In SwedishSAN NEWS 4 2008
Colleagues in crisis – a safety risk
A person in the middle of a crisis may be able to ”turn on the autopilot” and appear to manage their job quite well. In reality though, he or she may be a time bomb that should be taken off the ship as quickly as possible.
Safety culture is about attitudes
The concept of safety culture was explained in detail at the autumn SAN conference. The audience also learned how we as people react when we are subjected to stress in connection with accidents.
Looking for scapegoats creates stress
Following rules and writing policy documents to comply with requirements from authorities or customers is part of what we call quality shipping. What is often forgotten, however, are people and the psychosocial work environment and prevailing conditions onboard. There are many good examples of shipping companies that pay a lot of attention to their personnel and that constructed ships in the 1970s which still feel modern today.
Risk assessment theme for work environment week
– It is not unreasonable to strive for a zero vision of injuries and accidents in working life. Nobody should need to risk life and health when they go to work.
Seaman’s church seeks contact with families
“Hardly any other choice of occupation affects close family members, families and friends as much as that of seamen. Going to sea always means that family, friends and relatives are left behind at home.”
Debriefing an important procedure after accidents
Don’t ask if any of the crew want to have debriefing – just make it part of the standard, routine procedures after a serious accident. That is the advice of the psychologist, Arto Nordlund.
Christer Lindvall: “I have never had any doubts”
The ISM code, STCW convention and now the problem with tiredness. The managing director of the Ship Officers’ Association has pushed work environment and safety issues in international shipping contexts like few other Swedes have done.
Grounding with pilots onboard
During the last section of the journey the ship was sailing slow ahead. She was guided along a transit line between an illuminated quay corner and a strong light on land behind the quay corner. The transit line was the pilot’s own construction and was not marked on the chart. When the ship was about 740 metres from the quay it stopped softly. On the bridge this was thought to be a result of the prevailing ice conditions, but soon it was realised that the ship had grounded.
Hand injured in work with angle grinder
A member of the crew was doing some hobby work in his spare time in the ship’s workshop, grinding a piece of steel. Since he did not view the work as particularly difficult, he just held the piece of steel with one hand and the angle grinder with the other hand.
Lack of attention caused grounding
After the ship had passed through a narrow sound, it was approaching its destination. The captain, who was alone on the bridge apart from a guide, set the ship on course at the same time as he spoke to the passengers via the PA system to inform them about their impending arrival. The investigation showed that the captain yawed a minute or two too early and the ship grounded.
From Insjö
There are eleven reports on FRBs (fast rescue-boats) at Insjö. Five of these are the result of engine problems. Several can be categorised under poor service and maintenance, such as one where the engine compartment was filled with water due to a defective seal, and several others that needed fuel filters changing, amongst other things. Two had manoeuvring problems (one had a broken control line to the scoop so the boat could not reverse, another was difficult to steer).
