open access

Vol 70, No 3 (2019)
Original article
Submitted: 2019-07-12
Accepted: 2019-08-30
Published online: 2019-10-03
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Dockworkers’ health and safety. A cross-sectional study of self-perceived safety and psychosocial work environment amongst Danish dockworkers

Nanna Overgaard Nielsen1, Sasha Revelius Gaj Nielsen1
·
Pubmed: 31617936
·
IMH 2019;70(3):171-179.
Affiliations
  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark

open access

Vol 70, No 3 (2019)
MARITIME/OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2019-07-12
Accepted: 2019-08-30
Published online: 2019-10-03

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the characteristics and association between self-perceived safety and psychosocial work environment amongst dockworkers in Denmark. 

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dockworkers in three harbours in Denmark, using a triangulation strategy approach, with a questionnaire survey and telephone interviews. Both collection methods included questions on workplace safety, accidents, work environment, colleagues and management. The majority felt confident about the safety at the work place (88.8%) and agreed that good collaboration and teamwork among colleagues (95.4%) was the reason they felt safe. The majority were very satisfied with their job (76.1%). Moreover, the majority stated that they were thriving well in the changeable working hours (85.1%) and did not find it stressful to be a part-time worker with no guarantee of work (80.2%). 46.1% had never felt stressed, and only 7.9% had felt stressed often the last 2 weeks. The main source of feeling stressed was the combination of work and personal life (39.3%). The study population was 88 and the response rate of the questionnaire was 41%. 

Results and Conclusions: Due to the small study population and the distribution of answers, it was not possible to measure an association between self-perceived safety and psychosocial work environment; however, it was found that dockworkers were greatly satisfied with the working conditions, primarily because of good colleagues, flexible working hours and a satisfying pay cheque. 

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the characteristics and association between self-perceived safety and psychosocial work environment amongst dockworkers in Denmark. 

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dockworkers in three harbours in Denmark, using a triangulation strategy approach, with a questionnaire survey and telephone interviews. Both collection methods included questions on workplace safety, accidents, work environment, colleagues and management. The majority felt confident about the safety at the work place (88.8%) and agreed that good collaboration and teamwork among colleagues (95.4%) was the reason they felt safe. The majority were very satisfied with their job (76.1%). Moreover, the majority stated that they were thriving well in the changeable working hours (85.1%) and did not find it stressful to be a part-time worker with no guarantee of work (80.2%). 46.1% had never felt stressed, and only 7.9% had felt stressed often the last 2 weeks. The main source of feeling stressed was the combination of work and personal life (39.3%). The study population was 88 and the response rate of the questionnaire was 41%. 

Results and Conclusions: Due to the small study population and the distribution of answers, it was not possible to measure an association between self-perceived safety and psychosocial work environment; however, it was found that dockworkers were greatly satisfied with the working conditions, primarily because of good colleagues, flexible working hours and a satisfying pay cheque. 

Get Citation

Keywords

dockworkers; self-perceived safety; psychosocial work environment; Denmark

About this article
Title

Dockworkers’ health and safety. A cross-sectional study of self-perceived safety and psychosocial work environment amongst Danish dockworkers

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 70, No 3 (2019)

Article type

Original article

Pages

171-179

Published online

2019-10-03

Page views

1106

Article views/downloads

894

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2019.0027

Pubmed

31617936

Bibliographic record

IMH 2019;70(3):171-179.

Keywords

dockworkers
self-perceived safety
psychosocial work environment
Denmark

Authors

Nanna Overgaard Nielsen
Sasha Revelius Gaj Nielsen

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