Dangers at Sea and the Safety Precautions Taken for Seafarers
Without a doubt, the daily tasks done by seafarers out at sea can be some of the most demanding physically and mentally for an employee working in any industry. Many minute details must be carefully evaluated and monitored daily to ensure the health and safety of seafarers working their daily routines. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) developed regulations, global standards, international conventions and codes to ensure the safety of seafarers at sea. There are also companies and organizations whose sole purpose is to ensure that these safety standards are being met, such as the Together in Safety Coalition, which is a consortium of organizations and companies that have banded together to develop the Golden Safety Rules.
The Golden Safety Rules prepared by the Together in Safety Coalition are comprised of 10 measures:
1. Stop – When a condition or activity in the work environment is deemed “to be unsafe, then all seafarers are empowered to stop their work and intervene.
2. Enclosed Space Entry – Seafarers should enter an enclosed space in a work environment only when it is deemed safe to enter and is properly ventilated.
3. Fall Prevention – While working at high altitudes, the seafarers shall ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures to protect themselves and others.
4. Energy Isolation – while working with energy storage and other invisible hazards, seafarers should verify isolation and identify all energy sources in their surroundings while treating them as live hazards to ensure proper protection.
5. Working Over Water/Access to Vessels – For protection, seafarers shall use personal flotation devices while outside the ship’s rails.
6. Line of Fire - Seafarers shall make sure they and others are a safe distance from suspended loads, stored pressure, moving machinery and snap-back areas while working.
7. Navigation - Employees shall avoid fatigue, comply with collision regulations, supplement navigation aids with visual and manual checks, plan and execute the passage plan, and avoid any distractions.
8. Lifeboats – Seafarers shall ensure that lifeboats are fully maintained and secure during testing and maintenance, handled by fully trained employees.
9. Hotwork – Seafarers shall make sure that their work environment is free of any flammable gas or materials where sparks may occur, or while using equipment that produces flame.
10. Distractions – It is of high importance for seafarers to make sure there are no distractions in their work environment that may be a danger to themselves and others by taking the necessary safety measures and by following company policies.
These rules were made not to replace any existing management procedures or systems, but to compliment them. Dr. Grahaeme Henderson, the chair of the Together in Safety team, said while speaking about the measures, “working together we can make a real difference and ensure that every seafarer arrives home safely to their families and children. The impact will be positively felt across the entire shipping industry and will be a major contributor to its future success. This is a unique opportunity. Let’s make it happen!” (Safety4Sea Editorial Team, 2024)
Among other important safety measures, seafarers should follow the correct placement and use of tools in their work environment, be properly fit for duty for the protection of themselves and their co-workers, ensure the use of proper safety equipment as well as the use of personal protective equipment, and have familiarization of the safety procedures onboard as well as observe situational awareness in their working surroundings. Food safety onboard is also very important, implementing safe and proper food handling. (Primo Nautic, 2023)
Apart from the standard safety precautions taken by vessels to prevent onboard health risks, there are also occupational dangers that seafarers take safety measures to protect against. There are shipping routes that are very dangerous, such as the Red Sea. During the last few years especially, seafarers transporting global trade have seen an increase in dangerous situations and attacks from Houthi rebel attacks. Since 2023, there have been more 60 attacks by these rebels, sinking and seizing ships. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has called for urgent action to ensure seafarers are protected from these attacks. Organizations like the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) have also spoken up about the situation in the Red Sea as well and suggested steps businesses should implement to protect their seafarers. Steps such as businesses engaging more with the ETI and ITF to ensure the due diligence of basic human rights are being conducted correctly, that goods are being transported by ITF agreement-covered vessels, and also giving the suggestion to consider pausing or even rerouting shipments for the protection of seafarers from dangerous areas such as the Red Sea. (Casey-Boyce, 2024)
The Red Sea is just one of many dangerous areas seafarers face during their shipping routes. Other areas like Somalia and the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Aden near Yemen are considered hazardous waters for working seafarers. While cruise ships try to avoid danger areas, cargo ships unfortunately takes routes such as these, and as a consequence have implemented anti-piracy weapons such as Long Range Acoustic Devices, Nets, Water Cannons, and liquid deterrent systems, among other measures, to combat the dangers of piracy at sea. (Raunek, 2019)
Seafarers in the maritime industry perform duties that are essential to the Global Economy. Those that work in cruise ships do their duty to ensure the customers onboard enjoy their holidays. As they are the heart of the industry, it is of vital importance that everyday measures and policies are implemented to make sure they are always being protected from all types of dangers they may face out at sea. Organizations and Unions such as the ITF work hard to make sure seafarers are being protected, so that seafarers can do their duties with the assurance that they are being kept safe.
References
Casey-Boyce, C. (2024, January 11). What’s happening in the Red Sea, & how can companies protect seafarers transporting their goods? Retrieved from Ethical Trading Initiative: https://www.ethicaltrade.org/insights/blog/whats-happening-red-sea-how-can-companies-protect-seafarers-transporting-their-goods
Primo Nautic. (2023, October 5). Top 10 Maritime Safety Tips Every Seafarer Should Know. Retrieved from Primo Nautic: https://primonautic.com/blog/top-10-maritime-safety-tips/
Raunek. (2019, January 18). 18 Anti-Piracy Weapons for Ships to Fight Pirates. Retrieved from Marine Insight: https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-piracy-marine/18-anti-piracy-weapons-for-ships-to-fight-pirates/
Safety4Sea Editorial Team. (2024, March 4). 10 Golden Safety Rules for seafarers to live by. Retrieved from Safety4Sea: https://safety4sea.com/10-golden-safety-rules-for-seafarers-to-live-by/