Epidemiology of work-related aviation fatalities in Alaska, 1990-94.
Alaska, with less than one-half of 1% of the United States workforce, accounts for 9% of all occupational aviation fatalities nationally; 30% of all occupational fatalities in Alaska are related to aviation. To understand this high mortality, we investigated occupational aviation crashes to identify risk factors. Occupational aviation fatalities in Alaska during 1990-94 were examined using National Transportation Safety Board reports and merged with records from the Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System. There were 876 aircraft crashes; 407 (46%) were work-related. Occupational crashes were 2.2 times (CI: 1.5, 3.2) more likely to result in fatalities than non-occupational crashes. Risk factors identified included poor weather conditions defined as Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). A crash during IMC was 5.3 times (CI: 3.5, 7.9) more likely to result in fatalities than crashes in other conditions. Of aircraft involved in fatal occupational incidents, 33% were not completely destroyed, allowing the potential for survivors. An estimated 30% reduction in fatalities could have occurred if current technology in occupant protection had been used.
Garrett
L C
LC
Alaska Field Station, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Anchorage, USA.
Conway
G A
GA
Manwaring
J C
JC
D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000639:trends; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000639:trends; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014887:Weather