Citation

Lefkowitz RY, Null DB, Slade MD, Redlich CA. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001968

PMID

32769797

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Describe health conditions and injury and illness rates in a population of United States mariners, an understudied workforce vital to economic security.

METHODS: In this survey study, mariner health data was collected and analyzed to provide injury and illness rates (including mental health conditions) and associated risk factors.

RESULTS: In this mariner population of highly tenured vessel masters and pilots, hypertension, obesity, sleep disorders, smoking, alcohol consumption, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were common. BMI ≥35 was associated with increased likelihood of work injury (OR 5.7, 95%CI 1.01, 32.59).

CONCLUSIONS: The mariners were in poor overall health, raising public health and safety concerns in this population of essential transportation workers. Follow-up studies including a wider distribution of domestic mariners (deck hands, engineers) would further characterize occupational risks.

Language: en