Naval flight deck injuries: a review of Naval Safety Center data, 1977-91

A comprehensive review of injuries sustained by personnel working on naval flight decks between January 1977 and December 1991 was conducted using database records maintained at the U.S. Naval Safety Center, Norfolk, VA. Data included all fatalities, permanent total disabilities, permanent partial disabilities, and major injuries resulting in 5 or more lost work days. Injuries were coded using ICD-9-CM codes for analysis. A total of 918 flight deck personnel were reported injured during this 15-yr period, including 43 fatalities, 5 permanent total disabilities, 42 permanent partial disabilities, and 828 major injuries. Of the non-fatalities, a plethora of fractures, traumatic amputations, major lacerations, dislocations, contusions, concussions, burns, crushing injuries, sprains, and strains were reported. Nearly all naval platforms with a flight deck reported an injury. While an average of 51 injuries per 100,000 aircraft recoveries were reported annually on aircraft carriers from 1977-86, a marked reduction to a rate of roughly 30 injuries was observed annually from 1987-90. What makes injuries sustained on the flight deck particularly disconcerting is that over 90% can be attributed to human causal factors.