Occupational injuries to fisheries workers in Norway reported to insurancecompanies from 1991 to 1996

Fisheries work is one of the occupations at highest risk for occupational a ccidents in many countries. It is necessary to understand the injuries in o rder to prevent them. This study of occupational injury claims by fisheries workers in Norway made to insurance companies from 1991 to 1996 analysed t he workers' age, time of injury, injury type, part of the body involved, in jury event and cost. The highest injury incidence rates were among the youn ger fisheries workers and during the winter months. Bruises and fractures w ere the most frequent injury types, and fingers and hands were most often a ffected, whereas falls and accidents related to machines were the most comm on causes. Safety measures should be taken on board to prevent falls and ma chine-related injuries, and young fisheries workers should have better on-t he-job training.