Sick absence in dockers.

The reasons for sick absence in dockers performing heavy loading jobs (stevedores) in the port of Gdynia, in 1986-1991, were identified and subjected to statistical analysis. The study group consisted of 603 people--73% of the whole population of dockers in the port. The prevailing reason were the diseases of the musculoskeletal system--on the average 5.6 days of sick leave per 1 docker per year--28.7% of the total sick absence in the occupational group studied. On the second place were traumas, mainly of the extremities and of the spine--4.7 days (24.9%). The proportion of the circulatory system diseases was a mere 1.9-0.4 days. The high sick absence caused by the first group of diseases calls for preventive interventions during pre-entry and periodic medical examinations of dockers.