Tag: safe working practices

Maritime Union of Australia Deputy National Secretary Will Tracey warned that an escalation in hours of work at the site and inadequate manning has led to an unsafe workplace and is calling on Worksafe Victoria to intervene immediately before a worker is killed or seriously injured.

A young New Zealand docker died on duty, after his straddle crane overturned at Ports of Auckland in the early morning hours of 27 August. With respect to the tragedy, the International Transport Worker's Federation reiterated that ports are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world.

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the US-based shipbuilding company Vigor Marine Inc. over 16 'willful and serious violations' following an inspection at its facility in Portland, Oregon. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $370,358.

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited five contractors for safety and health violations, after three employees were fatally injured and two others critically injured on an explosion onboard a towboat in Calvert City, Kentucky.

With a fatal injury rate of 86%, fishers have been identified as the second most dangerous job in US, according to figures by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Studies by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed the greatest dangers to fishermen are vessel disasters, falls overboard, and machinery on deck.

The issue of unsustainable ship recycling, with hazardous working practices and environmental pollution, mostly in Southeast Asian yards, has been for several years a key area of concern for global NGOs and the international shipping industry. The problem in Alang was first documented by Greenpeace in 1998.

As it considers proper boarding facilities an absolute necessity to ensure safety of personnel, the Panama Canal Authority announced it will hold its annual “Safe Boarding Week” from on 2-6 July 2018, in order to promote awareness and compliance with boarding requirements by vessels in Panama Canal waters.

The Taiwanese government fails to protect migrant fishers – coming mainly from Southeast Asian countries – against human rights abuses, because of the lack of appropriate laws, transparency and labour inspection measures, the NGO coalition ‘Human Rights for Migrant Fishers’ has noted. 

Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is the medical term for symptoms caused by vibration damages that may occur in the fingers, hands and arms due to the use of vibrating tools or machinery. Previously, it was known as ‘vibration white finger’, however the name is changed to HAVS to reflect additional symptoms.

Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority has completed its investigation of the fatal accident onboard the drilling rig 'Maersk Interceptor', on 7 December 2017, where one person was killed and another seriously injured. The investigation revealed several breaches of safety regulations.