Educating crew members:

One of the biggest ways employers can make a difference is by putting time, effort and finances into educating their employees about the occupational risks they will face and how to combat them. Equip them with practical medical advice to help them lead a healthy lifestyle while at sea, including an understanding of proper diet, exercise and other lifestyle choices.

Promoting a healthy diet and exercise:

It’s one thing to tell crew members what they should do to be healthy, but if employers really want to set them up for success, they should also put their priorities into action. This means making sure mariners have nutritious meal options on board and exercise equipment available to help them stay active.

Exercising daily:

Daily exercise can help mariners maintain better health overall. An active lifestyle can help reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal problems. Exercising can also help mariners stay alert during their shifts and sleep better when they are off-duty, so they can avoid fatigue and the problems that come with it.

Avoiding health risks:

Mariners can also do their part to stay healthy by choosing to avoid health risks that can cause serious problems like CVD. This may mean making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or reducing alcohol consumption.

Avoiding Stress:

Stress can be a major problem in many occupations, and this is certainly the case for the maritime industry. A demanding workload, long working hours and more can cause mariners to experience occupational stress. They may also feel stressed over issues at home they cannot help with because they are away. Stress may be a psychological issue, but it can easily cause physical problems, as well.

MARINER TIPS