In Good Trim produces results

The TrimMare project targeted improving seafarers’ occupational well-being and their work capacity, with the objective of understanding that occupational well-being was part of an employee’s health and one factor behind the success of a shipping company’s business operations. The project was carried out in 2003-2006 with the aim of generating permanent new ways of working for shipping communities. The vessels within the framework of the project had to operate under the Finnish flag, which meant that their workforces were insured at the Seafarer’s Pension Fund.

The project was divided into four areas:

• Improving working conditions
• Developing the work community
• Changing the emphasis of occupational health care to prevention and health promotion
• Activating the individual to be responsible for personal overall well-being

Wide-ranging interviews and questionnaires to map out working conditions and occupational well-being ascertained the current situation of occupational well-being in shipping communities; the needs for development were also mapped out. 

A key element of the project was to survey health risks on vessels, first with help and later independently. Risk assessment constituted its own subarea. Click on "Risk assessment" on the left for more information.

The project resulted in the idea of recruiting ships’ Trimmers to start activities that promote the work capacity of seafarers; they received training for this task.

Seafarers were encouraged in a number of ways to be responsible for their own well-being, both at home and when working on board ship.

During the project, mess food courses and discussion days were arranged, and articles were written for seafarers’ periodicals.

In spring 2008, the Seafarer’s Pension Fund decided to arrange the "Kehon Ikä" (Body Age) follow-up pilot project. More information about this project will appear on these pages later.