# Improving Dungeness crab vessel equipment: an ergonomic intervention to reduce risk for musculoskeletal injuries and falls overboard

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $671,465

## Abstract

Abstract
While the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery one of the most valuable fisheries in the region, the commercial
fishermen suffer from a high prevalence and incident rates of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Previous research
suggests that the majority of these injuries occurs with deckhands and while handling fishing gear. Our current
NIOSH-funded study in the Dungeness crab fleet indicates that the crab sorting table (after the crab is harvested,
they must be sorted and placed into a hold) and block (a mechanized winch to pull the lines of crab pots) could
pose substantial risk for musculoskeletal (due to non-neutral posture) and fatal (fall overboard due to loss of
balance) injuries. However, stakeholders’ feedback indicates that there are currently no evidence-based design
recommendations for sorting tables and blocks, which they would welcome. Therefore, our proposed research
study will 1) quantify the impact of the current sorting table and block design on injury risk and 2) identify critical
and evidence-based design recommendations for the sorting table and block to reduce risk for musculoskeletal
injuries (the most common type of non-fatal injuries) and falls overboard (a leading cause for fatalities). Upon
the successful study completion, the expected outcome is evidence-based design recommendations for the
sorting table and block that will be disseminated to the commercial fishermen, vessel owners, and equipment
fabricators for broader adoption. The long-term anticipated impact our proposed research is improved
occupational health and safety of commercial fishermen by reducing non-fatal (musculoskeletal disorders)
injuries and fatality (fall-related injuries), which also support the current NOFO purpose and NORA priorities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10331360
- **Project number:** 1U01OH012287-01
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** LAUREL D KINCL
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $671,465
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10331360

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10331360, Improving Dungeness crab vessel equipment: an ergonomic intervention to reduce risk for musculoskeletal injuries and falls overboard (1U01OH012287-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10331360. Licensed CC0.

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