Mortality among retired offshore divers in Norway

Background: Health effects of diving have been observed in divers who have not experienced any diving related accidents. The aim of the study was to study total, and cause specific mortality, in Norwegian retired professional offshore divers. Materials and methods: We carried out a mortality follow-up from 1997 to 2013 in a group of men, born 1930–1973. The diving cohort consisted of 386 male professional divers diving in the North Sea in the pioneer period from 1965 to 1990, of which 25 were dead. 1,467,769 Norwegian males were used as referents. This population was linked to the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Results: Twenty five (6.5%) professional offshore divers had died. No differences were observed between divers and referents for overall mortality or for non-violent deaths, adjusted for year of birth. Conclusions: In this cohort of retired North Sea divers, the mortality pattern did not differ from that of the expected mortality

Diving exposure and health effects in divers working in different areas of professional diving

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare diving exposure and health effects in different areas of professional diving. Materials and methods: The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority’s Diving Register contains data on all professional inshore divers who have held a diving certificate at any time since 1980. Of these divers, the “Norwegian diver 2011” questionnaire was completed by 2848 (48.7%). A total of 1167 male divers reported that they often worked in one area of diving only (rescue diving, diving instruction, fish farming, quay/construction work and offshore/oil related). In the analysis of these divers, rescue divers were used as referents as they reported the lowest number of dives. Results: Age distribution, the proportion of retired divers and the mean number of dives completed varied between the different areas of professional diving. Compared to rescue divers, divers in fish farming, quay/ /construction work and offshore/oil related work more often experienced physically demanding diving. Divers in fish farming more often had no day off after 3 days of physically demanding work compared to rescue divers. All groups except offshore divers reported making further dives after one physically demanding dive on the same day. All groups reported more frequent decompression sickness than did the referents and divers in quay/construction and offshore/oil related diving reported more frequent episodes of unconsciousness during diving than did the referents. Divers in fish farming, in quay/construction work and oil/ /offshore related diving obtained a higher symptom score than the referents and the two latter groups also reported more frequent adverse health effects due to diving than the referents. Health related physical and mental component summary scores were lower in all other groups than in referents. Conclusions: Compared to the rescue divers, divers in quay/construction work and offshore/oil related divers reported more adverse health effects and obtained a higher symptom score

Fumigation on bulk cargo ships: a chemical threat to seafarers

Fumigation is a process that is carried out to prevent deterioration of goods by pests and spread of unwanted organisms for example during long-distance carriage by sea. Several intoxications due to use of pesticides on bulk cargo ships have been indicated, but for some of these incidents the documentation are questionable. The objective of the present study was therefore to examine the extent of the problem by collecting available information of incidents or intoxications due to use of pesticides on bulk cargo ships. Information sources such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Gard (marine insurance company), Marine Accident Investigation Branch, United Kingdom, and Professional Mariner (a magazine) were searched using similar search phrases.The results indicate that the present practice of fumigation with pesticides of cargo holds on bulk ships represents a serious health risk to both seafarers and port workers. A thorough search for information in both scientific and non-scientific sources revealed a number of intoxications including several fatalities. According to the available documentation, phosphine seems to be used more or less exclusively as fumigant on bulk cargo ships today. Phosphine has a high acute toxicity, and recent findings suggest long-term effects. Several of the reported incidents point to lack of knowledge and neglecting of recommended procedures as key elements in this respect. The problem is likely underestimated due to lack of available documentation of several incidents. Preventive actions should be implemented that focus on documentation of incidents, increase knowledge of pesticide health hazard and implementation of safety procedures that are mandatory to perform when fumigated cargo is to be handled on bulk ships

Mortality among retired offshore divers in Norway

Background: Health effects of diving have been observed in divers who have not experienced any diving related accidents. The aim of the study was to study total, and cause specific mortality, in Norwegian retired professional offshore divers. Materials and methods: We carried out a mortality follow-up from 1997 to 2013 in a group of men, born 1930–1973. The diving cohort consisted of 386 male professional divers diving in the North Sea in the pioneer period from 1965 to 1990, of which 25 were dead. 1,467,769 Norwegian males were used as referents. This population was linked to the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Results: Twenty five (6.5%) professional offshore divers had died. No differences were observed between divers and referents for overall mortality or for non-violent deaths, adjusted for year of birth. Conclusions: In this cohort of retired North Sea divers, the mortality pattern did not differ from that of the expected mortality

Health risks in international container and bulk cargo transport due to volatile toxic compounds

To ensure the preservation and quality of the goods, physical (i.e. radiation) or chemical pest control is needed. The dark side of such consents may bear health risks in international transport and production sharing. In fact, between 10% and 20% of all containers arriving European harbors were shown to contain volatile toxic substances above the exposure limit values. Possible exposure to these toxic chemicals may occur not only for the applicators but also the receiver by off gassing from products, packing materials or transport units like containers. A number of intoxications, some with lethal outcome, occur not only during the fumigation, but also during freight transport (on bulk carriers and other transport vessels), as well as in the logistic lines during loading and unloading. Risk occupations include dock-workers, seafarers, inspectors, as well as the usually uninformed workers of importing enterprises that unload the products. Bystanders as well as vulnerable consumers may also be at risk. Ongoing studies focus on the release of these toxic volatile substances from various goods. It was shown that the half-lives of the off-gassing process range between minutes and months, depending on the toxic substance, its chemical reactivity, concentration, the temperature, the contaminated matrix (goods and packing materials), and the packing density in the transport units. Regulations on declaration and handling dangerous goods are mostly not followed. It is obvious that this hazardous situation in freight transport urgently requires preventive steps. In order to improve awareness and relevant knowledge there is a need for more comprehensive information on chemical hazards and a broader implementation of the already existing regulations and guidelines, such as those from ILO, IMO, and national authorities. It is also necessary to have regular controls by the authorities on a worldwide scale, which should be followed by sanctions in case of disregarding regulations. Further, fumigated containers must have a warning sign corresponding to international recommendations and national regulations, and freight documents have to indicate any potential hazard during stripping the goods