New personal injury video produced for Members
The full range of accident prevention posters (SWAPP)
Personal protective equipment - the six essentials
Increasing safety knowledge
Slide guide launched
Cost of personal injury claims continue to rise
Obtaining injury prevention material
New personal injury video produced for Members
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All shipowner Members of North of England P & I Association and all ships entered with the Association will receive with this special edition of Signals the third video in North of England loss prevention safety series. Entitled “Personal Injury Prevention – Safety Needs You” this 29 minute video conveys the important message that effective shipboard safety systems and the development of a safety culture need the support and commitment of all seafarers.
The video opens by reminding all viewers that if ships are to operate safely and effectively, the shipowners, ship managers and ships crews must embrace a safety culture and create an environment where safety is a primary concern.
The revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention (the International Safety Management (ISM) Code) require that all shipping companies develop a Safety Management System (SMS).
The video features real life shipboard crews, actors who play the parts of Mr Good and Mr Bad and Richard Bracken from the Association. By using appropriately auditioned actors, the cartoon-illustrated characters of the book are brought to life in a humourous and entertaining way.
The video focuses on the important aspects of work planning, which involves careful organisation, shipboard planning meetings and departmental discussion with safety firmly in mind.
The next section of the video focuses on the vital importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the use of safety equipment on board ship. It identifies a minimum standard of personal protective equipment and itemises the six basic items which should be considered by all seafarers as a minimum requirement.
The video is narrated by Hal Calbom, who also wrote and produced it. In a departure from more conventional safety training videos, the viewer is introduced to the mis-guided bosun and his shipboard colleague who are depicted in a humorous and entertaining manner engaged in wrong and unsafe shipboard practices.
Although it is a particularly serious topic, the video deliberately uses humour to convey these important messages. It is difficult to imagine any serving seafarer having such a disregard for safety as the two bad characters but most seafarers are likely to recognise personal traits in people they have encountered during their sea-going careers.
The video points out that a the safety culture is very important to all personnel on board and emphasises that it is not simply business as usual but depends on the individuals on board ship and their personal behaviour. The video also stresses that individuals must take responsibility for their own actions and should be held accountable for those actions. However, the development of a shipboard safety culture is a team effort and should be the desire of every person on board.
Having placed a great deal of importance on the development of a safety culture, the video goes on to identify a four stage process which must be adopted to develop such a culture. The four stages are
- identify the size of the problem
- provide all personnel with basic training and basic personal protective equipment
- develop a safety culture – where safety becomes a priority consideration
- develop accident, incident and near-miss reporting systems.
The second half of the video sees the bad characters involved in all types of shipboard activity including the use of shipboard tools and equipment, working on deck and staying safe at sea. It conveys the import messages of shipboard safety and personal injury prevention in an entertaining way and yet leaves the viewer with a clear insight into how safety may be improved on board ship.
The full range of accident prevention posters (SWAPP)
The rights and wrong of:
SWAPP 1 – Dress Safe Work Safe
This poster the first of the Safe Work Accident Prevention Poster (SWAPP) series introduces the cartoon illustrated characters of Mr Good and Mr Bad as crew from the deck, engine and catering departments on board ship. The poster emphasises the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and reminds everyone to Dress Safe, Work Safe.
SWAPP 2 – The Rights and Wrongs of Handling Chemicals at Sea.
This poster illustrates the importance of using specialist personal protective equipment, chemical handling techniques and the procedures to be adopted when using or handling shipboard chemicals. If seafarers do not use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) they will continue to be involved in accidents and they will suffer injuries.
SWAPP 3 – The Rights and Wrongs of Workshop Practice at Sea.
There is always a correct tool for the job and the right way of working. SWAPP 3 highlights workshop practices and focuses on the importance of the basic personal protective equipment, the use of machine guards, workshop cleanliness and tidiness. A large number of personal injuries occur in the workshop environment.
SWAPP 4 – The Rights and Wrongs of Lifting at Sea.
Every year many accidents and injuries occur in the ship related environment due to lifting incidents. SWAPP 4 focuses on the dangers of mechanical lifting operations and on lifting techniques. It also raises awareness of the dangers of falling objects which account for up to 20% of the injury claims handled by the Association.
