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At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Policy improvements for prevention of alcohol misuse by airline pilots.

Alcohol abuse by airline pilots poses a potential danger to the safety and welfare of the flying public. This paper analyzes two strategies for reducing pilot-error aviation accidents: conducting background checks on pilots for driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) convictions and random preflight alcohol testing of airline pilots. Although both policies have been implemented, no empirical research had previously been conducted to justify either strategy. The results and conclusions of this study are based on analysis of data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration on the flying performance of 70164 airline pilots. DWI convictions were found to be associated with a significantly greater risk of a pilot-error accident. In contrast, no evidence was found to validate the assumption that a random alcohol testing program could have prevented accidents. The results provide support for improving the existing DWI background check program and for reducing the sampling rate of random alcohol testing for airline pilots. This twofold strategy could result in greater improvements in aviation safety and reduced overall costs.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed2003

[Fatal injuries of flight crews in civil aircraft and sport aircraft].

The analysis of the 74 cases of civil aviation accidents have been done from the period 1991-2000, in which 107 persons were killed. The Institute of Aviation Medicine has participated on the investigation of 86.5% crashes in the Czech republic. The majority of accidents happened in the period from april to september, 55.4% cases during weekend days. The male prevalence among bodies was significant, the average age of dead pilots was 43.5 years. Polytrauma was the most frequent cause of death. The medical cause of accident genesis was managed in one case. Heavy problem were almost 11% positive BAC of the investigated crew members. The positive toxicology findings of medical drugs in pilots were sporadic. The type of crashes and their collisions were also analysed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

The effect of airline deregulation on automobile fatalities.

This paper attempts to quantify the effects of airline deregulation in the United States on intercity automobile travel and consequently on the number of highway fatalities. A demand model is constructed for auto travel, which includes variables representing the price and availability of air service. A reduced form model of the airline market is then estimated. Finding that deregulation has decreased airfares and increased flights, it is estimated that auto travel has been reduced by 2.2% per year on average. Given assumptions on the characteristics of drivers switching modes and the types of roads they drove on, the number of automobile fatalities averted since 1978 is estimated to be in the range 200-300 per year.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1999

Is service with the parachute regiment bad for your health?

Military parachuting is perceived to be a 'high risk' activity. The estimate of risk should be based on a comparison of injury rates between soldiers who are military parachutists and soldiers who are not military parachutists rather than the rate of injury per parachute descent. Since other aspects of military life also have an inherent risk of injury the risk attributable to military parachuting must be assessed in this context. The aim of this paper is to determine whether Parachute Regiment soldiers have a greater risk of injury as compared with non-Parachute Regiment infantry soldiers by comparing rates of hospital admission and medical discharge between the two groups. Records at the Defence Analytical Services Agency were analysed for the 10-year period 1987-96. The mean rate of hospital admission for Parachute Regiment soldiers was 50.1 per 1,000 and for infantry soldiers was 50.8 per 1,000 [relative risk (RR) = 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.92-1.04). The mean rate of medical discharge for Parachute Regiment soldiers was 4.9 per 1,000 and for infantry the mean rate was 2.8 per 1,000 (RR = 1.76; CI = 1.45-2.15). This study has shown a methodology for comparing occupational exposure to risk that could be extended to other groups if they can be separated by appropriate criteria.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed2006

Injuries caused by parachute risers during foreign military parachuting.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the injuries from the deployment of military parachutes when parachuting with foreign armies. METHODS: The number and nature of injuries sustained while military parachuting with domestic and foreign parachute systems and techniques was compared. RESULTS: Of a total of 370 parachutists, 41 (11.1%) suffered minor injuries following two descents on the British parachute, 20 (5.4%) of these were classified as riser injuries. Thirty-eight (25.9%) of 147 British parachutists sustained riser injuries following two descents with the French parachute. Thirty-four (89.5%) of these injuries were minor posterior-auricular bruises and abrasions not requiring treatment. Four (10.5%) were extensive posterior-auricular abrasions that required treatment. Two soldiers (5.3%) suffered lacerations of the attachment of the pinna to the head. There were no riser injuries and no other injuries when the soldiers parachuted with their own countries parachutes in the proceeding two descents. CONCLUSION: Failure to adhere to drills led to injuries with foreign parachute systems.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed2002

The use of contact lenses by U.S. civilian pilots.

