Citation

Lefkowitz RY, Slade MD, Redlich CA. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2018; 61(2): 120-129.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22802

PMID

29250811

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Seafarers are an understudied and essential workforce, isolated from medical care. This study describes injuries, illness, and risk factors for resultant disability in one shipping company with a majority of American seafarers.

METHODS: The study used a telemedicine database of injury and illness incidence in seafarers, and applied descriptive statistical methods and logistic regression modeling.

RESULTS: Illnesses were more frequently reported than injuries (860 vs 479). The overall injury rate was 113 per 1000 person-years, and the overall illness rate was 211 per 1000 person-years. Seafarer ratings had higher risk for disability compared to officers (OR = 1.60; 95%CI 1.17, 2.18), and incidents on dry cargo ships (OR = 2.70; 95%CI 1.49, 4.91) and articulated tug-barges (ATBs) (OR = 2.21; 95%CI 1.26, 3.86) had higher disability risk compared to container vessels.

CONCLUSION: Additional research in this vital American workforce may be useful to confirm these findings forming a basis for preventive interventions.

© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

disability; maritime; occupational injury; seafarer; telemedicine