title: Risk factors for fishermen's health and safety in Greece.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first occupational health study in Greek fishing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to determine the risks for health and safety in Greek fisheries workers by exploring their health status and the health risk factors present in their occupational environment, thus providing a current baseline for further research in the future and for documentation of the needs for prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire pilot study was carried out in a random sample of 100 Greek fishermen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight per cent (28%) had experienced at least one injury, of which half caused more than one day absence, while 14% had a near drowning experience. The health risks factors studied include excessive weight, cardiovascular incidents and dermatological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, hearing, stress, and anxiety problems. The occupational health risk factors include alcohol, fatty food consumption, smoking, and lack of physical exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health effects observed are causally related to diet, smoking, and exercise, which in turn relate to the specific working conditions and culture in small-scale fishing that need to be taken into consideration in prevention programmes. The results are comparable with international fisheries experience, mainly from Poland, Denmark, and Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece. elpidafrantzeskou@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elpida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frantzeskou
authors.forename: Anastasia N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kastania
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riza
authors.forename: Olaf C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linos
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D005398:Fisheries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006115:Greece; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012767:Ships; D055815:Young Adult