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Biomedical subjects

O C Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to O C Jensen.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Subjective assessments of safety, exposure to chemicals and use of personal protection equipment in seafaring.

BACKGROUND: Most of the scientific publications from the maritime area are studies about the mortality and morbidity, while studies about the present hazards of potentially dangerous exposures are relatively rare. AIMS: To describe the seafarers' assessments of the occupational safety on board, their exposure to chemicals and the use of personal protection equipment and to identify the areas for further risk assessment and preventive measures. METHODS: A questionnaire study was carried out in 11 countries among seafarers who attended a regular health examination. RESULTS: The total number of seafarers who participated in the study was 6461 (response rate 93.7%). The occupational safety on board was assessed to be very good or good in 82%. Multivariate analyses showed that the safety was assessed as lowest among ratings, seafarers<30 years of age, work in the engine rooms and on dry cargo ships. It was highest on crude oil tankers and supply ships. Fifty-five per cent of seafarers were exposed to chemicals. Personal protection equipment to chemicals was used 'always/almost always' in 93% of the exposed. Multivariate analysis showed that the use of personal protection was highest on deck, on the largest ships, on roll-on roll-off ships and on crude oil tankers. CONCLUSION: The occupational safety and the use of personal protective equipment was assessed to be significantly different in some strata of the population and in specific working areas and types and sizes of ships.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Classification and coding of commercial fishing injuries by work processes: an experience in the Danish fresh market fishing industry.

BACKGROUND: Work-related injuries in commercial fishing are of concern internationally. To better identify the causes of injury, this study coded occupational injuries by working processes in commercial fishing for fresh market fish. METHODS: A classification system of the work processes was developed by participation in fishing vessel trips where observations and video recordings of the work operations on board were collected. Subsequently the system was pilot tested using the Danish Maritime Authority injury reports. RESULTS: The developed classification system contains 17 main categories and up to 13 sub-categories of the work processes for each of the five different types of fishing. A total of 620 injury reports were reviewed and coded. Five percent (n = 33) of these were fatal injuries. The working processes were identified and coded according to the developed classification system for 553 (89%) injury reports: Danish seiner (n = 83), gill-netter (n = 122), beam trawler (n = 71), twin-trawler 2-T (n = 96), single/pair trawler 1-T (n = 181). Sixty-seven (11%) of the reports were unclassifiable due to lack of information. Preparing, shooting, and hauling of the gear and nets accounted for 50% of the injuries; they were most serious type of injuries such as fractures and sprains. Walking about the ship, in particular embarking and disembarking, climbing and descending ladders accounted for nearly one-fifth of the injuries. CONCLUSION: We found that the working processes related to working with the gear and nets vary greatly in the different fishing methods. Coding of the injuries to the specific working processes allows for targeted prevention efforts.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

Incidence of self-reported occupational injuries in seafaring--an international study.

AIMS: Seafaring is known as a high-risk industry. The aims were to describe the incidence of non-fatal injuries among seafarers, including testing the hypothesis that long working hours might result in higher injury rates. METHODS: A questionnaire study of injury on the latest tour of duty was carried out among seafarers in 11 countries with 6461 participants. The seafarers were asked if they were injured during the latest tour of duty and what was the number of hours worked. RESULTS: During the latest tour of duty, 9.1% of all seafarers were injured and 4.3% had an injury with at least 1 day of incapacity. The injury incidence rates for cargo ships and tankers: 39.5 per 1 million work hours and 37.6 per 100,000 days. Multivariate analyses: incidence rate ratios (IRR) for >70 working hours per week compared with <57 h: 0.90 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.61-1.32]; non-officers compared with officers: IRR = 1.57 (95% CI = 1.14-2.15); seafarers <35 years compared with > or =35 years of age: IRR = 2.11 (1.57-2.86); tour lengths > or =117 days compared with <117 days: IRR = 0.27 (0.19-0.39). Main work area on the deck and in the service area compared with work in the engine room: IRR = 0.37 (0.27-0.52) and IRR = 0.49 (0.26-0.91), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence that long working hours alone resulted in higher injury rates. Low self-perceived health, lack of use of personal protection and lack of occupational safety on board were significantly related to an increase in the injury risk.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2001

International surveillance of seafarers' health and working environment. A pilot study of the method. Preliminary report.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this pilot study was to develop and assess a method for a long-sighted, international comparative survey of seafarers' working, living and health conditions. METHOD: The seafarers completed a short questionnaire in medical clinics in connection with their mandatory health examinations. The pilot study included basic data on the person and the ship, the length of the latest tour of duty, injuries if any and injury characteristics. RESULTS: 1068 questionnaires were collected in 5 countries. The participation rate was assessed in two countries: 98.4% and 61.0%. The completion rate for the individual questions varied from 92% to 100%, except for a few questions. The congruence between the answers in the test and the re-test was 94%-100%, apart from the question on the ship's tonnage. The workload in connection with the collection of data in the clinics was considered reasonably low. 8.7% of the seafarers reported that they had been injured during their latest tour of duty. Violence related to 5% of the injuries, falls and slips to 44%. 79% were treated either on board or on shore. 58% were unfit for duty for at least one day or more. CONCLUSION: The method seems to be applicable as a tool for describing seafarers' working and living conditions in an international perspective.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Non-fatal occupational fall and slip injuries among commercial fishermen analyzed by use of the NOMESCO injury registration system.

