Marine Environmental Conditions and Occupational Risks in Artisanal Fishing of the Colombian Pacific
Abstract
Artisanal fishing in the Colombian Pacific involves continuous exposure to dynamic marine and atmospheric conditions that directly affect both productivity and occupational safety. This study examines how environmental factors - including solar radiation, humidity, rainfall, sea state, and exposure to biological and physical agents-interact with task-related demands to shape occupational risk among artisanal fishers. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, combining direct field observation, a socio-demographic survey, and a structured hazard assessment based on the Colombian Technical Guide GTC-45. The study involved twenty artisanal fishers from a rural coastal community in Buenaventura.
The results indicate that fishers are consistently exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation, high humidity, unstable marine surfaces, adverse weather conditions, and biological hazards associated with marine species. These exposures, together with biomechanical demands such as repetitive movements, excessive physical exertion, and prolonged awkward postures, significantly increase the risk of injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and occupational accidents, including slips, falls overboard, and cuts. Vulnerability is further intensified by limited access to personal protective equipment, the absence of communication and emergency devices, and predominantly informal labour arrangements.
To our knowledge, this study is among the first to integrate environmental exposure and occupational risk assessment within a tropical small-scale fisheries context using a standardized risk evaluation framework. By explicitly linking marine environmental conditions, work tasks, and health outcomes, the findings highlight the need to incorporate environmental variables into occupational risk prevention strategies. These results provide valuable evidence to inform safety policies and targeted preventive interventions for artisanal fishing communities operating under informal working conditions.
Keywords: Artisanal fishing; Small-scale fisheries; Marine environmental conditions; Occupational risk; Environmental exposure; Biomechanical demands; Coastal communities; Informal labour; Risk assessment; Colombian Pacific.
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