What is the “motivation” behind a business? To make as big a profit as can possibly be made? To encourage risk-taking in pursuit of this aim? Or is there a rather nobler ethos behind your business?

It is possible to identify a business “culture” that goes out of its way
to operate ethically and to always err on the side of safe practices.
It is a culture that always does what is right and permeates the whole
company from the top to the employee on the lowest rung. Indeed, just as
it is said that “the fish rots from the head”, it is the top management
and its attitudes which will dictate the culture of a company.

In the world of shipping, with its intrinsic hazards, a safety culture
will save lives and prevent injuries while doing its utmost to protect
the marine environment. Every decision that is taken afloat and ashore
will be driven by the need to operate safely. It is not possible to
eliminate all risks, as operating all ships will require some risks to
be taken, but a company operating a real safety culture will never
criticise a decision-maker for coming down on the side of safety. Short
cuts will not be taken if they reduce safety margins. Procedures which
have been developed to enhance safety will never be ignored, and there
will be no pressure on individuals to do the same.

A safety culture is as much an attitude as anything else, with
individuals able to be confident that prudence and caution are approved
of and that the written policies are there for guidance and not merely
to satisfy the safety auditor when he calls. “Our safety culture is the
way we do things around here when nobody else is looking”. Just think
about that statement and how it sums up this ethical attitude.

The development of safety from a practice of regulations to a positive
culture often requires a change in attitude. There may be an unwritten
law which decrees that ships really must arrive on time, unwritten
practices which tolerate risk taking, an implied “black mark” against
individuals who refuse to take short cuts, speed in poor visibility, or
insist on complying with procedures. These are signs that the safety
culture remains unimproved and that there is much work to do. There may
be obvious indicators in high accident rates, high insurance claims,
sometimes a high turnover of staff, while the presence of safety notices
and checklists are no guarantee that the attitude to safety is genuine.
“It won’t happen to me” is a sign of a risk-taking attitude that is far
from a desirable safety culture. A genuine desire to operate safely, to
analyse mistakes, to be transparent about findings and strive
constantly to improve are the marks of a safety culture.

Source: BIMCO Seascapes

Search to find what you want

• Security APM Terminals drive shows impressive results

    Today, on the occasion of APM Terminalsâ?? Third Annual Global Safety Day the company is reporting an impressive decline in Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) rate. The rate of 4.8 year-to-date reflects the continuous improvement since the introduction of the â??Safety Cultureâ? initiative in October of last year (compared to

• Essar Shipping is the first Indian Shipping Company will be awarded OHSAS 18001:2007 certificate

    Sea Transportation division of Essar Shipping Ports & Logistics Ltd (ESPLL), an integrated logistics solution provider, today became the first shipping company in India to be awarded the OHSAS 18001:2007 certification. ESPLL has set a benchmark with this prestigious certification, underscoring the company’s commitment towards international standards in occupational health

• Singapore: The control of the shipyard safety

    Putting aside rivalry, teams from 14 shipyards will be visiting and ‘checking’ on each other’s worksites for potential safety lapses and how these can be avoided. They will carry out these ‘audits’ under the Marine Industry Safety Engagement Team (Mindset) programme, developed by the Association of Singapore Marine Industries.Fourteen

• Thome to produce cartoon safety video

    Thome Ship Management has entered into an agreement with an Indian production company to make animated maritime safety videos for the shipping industry. It has linked with Karishma Consultancy Services (KARCO) of Mumbai, to jointly develop high-end 3D animated marine… Read at Thome to produce cartoon safety videos

• Feature: Just a response to the criminalization?

    In its campaign against the criminalisation of seafarers, shipping is again watching the aviation industry and how it is dealing with a similar problem. Just as Masters and other senior officers have been prosecuted over incidents, principally involving pollution, so pilots, air traffic controllers and maintenance staff have found themselves

• Can not posture for current ROV control system

    In recent years, manufacturers of sensors for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have developed increasingly sophisticated systems in ever smaller, lighter packages. This has allowed ROV manufacturers to offer evermore high-tech solutions for port security applications including structural and vessel hull inspection, diver support, surveillance operations, mine countermeasures, and intervention/recovery etc. Read

• See Marex Marine and Safety Services present IADC Drilling HSE Europe 2010 Conference Exhibition, September 29 to 30

     Safety Cases can be large complicated documents which have masses?of detail, some of which may be irrelevant.

• PD Logistics wins Safety Award for the second time

    The North Lincolnshire Health & Safety Group has presented PD Logistics with its annual Health & Safety award, recognising the Company’s commitment to the highest levels of health and safety for the second year running. The main award was presented to Jim French, director and general manager for PD Logistics

• Iron ore market in Hebei province, with increased stability

    Steel market fluctuated at the low level recently, but iron ore price in Hebei market did not be affected. In turn, some steel mills were enthusiasm in purchasing, which drove iron ore price to increase slightly with stabilization. Source from markets noted that many medium and small mines have stopped production

• National Safe Boating Week 2010 communications equipment can save your life

     (coastguardnews) In an effort to help educate boaters, the Coast Guard will be providing daily educational information throughout National Safe Boating Week on safety topics in communication devices, life jackets, emergency kits, float plans, and boating safety courses and vessel safety checks throughout the week.  Source