Preventing fatal winch entanglements in the US southern shrimp fleet: A research to practice approach.

Introduction: During 2000-2011, 35 injuries (8 fatal) involving winches were reported to the Coast Guard in the Southern shrimp fleet. Injuries involving the main winch drums had a higher risk for fatal outcomes compared to injuries involving the winch cathead (RR=7.5; 1.

Occupational fatalities in Alaska: two decades of progress, 1990-1999 and 2000-2009.

Introduction: Alaska had the highest work-related fatality rate of any state during 1980-1989. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health established the Alaska Field Station (AFS) to address this problem.

Methods: AFS established surveillance systems to provide scientific assessments of occupational hazards.

Reducing commercial fishing deck hazards with engineering solutions for winch design.

Introduction: The majority (67%) of hospitalized injuries among Alaska commercial fishermen are associated with deck machinery. This paper describes the "Prevention Through Design" process to mitigate one serious machinery entanglement hazard posed by a capstan deck winch.

Methods: After observing that the capstan winch provides no entanglement protection and the hydraulic controls are usually out of reach of the entangled person, NIOSH personnel met with fishermen and winch manufacturers to discuss various design solutions to mitigate these hazards.