SWAPP 5 – The Rights and Wrongs of Good Housekeeping at Sea.
This poster focuses on the importance of good housekeeping and cleanliness in galley spaces and catering areas. It also raises awareness and highlights the importance of garbage disposal and hygiene concerns. Another important message conveyed by the poster is that any washing down in the galley spaces should be done carefully so as to avoid electrical earth faults and flooding.
SWAPP 6 – The Rights and Wrongs of Work Planning at Sea.
SWAPP 6 relates to one of the most important aspects of shipboard safety, that of work planning. Many near misses, accidents and injuries occur on board ship because tasks are badly planned or poor procedures are adopted. All personnel attending work meetings should be conscientious and enthusiastic with shipboard safety and injury avoidance their primary concern.
SWAPP 7 – The Rights and Wrongs of Safe Access at Sea.
Every year many people are injured and some are even killed whilst accessing, transiting and disembarking ships. This poster highlights the importance of correctly rigged gangways, the use of gangway safety nets, the importance of clear and uncluttered access and particularly raises awareness of the importance of appropriate lighting for all shipboard access.
SWAPP 8 – The Rights and Wrongs Electrical Maintenance at Sea.
The potential risks associated with electrical maintenance are well known but still far too many electrical related accidents occur which lead to seafarers being injured. The poster message is that there are no second chances when working with electrical equipment. Personnel involved in electrical maintenance must ensure systems are isolated prior to commencing electrical work.
SWAPP 9 – The Rights and Wrongs of Entry into Enclosed Spaces.
Serious efforts have been made by many different sectors of the shipping industry to raise awareness of the dangers of entry into enclosed spaces. Despite these efforts many seafarers are killed every year. SWAPP 9 depicts the correct procedures to be adopted when entering an enclosed space particularly the use of a permit to work system.
SWAPP 10 – The Rights and Wrongs of Safety Management at Sea.
This poster highlights the importance of co-ordinated safety tours for all new joiners. Safety tours around the ship should identify the location of safety equipment and give advice on its use. At no time should newly joined personnel be required to immediately start work without vital safety considerations being highlighted. All personnel should be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment.
SWAPP 11 – The Rights and Wrong of Welding Practice at Sea.
Many shipboard fires result from ineffectual planning or inappropriate precautions during welding and hot work operations. SWAPP 11 highlights the associated concerns, namely; the effective use of personal protective equipment, workshop tidiness, the use of standby personnel and specialised equipment. It also shows stand by fire fighting equipment ready for use.
SWAPP 12 – The Rights and Wrongs of Working Aloft at Sea.
SWAPP 12 highlights concerns relating to personnel involved in work above 2 metres from the deck. Many accidents and injuries occur on board ship due to the inappropriate use of safety equipment, poor staging arrangements, unsecured ladders and the misuse or refusal by seafarers to wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
SWAPP 13 – The Rights and Wrongs of Mooring Operations at Sea.SWAPP 13 focuses on mooring and berthing operations and the handling of ropes and wires. Every year many seafarers are injured or maimed whilst involved in mooring operations. However by adopting good seamanship practices and by using the correct personal protective equipment the vast majority of mooring injuries can be prevented.
SWAPP 14 – The Rights and Wrongs of Good Housekeeping at Sea.
Good housekeeping is a vital part of shipboard safety management and is an area worthy of great attention. Personal injury statistics indicate that 45% of all injuries are as a result of slips and falls. Good housekeeping, cleanliness and effective safety management can avoid many of these incidents. The importance of preventing oil leaks and clearing up spillages as soon as possible is clearly conveyed by this poster.
SWAPP 15 – The Rights and Wrongs of Onboard Training at Sea.
The importance of effective onboard training and realistic emergency drills cannot be over emphasised. However, as depicted in this poster, training by ill informed, unprepared and unsafe personnel can often lead to accidents and injuries. All personnel should be familiar with the correct use of emergency personal protective equipment long before they are required to use it in a real situation.
SWAPP 16 – The Rights and Wrongs of Cargo Operations at Sea.
Cargo work and the time any ship spends alongside are often periods of extremely high workload. However, it is vital that correct safety practices are adopted and this poster focuses on the importance of restricted access, safe procedures, the use of personal protective equipment, the use of communications systems and the importance of stopping personnel walking beneath cargo operations or cargo lifts.
