Tag: safe working practices

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever maintaining a good housekeeping onboard can help prevent the virus spread. In view of this, the American P&I Club reminds key tips which are important to follow in general for a safe workplace onboard a vessel.

South Korean shipping company HMM revealed plans to start deploying underwater robots for hull cleaning on its vessels. This is expected to reduce risks associated with human work underwater, reduce costs, as well as risks linked to hull fouling for the marine ecosystems.

Working aloft is risky and a supervisor should be appointed to act as a lookout for the crew member who perform such tasks, the Gard P&I Club warned. The Club's claims database for the last 10 years shows that 5% of all falls from heights have resulted in fatalities and is one of the top 5 leading causes for fatalities onboard. 

ITF and ETF called upon ship operators to return lashing to shore based dock workers. The demands placed on seafarers by ship operators does not take into account the requirements for hours of rest, the unions argue. The renewed call came after a recent incident involving the container vessel OOCL Rauma.

The Gard P&I Club reported that over a ten year period between 2009-2018, a 25%of all the crew accidents were finger and hand injuries related. Based on the Club's portofolio, the data presented that ratings are nearly twice as likely to suffer from such injuries in comparison to the officers.

According to the French Misnistry of Armed Forces, the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) is from now on operational in the Strait of Hormuz. The mission aims to boost and ensure the freedom of navigation in the Arabian-Persian Gulf area.

The US Coast Guard has recently received several inquiries about the use of safety management systems onboard passenger vessels, so it issued a bulletin to inform the maritime community of helpful resources for those vessels choosing to voluntarily establish a safety management system (SMS).

During 2018 and 2019, AMSA received notification of two separate accidents that involved crew members being trapped and crushed by a moving elevator. In both instances, the elevator moved while the crew members were working between the elevator casing and the cage, resulting in fatal crush injuries.

The Gard recently informed that even if it may be impossible for crew to estimate the particle size of the cargo carried, the crew can watch out for signs of high moisture content with the aim to ensure safety.

ITF Seafarers’ Trust launched a new three stage occupational safety and health education program for port workers in Aqaba, Jordan. Specifically, this program features an app based awareness raising component followed by face-to-face training and work place assignments- and is designed to increase worker participation in the OSH agenda, complementing company initiatives where they exist creating a safer environment for both dockers and seafarers visiting the ports.