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Risk factors for fishermen’s health and safety in Greece
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Abstract
Background: This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first occupational health study in Greek fishing.
Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the risks for health and safety in Greek fisheries workers by exploring their health status and the health risk factors present in their occupational environment, thus providing a current baseline for further research in the future and for documentation of the needs for prevention.
Materials and methods: A questionnaire pilot study was carried out in a random sample of 100 Greek fishermen.
Results: Twenty-eight per cent (28%) had experienced at least one injury, of which half caused more than one day absence, while 14% had a near drowning experience. The health risks factors studied include excessive weight, cardiovascular incidents and dermatological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, hearing, stress, and anxiety problems. The occupational health risk factors include alcohol, fatty food consumption, smoking, and lack of physical exercise.
Conclusions: The health effects observed are causally related to diet, smoking, and exercise, which in turn relate to the specific working conditions and culture in small-scale fishing that need to be taken into consideration in prevention programmes. The results are comparable with international fisheries experience, mainly from Poland, Denmark, and Turkey.
Abstract
Background: This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first occupational health study in Greek fishing.
Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the risks for health and safety in Greek fisheries workers by exploring their health status and the health risk factors present in their occupational environment, thus providing a current baseline for further research in the future and for documentation of the needs for prevention.
Materials and methods: A questionnaire pilot study was carried out in a random sample of 100 Greek fishermen.
Results: Twenty-eight per cent (28%) had experienced at least one injury, of which half caused more than one day absence, while 14% had a near drowning experience. The health risks factors studied include excessive weight, cardiovascular incidents and dermatological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, hearing, stress, and anxiety problems. The occupational health risk factors include alcohol, fatty food consumption, smoking, and lack of physical exercise.
Conclusions: The health effects observed are causally related to diet, smoking, and exercise, which in turn relate to the specific working conditions and culture in small-scale fishing that need to be taken into consideration in prevention programmes. The results are comparable with international fisheries experience, mainly from Poland, Denmark, and Turkey.
Keywords
fishermen; occupational epidemiology; health promotion; safety; accidents; public health
About this articleTitle
Risk factors for fishermen’s health and safety in Greece
Journal
Issue
Pages
155-161
Published online
2012-11-06
Page views
1716
Article views/downloads
2644
Bibliographic record
IMH 2012;63(3):155-161.
Keywords
fishermen
occupational epidemiology
health promotion
safety
accidents
public health
Authors
Elpida Frantzeskou
Anastasia N. Kastania
Elena Riza
Olaf C. Jensen
Athena Linos
