The Ultimate Guide to Personal Safety on Ships - Marine Insight

91 Pages·2012·9.11 MB·English

www.marineinsight.com

The Ultimate Guide to

Personal Safety

on Ships

www.marineinsight.com
Marine Insight©

The Ultimate Guide to Personal Safety On board Ships
First Edition
Publication date February 2012
Authors: Anish Wankhede and Raunek Kantharia
Published by: Marine Insight
www.marineinsight.com
Graphic Design: Anish Wankhede
(copyright symbol) Copyright 2012 Marine Insight
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be rewritten, reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or
means, without prior written permission of the publisher.
NOTICE OF LIABIITY

The authors and editors have made every effort possible to ensure the
accuracy of the information provided in the book. Neither the authors
and Marine Insight, nor editors or distributors, will be held liable for any

damages caused either directly or indirectly by the instructions contained
in this book, or the equipment, tools, or methods described herein.
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About this eBook Authors’ Acknowledgement

While writing this e-book, we have considered that safe practices Marine Insight is extremely thankful to all the maritime
are not only for engine or deck crew but also for each and every professionals who have provided their insights for making
person who boards the ship or sails with the same. this book.
It doesn’t matter if you belong to deck, engine, or galley We are also grateful to all the chief engineers and captains for
department, when safety of the crew and the ship is at stake, a the constant support and encouragement they have provided

well planned team effort is what helps to overcome or fight an us to write this book.

emergency situation.
We would also like to thank all our team members at Marine
For a ship to operate safely at the sea, team effort is of utmost Insight for working with immense patience and showing great
importance. However, the first step towards safety starts with the enthusiasm.
individual and therefore personal safety is imperative.
Last but not the least; we thank all Marine Insight readers for
In this e-book, you will understand the basics and importance of showing their love and interest, which inspire us each day to
personal safety along with the right methodology to approach deliver our best!

and implement safety in your work on ships. Also find out how

as an individual you can stay away from trouble on ship,
ensuring not only your own safety but also of the whole ship. Dedicated
This e-book has been divided into 6 chapters, which cover each To
and every aspect of personal safety with extensive details.
Seafarers at the Sea
If you like this eBook, please feel free to share it with your

friends.

Salute to all!
- Anish Wankhede & Raunek Kantharia
Content

1. Why personal safety should be the first priority on

ships?
(Page no.: 1 – 24) 2

2. Personal safety- Your first step on ship
(Page no.: 25 – 50)

3. Personal safety in every part of the ship
(Page no.: 51 – 80)

4. Personal safety in ship’s operations
(Page no.: 81 – 126)

5. How to use special personal protective equipment
on ships?
(Page no.: 127 – 142)

6. Miscellaneous safety tips & resources
(Page no.: 143 – 156)
Chapter 1

Why personal safety should be the

first priority?

 Why safety is so important?

 How to develop the right attitude towards personal
safety?

 What all things are included in personal safety?

 What all things you should know before boarding the
ship? Share This E-book
Why Safety at Sea is a Matter of Utmost Importance?

To understand the role and importance of safety in a shipping
According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO),
organization or process, we will take help of the “Safety
“Shipping is perhaps the most international of all the world’s
Triangle.”
greatest industries and one of the most dangerous.”

This means that in shipping industry even the most basic job of
transporting cargo across oceans involves great amount of risk,
involving both physical and financial aspects.
Human well being
Every part of the shipping business is bounded by stringent
regulations, which prompts companies to act in disciplined and
organized manner.
Clean Sea
To ensure that all operations are carried out in an efficient and
SAFETY
smooth manner at the sea, the shipping companies resort to
TRIANGLE
“safety” as their first tool for streamlining processes.
Commercial Success
Safety in all types of operations is the key factor in ensuring that

the company always maintains its position about the profit line,

both efficiently and ethically.

Costa Concordia figure

“Carnival Corp., parent company of Costa Cruises, said that the partial

sinking of Costa C oncordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy could cost
it nearly $100 mill ion in lost earnings”.
When the “Safety Triangle” was compromised in the operation of the Costa

Concordia cruise ship, it led to the loss of life, property, and environment.
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When a shipping company operates under safety norms, three things (mentioned in the safety triangle) rank at the top of their priority lists:

Personal Safety
Personal safety or safety of life at sea comes at the top of priority
list as there is no loss which is considered greater than the loss of

human life. Shipping companies understand the importance of

the safety of human life at the sea and thus rank it at the very top.
It’s a known fact that without an efficient crew no shipping
company can survive.