BACKGROUND: Since 1976, the use of contact lenses by civilian pilots has been permitted to correct distant vision for obtaining a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aeromedical certificate. This study examined the civil airman population's experience with contact lens use for a 30-year period (1967 to 1997). METHODS: Population totals for airmen who carried pathology codes 161 (contact lens) and 158 (orthokeratology) from January 1, 1967 through December 31, 1997 were used to calculate prevalence rates by class of medical certificate and age. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA databases were queried to determine if contact lens use had contributed to aviation mishaps. RESULTS: The prevalence of contact lens use grew faster for first-class medical certificate holders and airmen > or = 40 years of age during the period. The frequency of airmen with orthokeratology increased by 23 times in a 10-year period. Reports from five aviation accidents and one incident suggested that contact lens use was a contributing factor in these mishaps. CONCLUSIONS: Professional pilots and older airmen were found to be more inclined to use contact lenses. The increasing use of contact lenses and the rapid changes in contact lens technology warrant continued monitoring to ensure aviation safety.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Long term disability rates in a cohort of Air Canada pilots.

Causes of long term disability (LTD) were collected between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1990 among all active pilots in a cohort of Air Canada pilots. During this 10-yr period, 474 (20.9%) of the 2271 pilots had LTD; there were 1107 cases of LTD corresponding to a total duration of leave of absence of 4161 mo. Frequencies of the main diagnostic categories were: injuries: 249 (22.5%); mental disorders: 175 (15.8%); circulatory system: 157 (14.2%); digestive system: 128 (11.6%); and musculoskeletal system: 121 (10.9%). LTD rates increased with age, ranging from 1.86-9.22 per 1000 pilots per year from the younger (20-29 yr) to the older age group (50-59 yr), respectively. Several causes of LTD could be potentially preventable, in particular injuries which accounted for 63.6% of all causes in the younger age group and remained a significant condition at subsequent ages.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2005

Simultaneous analysis of thebaine, 6-MAM and six abused opiates in postmortem fluids and tissues using Zymark automated solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Opiates are some of the most widely prescribed drugs in America and are often abused. Demonstrating the presence or absence of opiate compounds in postmortem fluids and/or tissues derived from fatal civil aviation accidents can have serious legal consequences and may help determine the cause of impairment and/or death. However, the consumption of poppy seed products can result in a positive opiate drug test. We have developed a simple method for the simultaneous determination of eight opiate compounds from one extraction. These compounds are hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine, codeine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, and thebaine. The inclusion of thebaine is notable as it is an indicator of poppy seed consumption and may help explain morphine/codeine positives in cases where no opiate use was indicated. This method incorporates a Zymark RapidTracetrade mark automated solid-phase extraction system, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and trimethyl silane (TMS) and oxime-TMS derivatives. The limits of detection ranged from 0.78 to 12.5 ng/mL. The linear dynamic range for most analytes was 6.25-1600 ng/mL. The extraction efficiencies ranged from 70 to 103%. We applied this method to eight separate aviation fatalities where opiate compounds had previously been detected.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed2003

Epidemiology of turbulence-related injuries in airline cabin crew, 1992-2001.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of flight attendant turbulence-related injuries in Part 121 air carrier operations from 1992-2001, and to identify the significant epidemiological determinants of turbulence-related injuries. METHODS: The National Transportation Safety Board's Aviation Accident Database was searched for the period from 1 January 1992 through 31 December 2001 for all records involving Part 121 air carrier turbulence-related accidents. Cases of turbulence-related flight attendant injuries were categorized by year and month of occurrence, aircraft type, air carrier, phase of flight, injury severity, type of injury, location in the aircraft where the injury occurred, status of the seat belt sign, and prevailing meteorological conditions. Continuous variables were analyzed by the Spearman rank-correlation method and ANOVA and categorical variables by the chi-square test. RESULTS: From 92 accident reports, 179 cases were identified. Of these cases, 82 (45.8%) involved serious injuries and 97 (54.2%) involved minor injuries. There was a non-significant upward trend in the rate of turbulence-related injuries, especially during the period from 1995 through 2000. Significant relationships were found between turbulence-related injuries and the phase of flight, location in the aircraft, seat belt sign illumination, aircraft type, and air carrier. The most frequent type of turbulence-related injury was lower extremity fractures, especially the ankle. CONCLUSION: The number of flight attendant turbulence-related injuries is on the rise, although mostly due to a corresponding increase in flight hours. The significant epidemiological determinants appear to be unrestrained cabin crew, aircraft type, and air carrier.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1999

Mortality among aerial pesticide applicators and flight instructors: follow-up from 1965-1988.

