The influence of musculo-skeletal load, and other factors, on staff turn-over in fishery: a post employment questionnaire study.

Five hundred and seventy five out of 1642 fishermen from the Swedish west coast left the trade during the period 1982-1987 for reasons other than age retirement or death. A questionnaire study directed to all these fishermen showed that the majority of the fishermen leaving the trade were young and most of them left fishing within the first few years. The major reasons for leaving the job were low or uncertain earnings, long absence from home or musculo-skeletal symptoms. The major advantages with the work given by the ex-fishermen were working outdoors, good fellowship, personal influence on and excitement of the work. The frequency of subjective musculo-skeletal symptoms was lower among the ex-fishermen than among active fishermen in a previous investigation. However, the active fishermen had to a lower extent been unable to perform daily work due to their symptoms. Seasickness had been a problem for a portion of the ex-fishermen.