BACKGROUND: Fall injuries constitute a significant problem in commercial fishing and such injuries have hitherto not been the subject of closer analysis. METHODS: The distribution and the characteristics of 582 occupational injuries among commercial fishermen are described by using data from an emergency department for the period 1990-1997, recorded in a special registration system. RESULTS: Consistent with other investigations, injuries from falls made up 25% of all injuries; they were the cause of 28% of all contusions, 32% of all fractures, 61% of all sprains and strains, 40% of all injuries to lower extremities, and 62% of all injuries to the chest. The proportion of fall injuries in different age groups was U-shaped and constitutes around 40% for men both under 20 years and over 50 years of age, and around 20% for those between these ages. Frequent types of injury mechanisms other than falls and slips were: getting caught (22%), contact with objects or persons (28%), foreign body (9%), and cuts (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Use of proportionate data gave a detailed description of injuries from falls and slips, showing important areas for prevention. To avoid a possible misclassification of fall injuries in future studies, it is recommended to include an extra specific variable: whether falling or slipping preceded the crash phase of the injury or not.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1996

Work related injuries in Danish fishermen.

A one-year retrospective study among Danish commercial fishermen revealed that the overall rate of injury was 20.4 per 100 persons per year. There were no significant differences in injury rates related to age. The overall rates of injury related to the different types of vessels-trawlers, gill-netters and Danish seiners-did differ statistically when the number of man-days at sea was taken into account. There was, however, a significant increase in the number of injuries on trawlers over 100 gross register tons. The overall number of days lost due to injury among all fisherman was 47 days per 1,000 days at sea. The highest number of days lost for work was on trawlers of 100-199 gross register tonnage. Preventive measures should be implemented in all age groups and in all the main types of fishing vessels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Mortality in Danish fishermen.

This cohort study investigated mortality patterns in Danish commercial fishermen between 1970 and 1985, compared to all economically active men. The population census in 1970 in Denmark was the source of information on individual occupation, age and economic status. Computerised linkage with the Danish Mortality Register gave information about deceased persons' date and cause of death. Standarised mortality ratio (SMR) for all causes among crew members was 1.50; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.34-1.65) highest in the age group 20-34 years (SMR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.68-2.58). The increased SMR among fishermen was primarity due to deaths by accident other than road accidents (SMR = 5.76, 95% CI = 3.09-7.46), ischemic heart disease (SMR = 1.27, 95% CI, 1.01-1.57) and causes without information (SMR = 6.44 95% CI 4.31-9.27). SMR due to bronchitis and emphysema among 35-64 years old crew members was 1.96, 95% CI 1.01-3.45. Among skippers, the SMR for all causes was 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.20). The study confirms earlier findings of a high mortality among fishermen, especially due to accidents, and a slightly increased risk of dying from cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

Occupational injuries among fishermen.

A sample of 187 medically treated injuries among fishermen was the basis for this study. Nearly half the injuries occurred while shooting or hauling fishing gear. The most common injuries were in the upper extremities (48.7%). Twenty-two percent of the injuries occurred while working with winches ropes and wires and about 30% were caused by falls or slips. Seventy-five percent of accidents occurred on trawlers, where the trawl doors (other boards) are a special hazard. Medical treatment ashore was delayed for more than 24 hours in 35% of the injuries, showing the need for providing optimal treatment facilities on board. Prevention measures should include technical improvements, safety training courses and efforts to enhance the motivation for safe work. The fishermen's proposals for prevention seem to be most useful and should be used to the full extent.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1994

Mortality among Danish merchant seamen from 1970 to 1985.

A retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze the mortality patterns of Danish merchant seamen in the period 1970-1985. The population census in 1970 in Denmark was the source of information on individual occupation, age, and marital status. All men aged 20-64 years and economically active in 1970 were included. Computerized linkage with the Danish Mortality Register gave information about the deceased persons' date and cause of death. An increased overall mortality among all groups of seamen was found, being highest for deck and engine crew members. The overall mortality was strongly dependent on age and marital status. The highest mortality rate ratios (MRR) were found among young seamen and unmarried seamen. MRRs of 1.90 and 2.47 for cancer of the respiratory system were found among engine officers and crew. The MRRs for accidents and suicide were increased for all seamen, and were highest for crew members, among whom the MRR from accidents was stable within age groups but fell for suicide with increasing age. The same pattern was found with cirrhosis of the liver, although this was positively associated with increasing age. Excess mortality from ischemic heart disease was only found among engine crew (MRR = 1.43). This study confirms earlier findings of high mortality among seafarers. Negative selection into the occupation, occupational environmental factors, and lack of health and safety promotion programs and education could be causes of the high mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The carpal tunnel syndrome. An occupational disease?].

Attention is drawn to early and correct diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Our case history describes how a 44 year old man contracted bilateral CTS by forceful repetitive bending of plastic frames with both hands. The syndrome is most often referred to as a result of a tenosynovitis involving the flexor tendons which pass beneath the volar carpal ligament often caused by highly repetitive wrist movements together with firm hand and finger grasps. In this case, accurate occupational history and reconstruction of work procedure revealed that the cause was direct external pressure bilaterally at the wrist on the flexor retinaculum with the underlying median nerve.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Occupational asthma caused by scented gravel in cat litter boxes].

Perfumes are now added to articles in everyday use to an increasing extent. One example of this is addition of perfume to gravel in cat toilets. It is recognized that perfumes may cause toxic and allergic skin reactions while perfume as the cause of asthma is not so well recognized. In the case described here, exposure to industrial perfume resulted in asthma on account of irritation.

Acrolein↗