Accidents and injuries in Polish seafarers.

Abstract

A survey was conducted among Polish seafarers on work-related accidents and injuries. Their average incidence rate in 1990-1995 was 22.07 per 1000 men per year (fatal accidents: 0.85/1000). Out of 960 accidents recorded including 37 fatal ones, 768 caused work incapacity, and in 307 major injuries the duration of it was 29 or more days. The causes of death of seafarers were: drowning 24, violence 2, suffocation 4, contusion 2, and disappearance from ship during voyage 5. The incidence rate of accidents in the surveyed population varied from year to year and there was no tendency of lowering it. Prevention of accidents on ships should be improved.