A questionnaire survey was conducted in Antwerp, Belgium in 2002-2004 on the factors influencing the occurance of work-related accidents and injuries in Flemish maritime pilots.

130 questionnaires were collected and analysed, and the response rate was 37,6%.

The accidents reported in the questionnaire occured between 1980 and 2005, and most of them (70,7%) during the last 10 years.

Various factors were taken into consideration: causes of accidents, their time and site, type of injury, human factors, transfer to ships, use of safety equipment, state of the sea, visibility, etc.

The obtained results were summed up in 3 tables, and were compared with data from the literature. In this study, authors attempted to assess the importance of these various factors on the occurance of work-related accidents among pilots, and improve their prevention.

Key words: pilot, seapilot, occupational accidents, occupational injuries

Occupational health physician, IDEWE Antwerp, Entrepotkaai 15, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.

Professor of occupational health, Epidemiology and Social Medicine Department, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.

Corresponding author:
Entrepotkaai 15, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium,
phone: +3232188383,
fax: +3232305678,
e-mail: koen_meere@idewe.be