USCG issued an alert reminding operators of all commercial vessels of the importance of developing and maintaining organizational-wide internal reporting systems. The purpose of such a reporting system is to allow vessel employees to anonymously report issues related to vessel material safety, operational safety and environmental compliance.
The reporting systems must operate with a non-retaliation policy, which explains that the organization will not retaliate against any employee who, in good faith, reports a potential violation. Reporting policy should make sure that all company officials know that any attempt at retaliation against an employee who uses the reporting system would cause immediate disciplinary action.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
Organizational reporting systems are managed internally or by a third party. They may use email, web based, telephone hotline and other reporting methods or combinations to facilitate submission of reports from a vessel or fleet. Important to the success of such systems is employee training on the hotline process.
However, sometimes such reporting systems fail. Reasons for why such system fail are associated with the following:
- Employee lack of awareness of the resource or how to contact it;
- Fear of reprisal if they use it;
- A lack of faith that something will be done with a report;
- Fear due to lack of understanding of the hotline process; and
- Preference to use management as the resource for raising issues and asking questions.
The US Coast Guard strongly recommends operators to consider how important reporting systems are, recognizing that such reporting can ensure compliance with various domestic and international requirements.
Reporting will allow the Owner and Operator to become knowledgeable of issues related vessel material safety, operational safety and environmental concerns. This additional awareness allows management control and may reduce the impact of costs associated with repairs, environmental penalties, injuries and other circumstances before they become problematic to the Owner and Operator.