'Ships are inherently dangerous places'
Crews who are familiar with their surroundings throughout the ship continue to suffer injuries from slips, trips and falls. Perhaps this is an extension of the problem regularly highlighted in accident investigation reports - complacency not just in watch keeping terms but in general behaviour around the ship.
There is a plethora of advice and guidance from various sources, yet slips, trips and falls still occur. In the majority of instances the literature details how to assess and mitigate the risks, create safe systems of work, monitor and review performance and complete the loop. All good HSEQ stuff - but is this really effective or good enough, such that the number of slips, trips and falls will decrease?
New builds can inherit existing ergonomic issues. A series of sister ships may have few changes approved as the costs may be deemed prohibitive, but at what personal cost to the crew and to the company? From the outset of design and construction, consideration should be given to past events and occurrences. Input from shore managers can provide statistical data, and practical experiences from the end user can be recorded and considered. But, does it really happen and why do we seem to re-invent the wheel every time?
Human behaviour is by far the most important factor and the most challenging to get right. We can have the highest quality procedures and risk assessments known to man but if they are gathering dust on a shelf in the ship's office, and without a positive and inclusive attitude across the whole company, a reduction in the number of slips, trips and falls will never be achieved.
The belief in any Safety Management System (SMS) must come from the highest positions in the company and crews must be able to experience that for themselves, by personal interaction, not just from email addresses issuing instructions. A better understanding must be imparted through quality training and regular refreshment of that training in a varied and non monotonous way.
Shore managers need to spend time with crews, forming professional relationships and empowering them to have a belief and a definite contribution to the safety aspects that they are affected by every day. Explanation and education of the reasons for checking and auditing is a part of the improvement process from which they will benefit. Without this personal, face to face relationship there can be little chance of any SMS being fully understood or complied with.
It's all about getting out and about with crews, leading by example and instilling belief and inclusion instead of letting apathy and complacency prevail.