team help you. The Young Firm in New Orleans will fight aggressively for your rights. Give us a call today toll free at (866) 938-6113 or fill out the form on this page for a free consultation.
