MedSea presents best practices regarding seafarer health

In view of The Day of the Seafarer (25 June) campaign of #SafetyTipsAtSea, MedSea offers practical measures for organizations to prevent common injuries, illnesses and safety concerns onboard commercial vessels.

MedSea’s assistance case data from 2023 shows that seafarers suffer from a wide variety of health issues onboard, each of which provides important learnings for management. Key concerning trends regarding seafarer health, as presented by MedSea, include:

#1 Musculoskeletal problems are a common concern for seafarers, often caused by improper lifting techniques, poor posture, and repetitive tasks

In 2023, musculoskeletal issues were the fourth most common medical case type, according to MedSea.
40% of these cases involved the neck and back.
One-third of all cases where seafarers were deemed unfit for duty were due to musculoskeletal problems.

#2 Dental cases saw a significant rise in 2023

Moved from the sixth to the second most common medical case category according to MedSea.
67% of dental cases required further shoreside evaluation, higher than average compared to other medical case types.

#3 Chronic health conditions, primarily due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), significantly impact seafarers

Hypertension is the most common chronic condition onboard ships.
Other common NCDs include diabetes, depression, and obesity.
Poorly managed NCDs pose significant health risks, potentially leading to complications and medical emergencies, vessel diversions, and delays.
The WHO predicts that by 2050, chronic diseases will account for 86% of the 90 million fatalities each year.

#4 Cardiovascular diseases, while representing a smaller number of overall MedSea cases, are the leading cause of NCD deaths globally

Account for 17.9 million deaths annually.
Potential consequences include life-threatening events like heart attacks and strokes.
Protecting heart health, such as eliminating tobacco use, should be a key priority onboard.

Long stretches at sea, isolation and exposure to harsh environments can significantly impact crewmembers’ wellbeing and exacerbate chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes and mental health conditions. As an industry, we must continue to focus upon prevention and improving the overall health and welfare of our seafarers.

… said Dr Katherine Sinclaire, Senior Medical Advisor at MedSea

MedSea shared the following top tips for organisations to prevent common injuries and illnesses among seafarers onboard commercial vessels:

Chronic condition support: develop programmes to help seafarers effectively manage pre-existing chronic conditions while at sea. This could include encouraging seafarers to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly. It is also important to provide access to medical care and regularly monitor health data.
Raise awareness of the importance of dental health: encourage crewmembers to be proactive with their dental care through educational materials on oral hygiene and the provision of dental hygiene kits.
Prevention of musculoskeletal problems: conduct job risk assessments and implement safety protocols to minimise musculoskeletal problems arising from incorrectly using tools, repetitive tasks or improper lifting techniques. Ensure seafarers follow safe work practices.
Heat exhaustion/illness prevention: Encourage regular hydration and breaks, limit time spent outside during peak hours of heat and ensure use of protective clothing or equipment.
Provide smoking cessation support: offer smoking cessation programmes and resources to raise awareness of the negative impacts of smoking on cardiovascular health and overall wellbeing.