Unit 6: The Human Element: Cultivating a Culture of Safety
If seafarers are fully informed and aware of the risks to their health, safety and welfare, they are much more likely to ensure they avoid the risks and remain safe. This knowledge is attained through risk assessment and in other ways throughout our lives including training in theory and practical application, information, observation, instructions, supervision and personal experience. We can improve the quality and usefulness of the information available by effective knowledge management. Application of the knowledge in the workplace is influenced by our values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors and by the views of others. This is facilitated by ensuring a safe working culture.
Extensive research has identified certain elements that contribute greatly to maintaining a safe working culture. These can be described as:
clearly defined expectations;
good communications;
clear leadership;
good planning;
risk awareness;
accountability;
good safety culture; and
effective knowledge management.
These elements should be both put in place at a Company level within the safety management system and implemented on board the vessel by the master and crew. It is important that the entire workforce, from the most junior crew members through to the senior managers ashore, are involved in the development of these elements for them to be fully successful. Many of them are already present within management systems but often some are missing, which can create weaknesses in the management system.
A good approach is to conduct a gap analysis to identify those elements that are missing or weak, and amend the systems accordingly. The more developed and comprehensive the systems are, the more effective they can be.
4. Management of supervisory interventions
Management or supervisory interventions following breaches of procedures/codes of practice/standards or any formalized Company/vessel rules can be an effective and powerful way of modifying individual behavior.
However, it is essential that the type of management response is appropriate. The just culture provides a framework to guide management in identifying an appropriate and common response. The decision tree should be used as a guide to ensure consistent handling of deviations from acceptable standards of behavior.
The National Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Committee has published guidance in Guidelines to Shipping Companies on Behavioral Safety Systems.