Work-related stress at sea. Possibilities of research and measures of stress

The present concept of stress is related with the necessity of triangulation in research. Triangulation means collecting evidence of stress from at least three sources: a) precursors – perception and feeling (moderating factors), b) direct consequences, c) state of health. Is it possible to implement triangulation in the investigations of workrelated stress at sea? In the present paper, possibilities of collecting data on the work at sea are analyzed as regards individual aspects – stages of triangulation. The employment of triangulation principles to examine stress in persons working at sea requires both time and application of certain corrections to methodology of examinations carried out in Poland. When examining seafarers, we deal mainly with subjective information on perception of work and individual feeling of work-related stress. A proposition to expand the methodological workshop of examining stress at sea according to triangulation principles has been presented

Strategies towards health protection in maritime work environment involving the role of health promotion - an invitation to join in discussion

The aim of the paper is to present problems, limitations and advantages of strategies adopted for health protection at sea, with particular regard to health promotion. The invitation is extended to IMH readers to join in discussion and to present suggestions how to improve the present practice of health services for seafarers

Cardiovascular disease mortality in British merchant shipping and among British seafarers ashore in Britain

Background. The objective was to investigate trends in work-related mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) among seafarers employed in British merchant shipping from 1919 to 2005, to compare CVD mortality among British seafarers at work in British shipping - and ashore in Britain - with that in the general British population, and to investigate work-related CVD mortality in British shipping during recent years according to factors such as rank, nationality, location, and type of ship. Material and methods. A longitudinal study based on examination of death inquiry files and death registers, official death returns, and information from occupational mortality decennial supplements. The main outcome measures were population-based mortality rates and standardised mortality ratios. Results. There was an increase in work-related CVD mortality throughout much of the period from 1919 to 1962, but a subsequent reduction to 2005. Work-related mortality from CVD and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was lower among seafarers employed in British shipping than in the corresponding general population (SMRs = 0.35 to 0.46), but mortality from CVD among British seafarers ashore in Britain was often increased. An elevated risk of work-related CVD mortality was also identified among the crews of North Sea offshore ships. Conclusions. This study shows a healthy worker effect against CVD mortality among seafarers at work in British shipping, but increased risks among British seafarers ashore in Britain, which would include seafarers discharged through CVD morbidity and other illnesses. The high risks of CVD mortality among seafarers in North Sea supply ships may reflect particular work-related hazards in this sector

Suicides among Polish seamen and fishermen during work at sea

Retrospective data on 51 suicides of Polish seamen and fishermen in the years 1960-1999 during work at sea are presented. The impact of age, rank, and the period of service upon the incidence of theses suicides is analysed. Circumstances typical of the marine occupational environment, sources of stress and individual susceptibility related to the act of self destruction are discussed. Attention is devoted to suicide risk indicators and possible prevention measures to be taken among seafarers

Can general cardiovascular risk evaluation facilitate the assessment of fitness for work and contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular incidents among seamen and fishermen? Article for discussion

Apart from accidents and work related injuries caused by external factors, being the primary cause of death at sea and repatriation of seamen and fishermen from ship to hospital on shore, acute cardiovascular incidents are the main internal causes of their death, both at sea and on land, as well as of long lasting sick leave and disability (14). In the regulations on health requirements for persons working on sea-going ships and in inland navigation (orders of the Ministry of Health 1993, 1996, 2003, guidelines (39), EU directives and other national regulations) and in the register of diseases and conditions disqualifying from such an employment (EU directive, annex to the order of the Ministry of Health 1993, European Commission (32,33), ILO/WHO guidelines(39), cardiovascular diseases are only generally mentioned. The minimal scope of examinations is recommended for seafarers in age up to 50 years, and for older seafarers, but without the assessment of their occupational risk. This gives rise to ambiguities in interpretation at the time of issuing their health certificates, and also in judicature when analyzing cause-and-effect relationship between the occurrence of an acute cardiovascular incident during the ship’s voyage and conditions of the work at sea. Principles, possibilities and benefits are discussed in this paper, which may be expected from the general assessment of cardiovascular diseases risk at the time of the health assessment for the work at sea. The risk forecasting, health certification and the question of choosing primary preventive methods are included in this presentation