By: Chief Engr. Jose Nobelo
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CREWCARE, ALLSEAS MARINE S.A. SINCE 2003, AND STILL ENJOY WORKING WITH THE COMPANY. I AM HAPPY AND CONTENT WITH THE PRIVILEGES GIVEN TO SEAFARERS, AND THE CARE, HARMONY AND ASSISTANCE EVEN WHEN NOT ON BOARD. IT IS A TOKEN TO REMEMBER. WE WERE LUCKY IN CHOOSING THE COMPANY, AND BEING CHOSEN TO STAY WITH ALL SEAS MARINES S.A.
I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING ON BOARD WITH A ZERO ACCIDENT TOLL. THE COMPANY, WITH UNDYING EFFORTS, HAS TRIED VERY HARD TO HAVE ALL ITS SEAFARERS GRASP THE CONCEPT OF REAL SAFETY ON BOARD. IT IS NOT THE COMPANY WHICH BENEFITS FROM HAVING ZERO ACCIDENT ON BOARD, IT IS US AND OUR FAMILIES, THE BENEFACTORS OF SUCH AN AIM.
2010.
(I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS ANYBODY WHO WOULD LOVE TO LOSE A HEALHTY HUSBAND? ARE THERE ANY? JOKE LANG PO.)
I CANNOT AGREE WITH ANYONE WHO SAYS THAT A ZERO ACCIDENT LEVEL IS VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE. INDEED, THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED WITH HOW WE COULD EVADE SUCH CATASTROPHIC INCIDENTS, BUT IF WE ARE DETERMINED, WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
I FREQUENTLY HEAR FROM SEAFARERS THAT THE COMPANY’S SHIPBOARD OPERTION MANUAL IS JUST ANOTHER ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION TASK. IT WAS NOT WRITTEN WITH PREJUDICE. IF WE READ THE MANUAL CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF IT, THEN WE REALIZE THAT THE COMPANY CARES ABOUT ITS SEAFARERS. IT IS RECIPROCAL; THE COMPANY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT THE SEAFARERS, AND SEAFARERS, AS WELL, CANNOT EXIST WHEN THERE IS NO COMPANY.
SO, LET US WORK AS A TEAM.
HAND IN HAND, WE WILL PURSUE TO ATTAIN ZERO ACCIDENT GOALS IN THE FLEET.
ON BOARD MANAGEMENT HAS A VERY SPECIAL ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY PRACTICES, WHICH, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THE COMPANY’S QSV, ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS, READY FORMS AND CHECKLIST HAVE BEEN PROVIDED IN THE SHIPBOARD MANUAL.
IF WE REVIEW ALL THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON BOARD, THEN WE KNOW THAT THE ROOT CAUSE IS 90 PERCNT HUMAN ERROR. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS GROSS NEILIGENCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKING PROCEDURAL SAFETY. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, BUT THEY CAN BE AVOIDED. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE ISM CODE: PLAN WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU PLAN. TO EXPLAIN FURTHER; IF WE DO A PARTICULAR JOB, PLANNING IS THE FIRST STAGE, WITH SAFETY BEING ONE OF THE CONCERNS. THE PLAN WAS DONE, SO DO WHAT YOU PLAN. IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE AND WITH THE AID OF THE COMPANY MANUALS, WHICH ARE PROVIDED ON ALL VESEELS, FOLLOWING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE VERY ACCESSIBLE. FURTHERMORE, IF WE FOCUS, THEN ALL THE TASKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT SMOOTHLY AND ACCIDENT-FREE.
I WILL CITE AN EXAMPLE WHICH ALL OF YOU CAN ANALYZE.
A BOSUN WAS IN A HURRY TO HAVE A HAND HELP HIM TIGHTEN THE SLACKED MOORING ROPE FORWARD WHILE LOADING WAS IN PROGRESS. 3/O & AB WERE TENDERING THE ROPES AFT, THE O.S. WAS IN THE GANGWAY ATTENDING THE WATCH AS PER ISPS CODE. SHORT BY A HAND, BOSUN CALLED UP ONE OF THE OFF DUTY DECKHANDS TO HELP HIM FORWARD. SINCE TIGHTENING OF THE MOORING CAN BE DONE IN A SHORT WHILE, THE AB WHO WAS SUMMONED WENT WITH THE BOSUN FORWARD IN PLAIN CLOTHES; WITHOUT A HELMET AND ONLY IN SLIPPERS THINKING THAT IT WAS JUST A SMALL TASK. THE VESSEL WAS LOADING GRAINS, AND ON THE WAY FORWARD HE SLIPPED ON DECK, FELL AND SUSTAINED A CUT ON THE HEAD AND BRUISES ON THE ARMS. THE VESSEL WAS SCHEDULED TO SAIL, AND DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINS, COULD NOT WAIT FOR HIM TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. A FINAL ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE, SINCE THE VESSEL HAD SAILED, THAT HE WOULD BE REPATRIATED AFTER MEDICATION. HE WAS AN AB AND HAD TO WAIT JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO DISEMBARK AND SIT FOR HIS LICENSURE EXAM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE LICENSURE EXAM AND THEREFORE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AGAIN. HE LOST HIS OPPORTUNITY. IF HE WAS SAFETY CONSCIOUS, DRESSED IN THE PROPER CODE; WEARING SAFETY SHOES AND HELMET, HE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT ACCIDENT THAT PREVENTED HIM FROM FULFILLING HIS PLANNED LICENSURE EXAM.
NOW IN YOUR ANALYSIS, WHO LOST BECAUSE OF IGNORING SAFETY PRACTICES? HE WAS VERY LUCKY THAT IT WAS JUST MINOR CUTS & BRUISES. WHAT IF IT WAS BEYOND THE UNEXPECTED? HOW MUCH TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST PUTTING ON THE OVERALLS, SAFETY SHOES & HELMET? THINK OF THAT. THE ACCIDENT CLEARLY SHOWS GROSS HUMAN ERROR.
WEEKLY TRAININGS AND VIDEOS OF DIFFERENT SAFETY PRACTICES ON BOARD ARE CARRIED OUT REGULARLY, AND ARE CLOSELY MONITORED BY OUR QSV. BUT IF WE DO NOT COOPERATE, THEN ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS ARE USELESS.
FOR A SAFE AND BETTER ENVIRONMENT, RELIGIOUSLY PRACTICE THEM ON BOARD. WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES AND WE ARE WORKING FOR THEM, AND IN RETURN, OUR FAMILIES WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY IF WE RETURNED FROM THE VESSEL SAFE, SOUND AND STRONG. WIVES, DO YOU AGREE WITH ME?