Telemedicine-Assisted Work-Related Injuries Among Seafarers on Italian-Flagged Ships: A 13-Year Retrospective Study

Background: Seafarers are highly susceptible to work-related injuries, which can result in serious consequences or permanent disabilities. Understanding the frequency and characteristics of occupational injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies and identifying their underlying patterns and causes. This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of telemedicine-assisted work-related injuries among seafarers on board Italian-flagged vessels. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted to analyze occupational injuries using medical data recorded in the Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (C.I.R.M.) database from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2022. Injuries in the database were coded according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Variables extracted from the database included injury type, seafarers' age, rank, nationality, worksite, gender, date of injury, affected body region, clinical outcomes, and other demographic and occupational characteristics. Injury frequency and characteristics (e.g., location, type, and cause) were analyzed and stratified by seafarers' rank and worksite groups. Results: The analysis included 793 seafarers who sustained injuries. Their average age was 39.15 ± 10.49 years (range: 21 to 70 years). Deck ratings and engine officers accounted for 27.9% and 20% of those who claimed injuries, respectively. 39.2% of injured seafarers were aged between 30 and 40 years. In terms of affected body parts, the most reported injuries were to the hand/wrist (33.3%), followed by the knee/lower legs (21%), and the head/eye (19%). Open wounds (38%) and burns/abrasions (14%) were the most common types of injury. Slips/falls (32%), burns/explosions (16.6%), and overexertion while lifting or carrying (14.8%) were the leading causes of injury during the study period. Nearly 35% of injuries affected workers on the deck and were due mainly to slips/falls, 19% in the engine room were due to being caught in machinery or equipment, and 32.5% in the catering department were due to burns/explosions. Conclusions: One-third of seafarers who suffered work-related injuries sustained hand and/or wrist injuries, with slips/falls being a significant cause. The results of this study emphasize the need for preventative measures in the marine sector, particularly to reduce risks associated with slips and falls, overexertion, and other injury-causing factors. Campaigns for the larger use of protective equipment are desirable to reduce occupational accidents at sea and provide better health protection for seafarers.