Disability is an evolving concept, which ten years ago nobody would have thought to ask the question. However, the conditions of work and equality have changed, and asking these questions can help promote the opportunities for disabled people and highlight the issue.
Seafaring is a very physically demanding job, that even for the fittest of people, it could be proven a challenge. So what happens, when a disabled person wants to be a seafarer, or what happen when an able seafarer becomes disabled, and then wants to get back to work.
According to Jürgen Menze, disability inclusion officer in the ILO’s conditions of work and equality department:
Instead of taking the medical model of disability, which looks at the challenge or problem being situated in the individual, we try to promote the concept of the social model, i.e. that the environment and societies need to change so that people with disability can be included and fully participate
Of course, seafarers have to pass some difficult physical exams, but Mr. Menze says that this “must be in a non-discriminatory way and needs to be aligned with the essential requirements of the job”. The challenge for disabled people here is that there are degrees of disability, as some countries say 20% of their population is considered disabled but others say they have only 2% to 3% so it is very difficult to draw the line.
Broad minds are vital
Currently, the ILO team encounters systems that don’t make things easier for disabled people. For this reason, Mr. Menzel suggests that bringing together the shipping industry and disability organisations would be a positive step. As he says:
Discussions could take place on the basis that one side doesn’t know much about shipping and the other doesn’t know much about disability
A dialog between these side could reveal what is possible and what is not, and confront stereotypes.
However, without a doubt the physical elements can’t be ignored. Seafarers need to move around on a vessel, including in rough weather, go up and down stairs, and enter narrow spaces. Nevertheless, Simon Frank, chief human resources officer at ship manager Thome, believes that even these issues should be a part of the dialog.
My view is that we should have no limit in exploring the opportunities and not deny any discussion that might improve our seafarer resource globally
In the same wavelength, Henrik Jensen, managing director of Danica Crewing Services notes that it is very important every seafarer to contribute to the mitigation of accidents, both physically and mentally.
So, if a person has a disability and can still fulfil the above, he sees no reason why she or he should not be employed
Making adjustments
In order to give a solution to these issues, Michael Paul, head of advice and information at Disability Rights UK, says the important phrase is ‘reasonable adjustment’. This means that the industry should consider what elements make an environment, and the roles within it, ‘dangerous’.
It’s then applicable to look at adjustments that could be made to a role that are ‘reasonable’ to both employee and employer. Or, in fact, there may be no adjustment required, other than attention to the true requirements of a role
