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8 Overall preventative measures

8.2 Implementing a safety culture

There are many reasons why accidents happen, and the just ill out the associated paperwork.

immediate causes are often clear. However to prevent • Ignorance is not acceptable, but a lack of knowledge

accidents from happening again the root causes need to be should be corrected by further training.
identiied and rectiied.• The manager should ensure that the procedures are

Most people can identify a dangerous situation, but speciic when a detailed risk assessment is completed.

some make the judgement that arisk is acceptable to take. • The manager should implement speciic training for senior
We hear about these miscalculations every day in the news. oficers about the importance of following the company’s

The problem with a high risk appetite on a vessel is that the SMS and the consequences of disregarding procedures.

consequences can be serious and even fatal. Those at sea • The Master of any vessel has a huge responsibility, which
must know the risks and avoid them.includes:

The procedures that suit your organisation or vessel will • Ensuring that crews both follow and understand the SMS

of course be individual, but it seems that companies that • Encouraging the crew to inform the ofice about
have implemented the following are better prepared and procedures that can be improved and concerns about

have reduced the risk of accidents happening:working practices.
• Senior management should ensure there are adequate• Fostering a climate on board the vessel where any crew

assessments of operational readiness, suitable monitoring, member can raise a concern.

supervisory/management job knowledge and adequate • Encouraging crew members to challenge a senior
enforcement of work standards. This can be done through oficer when a mistake is made.

a good audit structure, both on board and ashore.• Focusing on implementing a culture of fairness.

• The auditor should, during internal audits, verify the
crew’s knowledge of work permits and risk assessment.

• It is essential to physically carry out inspections and not

8.3 Safety culture

One of the dificulties encountered when implementing a good All employees need to have proper training demonstrating
safety culture is that the concept of ‘safety’ will be deined in what is required of them, as new SMS procedures will

as many different ways as the number of different people you most likely not be enough. The company should provide

ask. To establish a proper safety culture is a dificult and time- the Master with suficient tools to ensure that the crew on
consuming task, but the reward of preventing a serious accident board has easy access to the SMS and that they understand

will be worth the time and effort.the importance of the procedures. It is at this point that a

To establish a proper safety culture it is essential that there comprehensive and detailed SMS will be most beneicial.
is commitment from senior management. If top management This kind of attitude training is at the heart of the Maritime

requires that all employees follow the company’s safety Resource Management (MRM) process and knowledge can be

culture, it is likely that it will be implemented correctly. Infurther enforced via company seminars, newsletters, Masters’
a well-functioning safety culture, most people realise the reviews, and through the monthly safety meetings on board

importance of procedures and are aware of the consequences the vessel. These procedures need to be veriied during

of not following them. The procedures should be seen as internal audits and superintendent’s visits.
something positive that will beneit working conditions and In a positive safety culture, mistakes are allowed, but

make them safer. This should inform the attitude of the negligence and ignoring procedures are not.

individual so that he knows the importance of donning a It is dificult, and time consuming, to establish a positive
safety harness, illing out a work permit correctly or following safety culture – the payback, however, is substantial.

the detailed requirements of the risk assessment.

To change negative attitudes, it is imperative that
all crew on board know what is expected of them. The

management needs to be clear about its policies and have a

deined company culture.

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