Also available
Additional personal injury prevention material available from the Association include the following:
- Signals Special Edition No. 1 – which focuses on the serious implications of entry into enclosed spaces.
- Marine Safety Card – Entry into Enclosed Spaces – which details precautions to be taken prior to entry into an enclosed space as well as offering advice and guidance.
- Signals Experiences – which focus on all claim types including personal injuries. These case studies consider the incident, what happened, what went wrong and what can be learned. Readers interested in obtaining this material should turn to page 6 of this Signals Special for further information.
Personal protective equipment - the six essentials
The provision and use of personal protective equipment on board ship is an essential part of accident and injury prevention. The following items of personal protective equipment should normally be provided to all personnel at the time of joining the ship and individual seafarers should take particular care of what can be best described as their minimum levels of personal protective equipment.
It is essential that all seafarers are fully trained and conversant with the proper use of their own personal protective equipment, they should know how to use it as well as when and where such equipment must be worn.
1. Boilersuits
Boilersuits which provide all-over body protection should be worn at all times when working outside the ship’s accommodation. Boilersuits made of high quality and durable materials should be worn fastened up at the neck and wrist and be kept in good condition.
2. Safety shoes
Safety shoes, including steel-toe-capped working boots and steel toe-capped rubber boots, should be worn whenever work is undertaken outside the accommodation and when there is any risk of a crush or impact injury to the foot. Safety shoes also provide protection from slips and falls, which account for some 45% of the personal injuries encountered on board ship.
Suitable footwear should be worn at all times, including off-duty periods. The use of backless footwear such as flip-flops should be avoided where ever possible.
3. Safety helmetsSafety helmets provide protection from impact, bumps and knocks as well as from falling objects, which account for some 25% of the personal injuries on board ship. Safety helmets should be worn at any time when work is undertaken outside of the accommodation and as a minimum whenever there is a risk to individuals.
Many seafarers consider safety helmets to be intrusive, particularly when working in the high temperatures often encountered on board ship. However helmets manufactured with these concerns in mind are available and the use of safety helmets is strongly encouraged. Safety helmets should not be modified or tampered with in any way as this will seriously jeopardise the user’s protection.
4. Ear protection
Ear defenders and preferably helmet-mounted integral ear defenders provide staff with the protection they need from loud and noisy environments on ships. Hearing loss, which is directly related to exposure to noise, can be permanent. It is difficult to identify which levels of noise cause which levels of hearing loss. However, as a rule of thumb, if conversation is difficult in an environment then it is likely to cause permanent damage to hearing. Ear defenders, which should be maintained in good order and replaced or reconditioned when needed, should be worn whenever there is a risk of hearing loss.
5. GlovesAppropriate gloves should be worn whenever their use will prevent injury. The type of glove required for any particular task will vary although leather palm, general- service gloves are recommended for most day-to-day duties. Other types of gloves -including chemical resistant gloves, heat resistant gloves, insulated rubber gloves and chain mail butchery gloves - should be worn where appropriate. As with all personal protective equipment, each situation must be considered fully before a final decision is made regarding the use of personal protective equipment.
6. Eye protection
Eye protection should be worn when or where ever there is a risk of eye injuries. Several types of eye protection are available, each having their own merits. Once again, these factors should be fully considered before the use of any particular eye protection is adopted. Only goggles approved for their intended use should be worn. Under no circumstances should non-classified or non-approved goggles be used and seafarers should familiarise themselves with the protection codes and approvals used in the industry.
Increasing safety knowledge
The effective dissemination and communication of the safety message and injury prevention information is vital if the shipping industry is to see a decline in the current high levels of accidents, injuries and claims.
Many ships officers and crews need more training if they are to fully embrace the safety culture which is so important. The loss prevention material currently available from the Association will help shipowners, safety managers and shipboard safety officers to convey that vital message.
Contained in the personal injury prevention material package available from the Association includes North of England loss prevention Guide to Good Practice, the full 16 Safe Work Accident Prevention Poster (SWAPP) series, the personal injury prevention slide guide and the safety training video “Personal Injury Prevention - Safety Needs You”.
