Observations on the conditions of work of Polish seafarers and their health.

Conditions of work of seafarers depend on the influence of physical, chemical biological and psycho-social factors. In 1971-1973, the health of 3000 sefarers was examined; their main health problems were: neuroses (10.13%), arterial hypertension (4.63%), ulcer of stomach and duodenum (2.80%), renal calculi (2.80%), and the alcoholic addiction (1.73%). Those seamen worked on cargo ships which technically differed from ships which sail the seas in the nineties; they were slower, to load them and unload took much time, and they stayed in ports for long periods of time. Recent technical developments in shipbuilding, and the trend to build larger ships with more powerful engines and greater cruising speed, the mechanization and automation of ships operation, and computerization, caused the change in their crews structure and number. It also changes the psycho-social work environment. Using the same method, health examinations of 3,300 seafarers were conducted in 1983-1985. There was an increase in the prevalence of neuroses, arterial hypertension, ulcer of stomach and duodenum, and calculus of kidney. In 1990-1992, a group of 4,688 seafarers was examined. Their health problems were different, in comparison with the populations previously examined. For example, neuroses were recorded in 1.16% men, and ulcer of stomach and duodenum in 0.13% of men examined. The above differences in the health status of seafarers examined cannot be attributed only to the changes in their work conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)