A model of fishing vessel accident probability.
OBJECTIVE
Commercial fishing is one of the least safe occupations.


METHODS
The researchers develop a fishing vessel accident probability model for fishing areas off the northeastern United States using logit regression and daily data from 1981 to 1993.


RESULTS
The results indicate that fishing vessel accident probability declined over the study period. Higher wind speed is associated with greater accident probability. Medium-size vessels have the highest accident probability, while small vessels have the lowest. Within the study region, accident probability is lower in the southwestern section than in the northeastern section. Accidents are likely to occur closer to shore than offshore. Accident probability is lowest in spring.


CONCLUSIONS
The probability model is an important building block in development and quantitative assessment of management mechanisms related to safety in the commercial fishing industry.
Jin
Di
D
Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Mail Stop 41, Woods Hale, MA 02543-1138, USA. djin@whoi.edu
Kite-Powell
Hauke L
HL
Thunberg
Eric
E
Solow
Andrew R
AR
Talley
Wayne K
WK
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005398:Fisheries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012767:Ships; D014919:Wind