A Mortality and Morbidity Study in the Petrochemical Community in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

The Caribbean was the first "Global Village". Sugar Plantation doctors were the first Occupational Physicians in the region. This Mortality Study is the first reported study on mortality among petroleum workers in the English Speaking Caribbean. The study population was 5000 workers and 15000retirees of Petrotrin and its predecessor companies. 1436 death certificates were reviewed during 1979 - 1990. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer were the top two causes of death. A morbidity study was done in April/May 1997, also a first of its kind. 2339 patient visits made to our medical facilities were analyzed. Cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and musculoskeletal diseases were the top three conditions presenting. An overview of these two studies are presented as well as a snapshot of a stress survey. Introduction Trinidad and Tobago's economy like that of nearby Venezuela has been dominated by oil since the 1900's. The first well drilled for oil in Trinidadin 1857. The first successful oil well was drilled by Walter Darwent at Ariperoin 1866. The Multinational oil companies and their local counterparts have been the model for the provision of comprehensive health care for workers in the petroleum industry. TPD, Apex, KTD, TLL, Shell, Texaco, B.P. and Tesoro were the forerunners of Trintoc and Trintopec which merged in 1993 to form Petrotrin. The impact of industrialization on morbidity and mortality in developing countries has occupied the attention of development workers for quite sometime. Economic improvements and the provision of food, water and sanitation have brought significant improvement in health status indices all apart from health services. Since the 1970's there has been a keen interest in themorbidity and mortality of petroleum workers.