Francisco Piniella

Occupational health in the Andalusian Fisheries Sector

BACKGROUND The conditions of work in the fisheries sector are arduous with high rates of occupational accidents. Numerous factors are known that can directly influence the health of the sailor or fisherman both in fishing and merchant fleets. AIM To evaluate the health status, safety and working conditions in the Andalusian fishing sector. METHODS Cross-sectional questionnaire study with proportional sampling of the health and lifestyles of fishery workers in 19 of the 23 Andalusian ports. RESULTS A total of 247 workers employed on 202 craft fishing boats responded. In all 87% of workers reported a current medical condition. The main problems reported were musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory diseases, diseases of the digestive system, eye problems and skin problems. A total of 72% reported taking some self-prescribed medication, and 60% of fishery workers smoked. Nine per cent of fishery workers admitted taking illicit drugs and 3% reported using illicit drugs on board. Diets on board were poorly balanced. While on board, 62% of crews reported a subjective significant worsening of previous health. The lifetime prevalence of accidents was 76%. CONCLUSIONS Fishery workers had a high prevalence of self-reported medical problems, a high prevalence of self-medication, poor diets and frequently smoked. Self-medication and some medical conditions (diabetes, angina and depression) may reflect a potential failing of health checks and pre-employment checks. National health services and insurance companies dealing with occupational health should focus more on appropriate health checks, illness prevention and health promotion activities for this population.

The role of the Classification Societies in the era of globalization: a case study

Although in the great majority of States, the inspection and certification of vessels are provided as public services, the Classification Societies continue being an essential element in maritime traffic, since the official inspections and certifications generally do not take into consideration certain structural aspects or details of vessels. The starting point is an analysis of the role of the Classification Societies on the global and local scale; a case study in a medium-size port of the European Union, the Port of the Bay of Cadiz, is presented. For the case study, an analysis has been made of 507 vessels between the years 2002 and 2008. From the statistical results, it is concluded that there tends to be a direct relationship between the age of the vessel and its classification by a particular type of Society, both with respect to the profiles of risk and to whether the society is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies. The same occurs with respect to the number of days a vessel is detained as a consequence of the Port State Control (PSC) inspections. Similar relationships between Classification Societies and vessels are observed with respect to the flags States, based on featuring in the Black List of the MoU, and with the subclassification of risks.

Fishermen’s training and use of safety equipment: A case-study of the Artisanal Fleet of Andalusia

This article is intended as a contribution to safety and health in small-scale/artisanal fishing in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain. Training is examined as a key element for reducing risks and therefore the serious number of accidents that occur in the fishery work sector as one of those that is statistically reflected as such and discusses the international and Spanish regulations. The case study focuses on the use of safety equipment in this fishing fleet and highlights the improper use of safety equipment and lack of a health and safety culture. Training is examined as a key element in promoting health and safety awareness in this group.

State-owned Spanish Port System oversizing: an analysis of maximum operational capacity

ABSTRACT The State-owned Spanish Port System (SPS) includes 46 ports for general use that are managed by the 28 port authorities distributed along the 8000 km of Spanish coast. SPS has not grown at a rate comparable to that of international maritime transportation. In our paper, we start from the hypothesis of a port system that appears to be oversized, subsidized, with regard to container traffic. Quantifying the maximum operational capacity of the different container terminals along the Spanish coast and their mooring capacities will provide the available dimensions for this type of traffic. In a second step, we will analyse whether SPS are sufficient (according to the perspective of international standards) to meet Spain’s needs, which is related to Spain’s strategic geographic location and its need to move containerized cargo for the domestic market. The paper concludes SPS has an oversized that limits competitiveness, which is indicated by the average transshipment ratio of approximately 50% and an average unweighted idle ratio of port facilities designed for container traffic of over 60% in the eight main ports.

Maritime Safety in the Strait of Gibraltar

Both Search and Rescue (SAR)’79 and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)’82 Conventions are specific tools that establish the juridical and technical foundations for the development of reactive aspects related to maritime safety response. These conventions set up the search and rescue regions in which coastal states should assume the responsibility to dedicate resources, to cover the needs of the SAR responsibilities. 2006 amendments to International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) manual volume I, in force since 2007, June the 1st, established the identification and assessment of risks related to maritime safety as one of the practical principles in maritime risk management. The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow navigational channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Morocco. The Strait supports a huge volume of maritime traffic increasing steadily every year. This paper presents the preliminary results obtained in relation with the taxonomy and temporal distribution of maritime emergencies reported and documented by the Spanish Maritime Administration throughout 2000-2004 period.