Using Land-Based Simulation to Perform Crew Overboard Recovery Training and Research

Details

• Personal Author:
  Casanova V ; Levin J ; Wickman A
• Description:
  Commercial fishing is hazardous work in an unpredictable and unforgiving environment. Television shows like "The Deadliest Catch" are appropriately named; however, they fail to capture how proper training can positively impact survival outcomes. In 2022, the farming, fishing and forestry occupations had the highest fatality rate of all occupational groups at 23.5 fatalities per 100,000 full time equivalent workers compared to 3.7 for all workers. In commercial fishing, falls overboard are a leading cause of fatalities among United States fishermen, second only to vessel disasters. Falls overboard claimed 204 lives between 2000-2016 with the highest number of fatalities occurring in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery (N = 34, 16.7%). ...Although performing the drills training aboard a commercial fishing vessel as originally planned would have provided a more realistic simulation, the land-based simulation allowed the research team to reach the intended audience and describe key elements of the recovery process while observing the safety precautions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research team was able to train partners across state lines to use the equipment, which helped to ensure training was delivered consistently across all three sites. Fishermen also gained confidence in deploying a rescue sling using a mechanical advantage. Finally, the elements of the land-based simulation were affordable, durable, and portable, making it a viable option for repeated trainings and replication in other ports. In the post-pandemic environment, future trainings could be held aboard vessel as originally envisioned and survey results could be compared to the land-based simulation responses. If training was replicated on land, the experience could be improved with the use of a weighted manikin rather than one designed for water rescue. In conclusion, land-based simulations can be used as training tools for commercial fishing safety; however, trainings that mimic real world situations are ideal. Whether held on land or aboard vessel, all trainings need to be repeated on a regular basis to maintain skills proficiency and confidence. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hunting Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Fishing Industry Personal Flotation Device PFD Safety Practices Simulation Methods Training
• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Birmingham Region [OSHA] ; Dallas Region [OSHA] ; Louisiana ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  204-206
• Volume:
  30
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070358
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2024 Apr; 30(2):204-206
• Email:
  amanda.wickman@uthct.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Center at Tyler
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20190901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:25568afeebb10aba6746d8e68c0d82f4b02b7b34e674dca1c30eebb8cb1468cb7d2a49b921043c4649f0a8ebb90fcaec3bbdc29dcd6142773216f19f3ce878e2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208590/cdc_208590_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.70 MB ]