In Swedish2008
A pleasant work environment boosts the whole company
Job satisfaction is important and surveys show that many people value it higher than their salaries. For seamen that both live and work onboard it is especially important to feel good in their work environment.
Danish project will give clear advice on well-being
The general level of well-being of Danish seamen will be raised with the help of a knowledge bank filled with useful experience and the support of a psychologist. The Danish Maritime Occupational Health Service (MOHS) is behind the project.
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”What makes you feel good onboard?”
Good colleagues. That was the most common answer when SAN News asked seamen at Wallenius Lines about what made them feel good onboard. But also wireless Internet, good training facilities, good ships and an open relationship with the management of the shipping company were seen as important factors.
The industry must address work environment issues
Sweden must participate actively in all issues concerning the work environment to stay in the forefront when it comes to rules and regulations, protective equipment and the lowest number of accidents.
Gender neutral titles in review of STCW code
The wide-ranging review of the STCW code is continuing and in STW 39 (Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping) in March a number of different questions were discussed.
Cecilia Österman: “Making investments in work environment pays off”
Are investments in work environment financially profitable? Cecilia Österman, a postgraduate student, will answer that question in a newly started research project.
Wood product cargoes more dangerous than realised
After as little as one or two days, the air around a cargo of wood products can be lethal to inhale. This is indicated by measurements made near wood product cargoes in 2007.
Grounding
The ship’s mate was working at the computer, but not with navigation, and forgot to look up and check the course. A few degrees of drift caused the grounding. The ship’s captain, who came to the bridge immediately before the grounding, had time to reduce the speed by a few knots but this was not sufficient to prevent the accident.
Fishing vessel in total shipwreck
The ship was travelling during the night towards the harbour after two day’s fishing. The crew member on watch fell asleep in the relatively comfortable chair on the bridge, even though he had not worked more than permitted. He did not wake up until the ship had actually grounded.
Deficiencies in reporting
When an accident or serious near accident occurs at sea there is an obligation to report this to the Maritime Safety Inspectorate investigating unit. This duty is also applicable to all personnel at the Swedish Maritime Administration.
From Insjö
At the time of writing there are 2,077 reports in the joint accident and near accident shipping database, Insjö. A striking number of these are of a technical nature and describe systems and equipment that suddenly cease to operate and thus give rise to high risk situations. Several events were described in which anchors had been lost or unintentionally dropped.
Inspections lead to better-secured loads
Too few lashing straps. Wrong lashing techniques. Too much free space between cargo and front wall. Hardly any of the trucks coming off the Polish ro-pax ferry pass the inspection without any criticism.
IMO says no to cargo-securing certificates
– We want to introduce a cargo-securing certificate but have not got any support for the idea from IMO, says Patrik Granstam from the Swedish Maritime Administration, who is currently working with a compendium of instructions for lashing cargo.
Swedish Accident Investigation Board: ”Shifting of cargo sank Finnbirch”
Poorly lashed cargo can expose crew and passengers to mortal danger. The Finnbirch disaster, which resulted in two deaths, was probably caused by unsecured goods.
New year, renewed efforts
You are holding the first issue of SAN News 2008 in your hand. You will recognise it from last year, but a new vignette – Profile – has been added. Under that heading you will meet professionals that spend a large amount of time and effort improving the environment for those at sea.
”Yes” to super-convention
Work with ratification of the ILO super-convention for seafarers continues. The time period for submitting proposals in Sweden ran out in January, and when the responses are compiled the case will be prepared by the Swedish Ministry for Industry, Employment and Communications before a bill can be put before the Riksdag.
New guidelines will produce shorter sickness times
In the spring the National Insurance Office will apply new recommendations for the length of time off for sickness. This will lead to a decrease in absence due to sickness and other similar assessments.
“Time off sick for seamen a special case”
Monica Widell, doctor at the company healthcare Feelgood in Göteborg, is uncertain what the new recommendations for sickness times will mean for seafaring personnel.
Anette Wugk: ”I want to raise the status of work environment activities”
Raising the status of work environment activities. That is what Anette Wugk, deputy personnel manager at TT-Line, sees as one of her most important duties.
– We must get personnel to understand how much they have to gain by getting involved in their work environment.
From Insjö
At the time of writing there are 1,983 reports in the joint database for shipping, Insjö. One of the latest reports describes an exercise using a stretcher.
