Self-reported injuries among seafarers. Questionnaire validity and results from an international study.

International surveys of occupational injuries among seafarers have so far been missing. It was the aim to test the method of self-report of injuries and length of time at risk during the latest duty period and second to study the injury incidence rate among seafarers by use of the method. A pilot study was conducted (n = 1068) in Finland, Denmark, the Philippines, Croatia and Spain using self-completed questionnaires with questions about the person, the ship, the duration of latest duty period and injuries. The duration of the self-reporting duty period was in the Danish part compared with information from the crew register of the Maritime Authority. For seafarers from merchant ships in the Danish sub-study there was acceptable correspondence between the information from the seafarers and the Maritime Authority, but not when referring to ferries and non-specified types of ship. Unadjusted and adjusted injury incidence rates-ratios (IRRs) based on number of injuries per number of work hours were calculated. Adjusted IRRs for ordinary seamen/officers: IRR = 2.43 (95% CI: 1.25-4.72); for age < 35/35+ years: IRR = 1.97 (1.02-3.81); length of tour: 117 days or longer compared with < 117 days: IRR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.22-0.95); 57-70 working hours per week compared with < 57 h: IRR = 1.26 (0.48-3.29), 71+h compared with < 57 h: IRR = 2.12 (0.84-5.36). Non-significant IRRs >1.00 were found for ships under 10,000 GT compared with larger ships and for own flagged ships compared with ships under flag of convenience. In conclusion, more than 70 h of work per week was related to a higher rate of injuries for seafarers on merchant ships, but the result was not statistically significant. Self-report of the duration of the latest tour of duty is useful for seafarers from merchant ships with short-term employments, but not for ferries and other, non-specified types of ship with other or permanent employment.

Social security for seafarers globally.

BACKGROUND: The social security protection is one of the essential elements of decent work. The issue is complexand no previous epidemiological studies of the coverage among the seafarers have yet been performed. AIM: The aim was to overcome the gap of knowledge to promote the further discussion and plan the implementationof the social security for all the seafarers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The seafarers completed a short questionnaire concerning their knowledge abouttheir social security status. RESULTS: The significant disparities in the social security coverage were pointed out among the nationalities.Especially it is worth mentioning that more than half of the respondents believe they are economicallyuncovered for disability from an injury on board and from a work-related disease. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the ILO (Convention No. 143) statements that the significant part of theseafarers comes from the poorer countries without the substantial social security systems. The solutionssuggested are to implement the minimum requirements as recommended by the ILO 2006 Convention, tosurvey the implementation and - in the long term - to struggle for a global social equality.

Working conditions in international seafaring.

BACKGROUND: Seafaring is a global profession and seafarers have their second home on board and live there for several months at a time. AIM: To assess self-rated health status and the main characteristics of seafarers' working conditions. METHODS: Questionnaire study concerning the most recent tour of duty. RESULTS: A total of 6,461 seafarers in 11 countries responded. In general, the seafarers' self-rated health was good, but it declined significantly with age. Seafarers from South-East Asian countries spent longer time periods at sea, and had lower numbers of officers and older seafarers than found among seafarers from western countries. Most seafarers worked every day of the week, and on average for 67-70 h a week during periods of 2.5-8.5 months at sea. CONCLUSIONS: Seafarers' self-rated health was generally good but varied significantly by country. Working conditions also differed by country but did not reflect working conditions in general. Further studies are necessary to describe more closely the influence of work schedules on the health and social life of seafarers.