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open access

Vol 74, No 1 (2023)
Original article
Submitted: 2022-11-07
Accepted: 2023-01-16
Published online: 2023-03-24
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Working environment and fatigue among fishers in the north Atlantic: a field study

Annbjørg Selma Abrahamsen12, Ása Johannesen3, Fróði Debes1, Wessel M.A. van Leeuwen4, Pál Weihe12
DOI: 10.5603/IMH.2023.0001
·
Pubmed: 36974488
·
IMH 2023;74(1):1-14.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, The Faroese University, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
  3. Department of Technology and Environment, Fiskaaling, Hvalvík, Faroe Islands
  4. Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

open access

Vol 74, No 1 (2023)
MARITIME/OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2022-11-07
Accepted: 2023-01-16
Published online: 2023-03-24

Abstract

Background: This study investigates how Faroese deep-sea fishers’ exposure to work-related stressors affects their sleep, sleepiness, and levels of fatigue. Being constantly exposed to the unpredictable and harsh North Atlantic Ocean, having long work hours and split sleep for up to 40 days consecutively, they will arguably suffer from fatigue. Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty seven fishers participated in this study, and data was gathered throughout 202 days at sea. Subjective data was collected at the start and end of trips via questionnaires, sleep and sleepiness diaries and supplemented by objective sleep data through actigraphs. Ship movements were logged with a gyroscope connected to a laptop. A noise metre measured each work station and resting area, and noise exposure profiles were calculated based on each participant’s activity and location. Linear mixed-effect models investigated the effects of work exposure variables on sleep efficiency, and cumulative link mixed models measured effects on the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and physical fatigue scale. Results: Time of day followed by ship movement were the exposure variables with the highest impact on the outcome variables of sleep efficiency, sleepiness and physical fatigue. The number of days at sea revealed correlations to outcome variables either by itself or interacting with the sleep periods per day. Crew size, shift system or noise did not impact outcome variables when in the model with other variables. Larger catches improved sleep efficiency but did not affect sleepiness and physical fatigue ratings. Conclusions: The findings indicate a chronically fatigued fisher population, and recommends urgent attention being paid to improving the structure of vessels and installing stabilators for greater stability at sea; work schedules being evaluated for protection of health; and work environments being designed that fulfill human physiological requirements in order to ensure the wellbeing and safety of those at sea.

Abstract

Background: This study investigates how Faroese deep-sea fishers’ exposure to work-related stressors affects their sleep, sleepiness, and levels of fatigue. Being constantly exposed to the unpredictable and harsh North Atlantic Ocean, having long work hours and split sleep for up to 40 days consecutively, they will arguably suffer from fatigue. Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty seven fishers participated in this study, and data was gathered throughout 202 days at sea. Subjective data was collected at the start and end of trips via questionnaires, sleep and sleepiness diaries and supplemented by objective sleep data through actigraphs. Ship movements were logged with a gyroscope connected to a laptop. A noise metre measured each work station and resting area, and noise exposure profiles were calculated based on each participant’s activity and location. Linear mixed-effect models investigated the effects of work exposure variables on sleep efficiency, and cumulative link mixed models measured effects on the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and physical fatigue scale. Results: Time of day followed by ship movement were the exposure variables with the highest impact on the outcome variables of sleep efficiency, sleepiness and physical fatigue. The number of days at sea revealed correlations to outcome variables either by itself or interacting with the sleep periods per day. Crew size, shift system or noise did not impact outcome variables when in the model with other variables. Larger catches improved sleep efficiency but did not affect sleepiness and physical fatigue ratings. Conclusions: The findings indicate a chronically fatigued fisher population, and recommends urgent attention being paid to improving the structure of vessels and installing stabilators for greater stability at sea; work schedules being evaluated for protection of health; and work environments being designed that fulfill human physiological requirements in order to ensure the wellbeing and safety of those at sea.

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Keywords

fishers, work environment, roll, noise, fatigue, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), sleep, sleepiness, shiftwork

About this article
Title

Working environment and fatigue among fishers in the north Atlantic: a field study

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 74, No 1 (2023)

Article type

Original article

Pages

1-14

Published online

2023-03-24

Page views

2452

Article views/downloads

533

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2023.0001

Pubmed

36974488

Bibliographic record

IMH 2023;74(1):1-14.

Keywords

fishers
work environment
roll
noise
fatigue
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS)
sleep
sleepiness
shiftwork

Authors

Annbjørg Selma Abrahamsen
Ása Johannesen
Fróði Debes
Wessel M.A. van Leeuwen
Pál Weihe

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