Occupational Safety and Health Conditions Aboard Small- and Medium-Size Fishing Vessels: Differences among Age Groups

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 229
• Main Authors: Zytoon, Mohamed A, Basahel, Abdulrahman M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24.02.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: Accident prevention; Accidents, Occupational - prevention & control; Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aging; Animals; Aquaculture; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fisheries; Fishing; Fishing vessels; Humans; Illnesses; Injuries; Job Satisfaction; Male; Middle age; Middle Aged; Occupational Health; Occupational safety; Occupations; Older workers; Outdoor air quality; Public health; Safety; Ships; Vessels; Workforce; Working conditions; Young Adult; marine fishing; psychosocial conditions; young and aging fishermen; occupational injuries; occupational safety and health; working conditions; occupational illnesses; fishing vessels
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14030229

Although marine fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations, research on the occupational safety and health (OSH) conditions aboard marine fishing vessels is scarce. For instance, little is known about the working conditions of vulnerable groups such as young and aging fishermen. The objective of the current paper is to study the OSH conditions of young and aging fishermen compared to middle-aged fishermen in the small- and medium-size (SM) marine fishing sector. A cross-sectional study was designed, and 686 fishermen working aboard SM fishing vessels were interviewed to collect information about their safety and health. The associations of physical and psychosocial work conditions with safety and health outcomes, e.g., injuries, illnesses and job satisfaction, are presented. The results of the current study can be utilized in the design of effective accident prevention and OSH training programs for the three age groups and in the regulation of working conditions aboard fishing vessels.