Commercial fishermen, the commercial fishing industry, safety trainers, and other industries where people work on or over the water (bridge construction, tug and barge work, quarry mining, etc.) may find a new video enlightening.

Produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Alaska Pacific office, Paul Revere: A Story of Survival in Bristol Bay, highlights an all too common type of vessel disaster, a rapid capsizing event due to large waves. The story focuses on a vessel that capsized in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, and the crew was able to survive 2 hours in the cold water due to the inflatable Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) they wear as standard work gear. The PFDs kept them afloat while they worked on getting to shore.

Vessel disasters account for over 50% of commercial fishing fatalities in the United States. PFDs are a proven solution to extending survival time of workers in the water, even cold water. NIOSH recommends all fishermen find a comfortable PFD and wear it on deck 100% of the time.

You view this video in a larger size on the NIOSH YouTube channel.