Collaborative, cross-national studies on health and safety in seafaring for evidence-based maritime policy and regulations

Background. Until recently, maritime health and safety policies and regulations were sparsely based on health and safety research, and only a small number of countries contributed to new research. Objectives. To strengthen maritime health and safety research activities by presenting a study example and discussing the possibilities and needs for more national and cross-national research. Methods. In a cross-national epidemiological study example, the seafarers from eleven countries completed small, anonymous questionnaires concerning the working conditions on their latest tours at sea while waiting for their health examinations. Results. Significant disparities were pointed out among the nationalities, e.g., the length of the tours at sea, the proportional distribution of officers and non-officers, the mean age structure, the injury incidence rates, and the differences of occupational safety standards. The analysis of all data together increased the statistical strength of the multivariate analyses and allowed for valid comparisons among the nationalities. Conclusions. The questionnaire data was used successfully in the collaborative study example, but other data sources and methods are useful for health and safety research in seafaring as well. More national and cross-national research on maritime health and safety is warranted

Health status and occupational risk factors in Greek small fisheries workers

Background: Fishing is an extremely dangerous occupational activity that predisposes to occupational diseases and accidents. Greece, with about 16,000 km of coastline and its unique morphological characteristics with small islands and peninsulas, represents a strong proof of its great tradition in the fisheries sector since ancient times. The aim of the study was to examine the health status and the health risk factors present in Greek fishery workers, by exploring their working environment, thus providing a current baseline for documentation of the needs for prevention and health promotion. Materials and methods: An interviewer-administered questionnaire was distributed in 2013 to a random sample of 172 professional small-scale fishermen of the Evros district in North-Eastern Greece. Results: Eighty-eight per cent worked in coastal fisheries and 73% were using small fishing vessels, less than 10 m in length overall. Health disorders included musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and visual problems and to a minor degree by hearing, dermatologic and respiratory problems in all age groups. Seventy per cent had experienced at least one occupational accident. Heavy smoking and daily alcohol consumption was seen among nearly half of the fishermen. Conclusions: The health effects observed are causally related to the work process exposures on board and to diet, smoking, and lack of exercise. This in turn relates to the specific working conditions, the culture and level of education in small-scale fishing that need to be taken into consideration together in the prevention programmes

Training needs among maritime professionals: a cross sectional study

Background: Maritime medical practice includes assessment of fitness, management of medical emergenciesand healthcare on board and ashore. A better response to seagoing professionals’ health requirementscan be achieved when all the respective stakeholders have a common understanding. Training isa powerful tool to raise awareness and in particular continuing professional development is very significantin sustaining competencies of these professionals. The objective of the study was to identify maritimeprofessionals’ perceived training needs. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among maritime professionals participatedin the 14th International Symposium on Maritime Health. Fifty responses with the response rate of 42.7%were received with medical doctors representing 78% of the sample. Descriptive statistics were used todescribe the basic characteristics of the data needs using STATA 15.1. Results: Among the 23 themes, the ranking of perceived training needs was highest for fitness evaluation and examination guidelines and working conditions (both with the same percentage 86%), onboard medicine 82%, rules and regulations and health and safety at work (with the same percentage 80%). The lowest was on gender issues 32%. Conclusions: The finding suggests the planning and effective implementation of further training for themaritime health professionals in a variety of topics including financing and management issues. Highestimportance of training was expressed by those over 40 years and by medical doctors with more than10 years of practice. These findings could usefully be combined with a qualitative study to gain in-depthresults and may help the respective authorities to organise relevant training

Seafarers’ views on the impact of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on their living and working conditions: results from a pilot study

Background: The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC2006) entered into force in 2013 and is the firstcomprehensive set of standards for better living and working conditions covering aspects such as wages,contracts, food, medical care and social security. Currently, the Convention covers more than 90% of theworld’s shipping fleet. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the MLC2006 on the living andworking conditions of seafarers and to test and adjust the methods for future use through a pilot study.This article presents the seafarers’ perceived impact of MLC2006.Materials and methods: A mixed-method research approach was used (February to April 2018). The quantitativedata of 55 seafarers were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data obtained througha focus group interview and thematic content analysis was applied.Results: Remarkably, one third of the respondents pointed out a complete lack of improvement, while43.6% stated that the MLC2006 had improved their working and living conditions “somewhat” and only7.3% “to a great extend”. The focus group participants agreed that the MLC2006 did not improve workingconditions but mostly increased paperwork. Other issues of concern were the safety on board includingsafety training, long working hours connected to low manning, food and social difficulties.Conclusions: For Danish seafarers, the MLC2006 did not have a significant impact, as most standardswere in place before. It must be further investigated what the MLC2006 achieved for other flag states,especially in the light of its 5-year anniversary. Both methods yielded valuable data. Focus groups are anideal setting to study the views of seafarers

SPATIAL ECOLOGY OF BLUE CRAB (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS) IN CHESAPEAKE BAY

Spatial heterogeneity is a striking feature of the blue crab life history and fisheries in Chesapeake Bay. However, a quantitative assessment of their spatial distribution and the factors controlling it has been lacking. Based on 13 years of data from a baywide winter dredge survey, geostatistical and two-stage generalized additive models (GAMs) are used to characterize blue crab distributions and investigate environmental factors responsible for the distribution of mature females, respectively. A landscape-based distance metric, the "Lowest-Cost Path" (LCP) distance, is developed as an alternative to Euclidean distance for kriging in estuaries. Estimates of variogram parameters differed significantly between the two metrics but kriging accuracy did not. Geostatistical abundance estimates show significant declines from 1990 to 2002. The observed relationship between changes in distribution and changes in abundance is suggestive of density-dependent habitat selection. Depth and distance from the Bay mouth were the most important predictors of mature female abundance

Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS) to Swedish merchant and passengers ships 1997–2012

Background: Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS) for seafarers and traveling passengers is important and can be crucial for the optimal medical treatment on board ships. The aim of this study was to analyse and to compare the data from consultations and evacuations from merchant ships and passenger ferries for possible improvements. Materials and methods: Data for seafarers from 1997, 2002 and 2007 and for passengers on Swedish ferries for the years 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012 from the Swedish Radio Medical were studied. Symptoms and diseases were classified according to the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC-2). The distribution of symptoms, accidents and diseases, treatments/actions taken, evacuations and the communication forms were analysed. Results: One thousand ninety-five contacts for seafarers from merchant ships and 651 passenger patients from Swedish ferries were analysed. While the evacuations for the seafarers gradually decreased over the years from 18% in 1997 to 14% in 2007, still 39.5% of the passenger patient contacts were evacuated mainly by helicopters and 70 patients were picked up by an ambulance on the quay. Accidents were 20% for seafarers and 25% for passengers of the contacts. Evacuations for passengers were mainly in the diagnostic groups: unspecific (A), digestive (D), cardiology (K), musculoskeletal (L) and neurology (N). The use of VHF, radio communications and fax machines have been greatly reduced while the use of e-mail and satellite phone increased. Conclusions: No significant differences in reasons for contact or actions over the years have been identified. The evacuations of seafarers decreased over the years but was stable among the passenger patients (39%). The circumstances and reasons behind the evacuations should be analysed for prevention. Standard forms and digital images for documentation can facilitate knowledge exchange and further studies.