Review of Research on High-Priority Populations at Risk - Agriculture Forestry and Fishing Research at NIOSH - page 77

its own helicopter logging guidelines. NIOSH reports that owing to its involve-
ment in HAI activities, the insurance industry has also become involved and has
substantially discounted helicopter insurance costs for operators. Reports from
the AFF Program and FACE have been adapted and distributed by Forest Research
Association (FRA) and its members.
The AFF Program and FACE participated in an evaluation of logging and
wood-processing plants in Mexico and in the training of 35 Mexican occupational
medicine residents. In 14 years, 65 logging-related fatalities have been investigated
through FACE programs; the highest numbers were in Alaska, Kentucky, and
West Virginia. The distribution of NIOSH findings from different studies is done
by FRA. On the basis of results related to the reduction of injury rates with use
of mechanized logging systems, the West Virginia Workers Compensation Board
is holding meetings on incentives for logging companies and may establish lower
rates for mechanized logging companies. These activities demonstrate significant
involvement of stakeholders in use of data generated through the AFF Program.
Fishing
Preseason Dockside Inspection Program
As a result of working group activities in the 1997 FISH Workshop, USCG
designed and implemented a preseason dockside inspection program for vessel
safety in the Bering Sea crab fisheries. The industry supports the initiative, and in
an evaluation conducted by USCG with assistance from the AFF Program, there was
only one fatality between 1999-2005, whereas seven had occurred in the preceding
5 years. This collaborative effort provides evidence of a successful program which
involves stakeholders from industry, USCG, and the AFF Program.
Marine Safety Training
The AFF Program funded the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association
(AMSEA) to develop the training project for certified drill conductors who observe
required monthly emergency drills. The AFF Program conducted an evaluation for
AMSEA of the effectiveness of the training program for prevention of commer-
cial fishing fatalities. In an evaluation of the training program, there was a small
non-significant increase in the likelihood that victims had not received training,
but victims were significantly less likely to have worn an immersion suit and more
likely to have not used a life raft. AFF Program data have provided AMSEA with
information that can be used to focus training efforts and to justify increasing the
number of trained workers.