Individuals responsible for shipboard safety and injury prevention will be able to use the video to introduce these important safety topics to ships crews. It is also hoped that the video, which uses internationally accepted slapstick style humour and a powerful video style to convey the message, will promote discussion and debate on board ship.
The SWAPP posters which convey the safety message in a colourful, interesting and effective way can also be displayed around the ship where they serve as a constant reminder to all. The principal message of “Dress Safe - Work Safe” reinforces the importance of the continuous use of correct and approved personal protective equipment (PPE).
The newly designed personal injury prevention slide guide serves as an aide memoir and reminds people of which personal protective equipment should be worn when undertaking defined shipboard tasks. This unique slide guide has been developed by Richard Bracken and it is hoped that it will be used by safety officers, at work planning meetings and by individuals on board ship. The slide guide not only identifies the correct PPE but also refers the user to the appropriate chapter in the loss prevention guide should they require additional information on the subject or work being planned or undertaken. The slide guide is described in more detail on page 6.
There can be little doubt that if the safety message is not conveyed to shipboard personnel in an interesting and informative way then it will be ineffectual. Everyone must be interested and stimulated by the material if it is to be effective. However when material is produced it is vital that safety managers, shipboard safety officers and everyone on board ship with specific safety responsibilities is enthusiastic and committed. If those particular people are, then the material available from the Association will certainly help convey the important safety message and assist those people in the development of a shipboard safety culture.
Slide guide launched
All shipowner Members and entered ships will receive, with this special edition of Signals, a copy of the latest addition to the wide range of loss prevention material available from the Association.
The personal injury prevention slide guide is an easy-to-use loss prevention tool which enables the user to identify the personal protective equipment required for specific shipboard duties.
It is hoped that the guide will be used by ships’ crews and safety officers and during work planning meetings. The slide guide considers some 19 shipboard working activities including
- anchoring
- bunkering
- cargo work
- catering department work
- cleaning
- electrical maintenance
- handling chemicals
- mooring operations
- operating hand tools
- operating machine tools
- painting/spraying
- storing
- using lifting equipment
- welding or burning
- work in machinery spaces
- working aloft (above 2 m)
- working in lifeboats
- working on deck
- working over side
The guide which identifies the essential personal protective equipment which must be used and additional equipment which may be required. It also identifies appropriate chapters in North of England loss prevention guide “Personal Injury Prevention – A Guide to Good Practice” for the user seeking further reading and information.
Cost of personal injury claims continue to rise
Despite all the warnings and injury prevention advice given to seafarers and the shipping industry, far too many preventable accidents, injuries and fatalities still occur every year.
The latest available figures reveal that there were 1279 personal injury, illness, shore worker and passenger claims handled by the Association in the 1997 policy year, representing 35% of the total. The total cost of both claims paid and claims outstanding rose to US$100 million in 1997 with the value of personal injury and illness claims accounting for approximately 14%.
This Signals Special focuses on the problems and concerns of personal injuries on board ship. It also highlights all the personal injury loss prevention material available from the Association, including the acclaimed loss prevention guide ‘Personal Injury Prevention – A Guide to Good Practice’, and offers suggestions as to how this material may be incorporated into your shipboard practices and on board training regimes.
Obtaining injury prevention material
Much of the personal injury prevention material detailed in this Signals special is readily available from the loss prevention department at the Association.
However, some items may be obtained from external organisations with whom the Association has collaborated to develop projects, literature and publications.
Please consult the table below for further information.
| Shipowner Members | Non Members | |
| Additional copies of this Signals Special | A | A |
| Copies of Signals Special No.1 | A | A |
| Video – “Personal Injury Prevention - Safety Needs You” | C | C |
| Book – “Personal Injury Prevention - A Guide to Good Practice” | A | B |
| Slide Guide | A | A |
| Marine Safety Card | A | A |
| Signals Experiences | A | A |
| SWAPP Posters | A | A |
| A. Loss Prevention Department | B. Anchorage Associates | C. Maritime Training Services Inc. |
| Any reader who is interested in obtaining further information relating to any other items of loss prevention material or publications should contact the loss prevention department at the Association. Readers should also contact the loss prevention department if they are unsure of their eligibility to receive copies from the Association. | ||