Elsevier

Applied Ergonomics

Volume 35, Issue 5, September 2004, Pages 417-426
Applied Ergonomics

Musculoskeletal symptoms among commercial fishers in North Carolina

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2004.04.004Get rights and content

Abstract

Musculoskeletal symptoms were reported by 215 fishermen followed at 6-month intervals over 18 months. Exposure information was collected through field observation and in-depth ethnographic interviews allowing potential ergonomic stressors to be identified and catalogued by task and stage of work. Symptoms causing work interference in the last 12 months were reported by 38.5% of the cohort at baseline. Low back symptoms were the most common cause of work impairment (17.7%), followed equally by pain in the hands or wrists and shoulders (7%). Symptoms in any body region were more likely to have been reported among individuals who did not fish full-time and those who worked other jobs part or all year had significantly lower symptom prevalence; both likely reflect a healthy worker effect.

A number of ergonomic stressors were identified in all stages of fishing with exposure variability dictated by some unpredictable factors such as weather; but also by type of boat, gear, crew size, and level of experience. Reducing ergonomic exposures associated with work among these traditional workers is important, regardless of whether they directly cause or contribute to their musculoskeletal symptoms, or aggravate existing pathology.

Introduction

Although the physically taxing nature of commercial fishing is recognized, understanding the occupational health and safety challenges for these traditional workers is difficult. They work in the wild in non-industrial settings, their work is non-routine or in very long cycles, and is dictated by factors that do not influence most industrial workers such as weather, crew and boat sizes, and fishery policies. The focus of much of the work evaluating occupational hazards among fishers has been cold water, off-shore fleets in Scandinavia, Alaska, and New England (Torner et al., 1995; Jensen et al., 1996; Thomas et al., 2001; Dotter, 2002; Lincoln and Conway, 1999; Fulmer and Buchholz, 2002). Comparatively little is known about smaller-scale, family oriented operators.

We report on the use of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather information about prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and work exposures among a volunteer cohort of commercial fishers along the coast of North Carolina, USA. The geography of the North Carolina coast includes a chain of barrier islands, known as the Outer Banks, with a large expanse of relatively shallow water sound areas between the banks and the mainland. This provides fishing grounds in sounds and coastal rivers, as well as off-shore. The inland fisheries include fin-fishing as well as shellfish, such as crabbing, shrimping, oystering and clamming, and often involve small crews or single fisher operations. Off-shore fishing more often involves shrimping or fin-fishing with larger trawls.

Section snippets

Cohort definition

A volunteer cohort of commercial fishers was originally assembled between April 1999 and May 2000 for the purpose of studying ‘possible estuary-associated symptoms,’ particularly those related to potential pfeisteria exposures. The population recruited for this purpose included individuals 18–65 years of age who worked on estuaries or the ocean for >20 h per week for at least 6 months of the year. As part of the original study protocol, individuals underwent a baseline physical examination and

Cohort description

From the original cohort of 219 commercial fishers, 215 completed a baseline musculoskeletal symptom report. The fishers ranged in age from 18 to 65 years (mean 43, median 44 years). They were predominantly male (88.4%, n=190). All, with the exception of one, were Caucasian. Years of education ranged from 7 to 18 years (median 13 years). At baseline 93.3% (n=195) reported working full-time; 66.5% (n=141) fishing year-round. The vast majority owned their own boat (n=198; 92.1%), ranging in size

Discussion

Using the Nordic Questionnaire, a validated self-report instrument, we have described musculoskeletal symptoms (prevalence and onset of new symptoms) among a cohort of commercial fishers in North Carolina. The findings should be interpreted in light of the fact that this was an active working cohort; anyone disabled due to any reason, including musculoskeletal disorders, was not recruited at the outset. We have documented high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms with low back trouble being

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (RO1 OH103809). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.

The original cohort study, designed to study possible estuary-associated symptoms, was supported through a cooperative agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

References (19)

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