Marine Environment Protection

While operating in both domestic and international waters, no
shipping company can exclude marine environment protection
from its business plan. Safety of marine ecosystem can be
ensured by efficient operating conditions on ships to
avoid pollution by oil spills, garbage dumping etc.

Commercial Success

Technically, a shipping company can achieve commercial
success when the first two aspects of the “safety triangle” are
taken care of. An efficient operation of the ship, without any
kind of harm to human life or environment saves shipping
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companies a lot of time, money, and labour, which ensures
growth and profitability in return.
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How to Develop the Right Attitude to Attain

The Ultimate Personal Safety on Ships?

When we talk about personal safety, it is important to understand It is only through persistent self motivation and training can a
that just by providing the right safety equipment to seafarers a seafarer develop the right attitude towards on board safety.
safe working environment cannot be created.
You can provide long hours of training and seminars to ensure
that the crew knows and understands all the safety features of
your ship. However, do note that this would not guarantee a
secure working environment.
Unless seafarers realize the importance of safety, hours and
hours of training imparted on safe working practices wouldn’t
bring any results.

Every person has a safety conscious mind; however, many a
So how does one develop the right attitude to attain the ultimate
times we avoid safe practices just to get over with the job quickly
personal safety on ships?
or are too lazy to follow additional safety procedures. Such

attitude needs to be shunned!
As a seafarer, it is extremely important that the duties onboard

ships are performed with an utmost conscious mind in order to “SAFETY IS A STATE OF MIND — ACCIDENTS ARE
AN ABSENCE OF MIND”
avoid any kind of harm to the crew or the ship.
But the attitude to keep an agile mind doesn’t come on its own. There is a need to develop safer habits to overcome our “slack
attitude” towards safety and to make our working environment
Moreover, no one is going to stand by you forever to make sure
safer and secure. Only through consistent practice can one form
that all duties are performed articulately along with the right
the right mind set to inculcate safe working procedures.
safety measures.
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Ultimate personal safety can be said to have achieved when safe You might have undergone rigorous safety trainings and
working habits become an integral part of one’s reflexes rather seminars on land; but do note that practicing on shore is one
than self-initiated actions. thing and putting what you have learnt in real life scenario on
ships is a totally different ball game.
For example, if a ball is thrown at your face, your hands will
automatically move to stop the ball. This is known as a reflex To make sure that you maintain a certain level of safety while
action. When such reflexes take form of safe practices and working on ship, there is a universal checklist which you need to
become an inherent part of a seafarer’s working behaviour, the follow. It is called “The 5 Point Personal Safety Checklist”
ultimate personal safety attitude is said to have achieved.
To ensure that you take the right course towards personal safety,
This natural instinct of a safety conscious mind is the key factor follow these 5 important checks before carrying out any
for developing the right attitude in seafarers. Disciplined operation or work on ships:
working procedures and consistent practice are the two aspects

which play a major role in achieving the right mind set.
Awarerness of Your Surroundings

In Box – The 5 Point Personal Safety Checklist

Calculation of Risk- Includes surety and suspicion
Now we know that a trained mind is the key to achieve an
ultimate personal safety environment. Having said that, how do
Work on Risks before Working on the Job
we know our working practices are absolutely safe or not?
? Checking Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Escape Route

7 8
Awareness of Surrounding

The first and most important step towards personal safety on

ships is to be aware of your surroundings. Awareness of

surroundings includes knowing your working space, risks and

hazards present around you, and assessing the amount of efforts

the job would require. This would allow you to plan your job

safety and efficiently.

Calculation of Risk - Surety Vs Suspicion

After having a complete look of your surroundings, including
risks/hazards, check the extent of harm any kind of accident
in that particular area can cause you. This is to calculate the
amount of risk involved with the work. Always note that the
amount of risk involved with any job on ship is always
greater than what you would have calculated. Also, if you are
suspicious that a particular procedure involved in the job
might lead to an unfavourable outcome, stop right there.
Make sure you weigh your doubts properly before
commencing the job.

Work on Risks before Working on the Job

It is always better to find out the amount of risk involved with
the job before getting into it. Eliminate or minimise as many
hazards as possible from your working place before carrying out
your assigned job. Note that it is not possible to make any job
cent percent risk free; however, minimizing the number of risks
involved would drastically increase your level of personal safety.
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