BACKGROUND: Vital status followup for a retrospective cohort mortality study of 9,961 male aerial pesticide applicators was extended beyond a previous study (1965-1979) (Cantor et al. 1991), through December 31, 1988. METHODS: Rate ratios (RR) were used to compare directly adjusted mortality rates between applicators and a comparison cohort of 9,969 flight instructors. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated for comparisons with the U.S. white male population. RESULTS: Among applicator pilots, there were 1,441 deaths, and among instructors, 1,045. In both groups, aircraft accidents were the major cause of death (446 applicators; 234 instructors). Compared with flight instructors, aerial applicator pilots were at significantly elevated risk for all causes of death (risk ratio = 1.34) and for malignant neoplasms (1.18), non-motor vehicle accidents (1.71), motor vehicle accidents (1.69), and stroke (1.91). Pancreatic cancer (2.71) and leukemia (3.35) were significantly elevated. Applicators were at lower risk of colon cancer (0.51) and multiple myeloma (0.23) mortality. Based on U.S. rates, the SMR for all causes of death among applicators was 111 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 105-117) and among instructors, 81 (CI = 76-85). CONCLUSIONS: Aircraft accidents were a major cause of mortality in both applicator and flight instructor cohorts. Several other causes of death, some possibly related to pesticide exposure, were also elevated among pesticide applicator pilots. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed2003

External cause-specific summaries of occupational fatal injuries. Part II: an analysis of years of potential life lost.

BACKGROUND: Fatal injury surveillance data provide an opportunity to assess the impact of occupational injuries and may indicate which industries or occupations are appreciably more hazardous than others, and thus should be given priority in public health intervention. METHODS: Fatalities from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality surveillance system served as the basis for examining external cause (E-code) specific impact summaries. Years of potential life lost (YPLL) were calculated for fatal injuries in the years 1983-1994. Industries and occupations were compared with respect to frequency of fatal injuries. In addition, injuries in categories of external causes are examined across all industries and occupations. RESULTS: Machinery, electric current, homicide, falls, and transportation-related are the external cause groups highlighted by high frequency/rate of occurrence. Electric current event groups are also characterized by high average YPLL. Poisoning, conflagration, and lightning were also identified in several occupations as having high associated average YPLL. CONCLUSIONS: The external-cause-specific analysis of average YPLL identified industries and occupations where, on average, younger workers were dying in fatal injuries. Noteworthy in this assessment were homicides and falls. The YPLL measure coupled with more commonly employed indices (e.g., rates) may provide a fuller description of the impact of occupational fatal injuries.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1993

Fracture-dislocations of the spine that may spare the cord: an explanation.

The combination of severe fracture-dislocation of the spine with little or no damage to the spinal cord and its roots is rare. There is a characteristic pattern of bony injury that seems most likely to result from a combination of extension and longitudinal compression and may not endanger the neural tissue. The usual clinical features of severe injury of the spine may be lacking and the radiological interpretation is difficult. Although the reports suggest that these injuries are stable in deformity this may not always be so and the spine should be afforded the usual protection.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Possibilities of determining the person steering a surface-craft or an aircraft at the time of accident (impact).

Accident investigators are often confronted with the fact that there are doubts with regard to the person who has piloted a vehicle at the time of the accident. By securing all traces in or on the vehicle and on the clothes of the persons on board it will be possible to identify the person who has been piloting the vehicle. Evidence can also be obtained from blood-traces, the remnants of human tissue and hair and textile fibres and by the abrasion of synthetics and of paint as well as by characteristic deformations. The controls (steering-wheel or horn, pedals, etc.) and their traces on the gloves and shoes of the pilot must be taken into account, and vice versa.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1993

Protection and radiography of heat affected teeth.

The authors propose a protocol for the stabilisation and protection of the fragile human skull (following very hot fires where there is breakdown of teeth and bone). Also discussed is a method for carrying out dental radiology on heat affected bone and teeth.

Accidents, Aviation↗