PFDs That Work: Dungeness Crabbers
May 2015
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2015-180
Falling overboard is the second leading cause of death among commercial fishermen nationwide. Of the 182 fishermen who died from falls overboard between 2000 and 2011 NONE of them were wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Researchers from the University of Washington, Oregon Health Science University and the NIOSH Alaska Pacific Office conducted an evaluation with commercial Dungeness crab fishermen in Oregon to rate the comfort and acceptability of five modern personal flotation devices (PFDs). Fifty fishermen were asked to evaluate a PFD for one month while working on deck so that wearable PFDs could be identified. This document shows which PFDs were preferred by Dungeness crabbers.
PFDs That Work: Dungeness Crabbers [PDF - 5 MB]
Suggested Citation
NIOSH [2015]. PFDs That Work: Dungeness Crabbers. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS, (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-180.
- Page last reviewed: July 20, 2015
- Page last updated: July 20, 2015
- Content source:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division