Chris Sames1,2, Desmond F Gorman3, Simon J Mitchell4, Lifeng Zhou5. 1. Slark Hyperbaric Unit, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. 2. Corresponding author: Chris Sames, Slark Hyperbaric Unit, Waitemata District Health Board, Stanley Point, Auckland 0624, New Zealand, chris.sames@waitematadhb.govt.nz. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland. 4. Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Auckland. 5. Funding and Outcomes, Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards, Auckland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Approximately 77% of professional divers leave the industry within five years of entry, for reasons that are uncertain. One possibility is that attrition is due to ill-health. The health of New Zealand occupational divers is surveyed by a comprehensive medical examination every five years and by a health questionnaire in the intervening years. Divers are thereby confirmed 'fit' annually. The aim of this study was to determine if divers quit the industry due to a health problem not identified by this health surveillance system. METHOD: 601 divers who had left the industry within five years of entry medical examination ('quitters') were identified from a computerised database. One hundred and thirty-six who could be contacted were questioned about their principal reason for quitting. Comparison was made between the health data of all those defined as 'quitters' and a group of 436 'stayers' who have remained active in the industry for over 10 years. RESULTS: Health was the principal reason for abandoning a diving career for only 2.9% of quitters. The overwhelming majority (97.1%) quit because of dissatisfaction with aspects of the work, such as remuneration and reliability of employment. Besides gender, the only significant difference between the health data of quitters and stayers was that smoking was four times more prevalent among quitters. CONCLUSIONS: The key determinant of early attrition from the New Zealand professional diver workforce is industry-related rather than health-related. The current New Zealand diver health surveillance system detects the medical problems that cause divers to quit the industry. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
INTRODUCTION: Approximately 77% of professional divers leave the industry within five years of entry, for reasons that are uncertain. One possibility is that attrition is due to ill-health. The health of New Zealand occupational divers is surveyed by a comprehensive medical examination every five years and by a health questionnaire in the intervening years. Divers are thereby confirmed 'fit' annually. The aim of this study was to determine if divers quit the industry due to a health problem not identified by this health surveillance system. METHOD: 601 divers who had left the industry within five years of entry medical examination ('quitters') were identified from a computerised database. One hundred and thirty-six who could be contacted were questioned about their principal reason for quitting. Comparison was made between the health data of all those defined as 'quitters' and a group of 436 'stayers' who have remained active in the industry for over 10 years. RESULTS: Health was the principal reason for abandoning a diving career for only 2.9% of quitters. The overwhelming majority (97.1%) quit because of dissatisfaction with aspects of the work, such as remuneration and reliability of employment. Besides gender, the only significant difference between the health data of quitters and stayers was that smoking was four times more prevalent among quitters. CONCLUSIONS: The key determinant of early attrition from the New Zealand professional diver workforce is industry-related rather than health-related. The current New Zealand diver health surveillance system detects the medical problems that cause divers to quit the industry. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
Keywords:
Diving at work; Diving industry; Medical database; Medicals – diving; Occupational diving; Occupational health; Smoking
Authors: Richard Pougnet; Laurence Pougnet; David Lucas; Marie Uguen; Anne Henckes; Jean-Dominique Dewitte; Brice Loddé Journal: Int Marit Health Date: 2014