Published: May 2020
The safety and health of seafarers is protected by an impressive framework of conventions and legislation. The purpose of this manual is to highlight the basic principles that the framework contains and to help seafarers put them into practice.
The manual is for reference, but its contents should be used selectively for advice and guidance on particular aspects of safety and health.
It describes how to implement the procedures, such as risk assessment and safety inspections, that can prevent accidents. Guidance on how to maintain high levels of health and hygiene on board is provided and checklists will help seafarers focus on the hazards of particular operations on their ships. Finally, there is discussion of the human factor in accident prevention and how understanding it can be used to create a strong and resilient safety culture on board.
Safe and healthy working practices benefit everyone, from individual seafarers to the companies they work for, as well as the customers who rely on the services those companies provide.
Content
Preface
The Author
Introduction
Accidents – causes and solutions
What level of improvement is possible?
1 Shipboard Safety System
1. Introduction
1.1 Responsibilities
1.1.1 The Master
1.1.2 The Safety Supervisor
1.1.3 Safety Representatives
1.1.4 The Safety Committee
1.2 Structure
1.2.1 Safety Representatives
1.2.2 The Safety Committee
1.2.3 Plans and Instructions
1.2.4 Public Display of Safety Information
1.3 Procedures
1.3.1 Risk Assessment
1.3.2 Safety Inspections
1.3.3 Permit to Work (PTW) Systems
1.3.4 Drills
1.3.5 Accident and ‘Near Miss’ Investigations
2 Tools for Improving Safety
2. Introduction
2.1 Accidents: Causes and Prevention
2.1.1 People
2.1.2 Activities
2.1.3 Prevention
2.2 A Safety Supervisor’s Job Description
2.3 Checklists
2.4 Accident Prevention
2.4.1 Slips and Falls
2.4.2 Ship Handling
2.4.3 Cargo Holds and Tanks
2.4.4 Engine Room
2.4.5 General Maintenance
2.4.6 Storage
2.4.7 Drills
3 Health on Board
3.1 A Fit and Healthy Crew?
3.2 Be Prepared
3.2.1 Medical Supplies and Equipment
3.2.2 Medical Training
3.2.3 Requesting Assistance from Shore Based Medical Personnel
3.3 General Health Protection on Board
3.3.1 Manual Handling
3.3.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
3.3.3 Stress
3.4 Hygiene
3.4.1 Cleanliness
3.4.2 Food
3.5 Substances Hazardous to Health
3.5.1 Solvents and Other Harmful Chemicals
3.5.2 Asbestos
3.6 Infectious Diseases and Malaria
3.6.1 Introduction
3.6.2 Vaccination
3.6.3 Some Diseases for which Vaccines are Available
3.6.4 Diseases for which no Vaccines are Available
3.6.5 Malaria
4 Safety and Health Training
4.1 Principles
4.1.1 The Legal Framework
4.1.2 Identifying Training Needs
4.1.3 Training Methods
4.2 How to Plan, Run, Assess and Follow Up a Training Session
4.2.1 Preparation
4.2.2 Delivering a Training Session
4.3 Basic Safety Training on Board
4.3.1 Shipboard Familiarisation
4.3.2 Safety Supervisors and Safety Officers
4.3.3 Safety Representatives and the Safety Committee
4.3.4 Officers and Ratings
5 Reviewing Safety and Health on Board
5. Introduction
5.1 Organisation of Safety and Health on Board
5.1.1 Introduction
5.1.2 Questionnaire
5.2 A Summary of Responses to the Safety and Health Questionnaire
6 The Human Factor
6.1 Safety Culture
6.1.1 What is ‘Safety Culture’?
6.1.2 Practical Questions for Managers and Officers
6.2 Understanding Accidents
6.2.1 Accidents – the Basic Causes
6.3 Human Behaviour
Appendices
The Most Relevant IMO and EU Regulations
1. The IMO MLC maritime labour convention
2. The Structure of the ISM Code
The ISM Code
1. General
1.1 Definitions
1.2 Objectives
2. Safety and Environmental Protection Policy
3. Company Responsibilities and Authority
4. Designated Person(s)
5. Master’s Responsibility and Authority
6. Resources and Personnel
7. Development of Plans for Shipboard Operations
8. Emergency Preparedness
9. Reports and Analysis of Non-conformities Accidents and Hazardous Occurrences
10. Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment
11. Documentation
12. Company Verification, Review and Evaluation
13. Certification, Verification and Control
3. The STCW Convention and its Relationship to the ISM Code
Improvements
Implementation
STCW and the ISM Code
4. Overview of the 4 Main EU Council Directives for Safety and
Health at Work. (These Apply to Ships Flying the Flag of EU
Member States)
EU Standards for ‘Health and Safety Work in the Workplace’
(EU Commission’s Article 117a)
Index
