Businesses all over the world have incorporated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in their activities making it more widely recognized and practiced. OHS is a broad field of safety, health, and welfare aimed at providing a safe, secure, and inspiring workplace. To safeguard employees, boost recruitment and retention, and promote job efficiency while fostering excellent OHS policy and practice, all businesses are expected to establish and adhere with OHS rules and practices. The Maritime Industry has recognized OHS, which has established required criteria to protect the safety of personnel on board vessels.
Maritime practically refers to activities on sea or rivers across the world, including shipping, navigation, and engineering activities done offshore. The industry has a significant impact on our everyday life.
On rivers, seas, canals and lakes, maritime transport can be conducted over any distance by ship, barge, sailboat, or boat. Ships are employed for a number of purposes, including commercial, leisure, and military missions. The world's major waterways, including several canals, continue to play an important role in global economy. By allowing crucial everyday goods and services to be transferred, the maritime sector keeps other businesses and industries afloat.
OHS Acts and Policies in Nigeria
Nigeria's National Shipping Policy was co-ordinated and implemented by the Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA). NMA's successor, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), was tasked with promoting and developing indigenous commercial shipping in international and coastal shipping trade, as well as regulating and promoting maritime safety, security, marine pollution, and maritime labor when it was established in 2007. To control commercial shipping and related operations, the Merchant Shipping Act of 2007 was passed. This Act, which was meant to be implemented by NIMASA, establishes a set of standards for ships operating in Nigeria, including licensing, registration, and certification, as well as penalties for non-compliance. These agencies lay ground rules for enforcing workers protection in the Maritime Industry in Nigeria.
OHS policies ensure the following:
Outline and eliminate hazards and situations that might result in human death.
Identify and avoid hazards and situations that might lead to personal harm.
Prevent work-related illnesses.
All employees' health should be improved.
Prevent situations that might endanger the environment.
Common Hazardous Scenarios
Over 80% of all marine disasters are regarded to be the consequence of human error, much of which is linked to organizational processes. Workplace injuries and illnesses are serious problems that cost employers and policymakers a lot of money.
Physical Hazards
Working on deck exposes employees to extreme climatic conditions such as very low and high temperatures, high humidity, squall winds, storms etc.
Whole-body vibrations are also produced by ship engines and are transmitted via deck surfaces and other ship structures.
Chemical Hazards
Fuel, Cleaning agents, detergents, welding fumes, coatings, pesticides, and other chemicals often used onboard ships for operation and maintenance can cause severe harm to workers.
Accidents
There are several hazards and opportunities for marine employees to experience painful falls on a daily basis. Wet flooring, unsecured equipment, insufficient lighting, and a lack of safety equipment are just a few instances of these issues.
Ergonomic Hazards
Workers onboard frequently suffer from cumulative trauma disorders, particularly in the upper limbs and back, as a result of carrying high weights and performing repetitive motions during routine deck maintenance, cargo loading and unloading.
Biological Hazards
Contaminated food and drinking water are biological hazards that cause chronic poisoning and sickness. Exposure to biologically active substances transported as cargo aboard a ship. These substances can be raw wood products, raw meat products, bulk fruits, grain, dust, raw meat products etc.
Psychosocial Hazards
Specific aspects of seamanship employment, such as constant exposure to maritime risks; sleep and rest irregularities due to standing watches; extended separation from family and a stable social and cultural context; etc. all contribute to psychological stress and personal issues.
OHS Safety Precautions in the Maritime Industry
Precautions for Organizations and workers in the Maritime Industry include but are not limited to the following;
Wear goggles, safety helmets, safety shoes or boots with metal tops and non-slip bottoms, and other suitable personal protection equipment.
Instead of going into dark or dimly lit areas, use portable light sources.
Wear gloves to protect skin from sharp edges, lubricants, and cleaning formulations.
Inspect ladder before climbing.
Before utilizing electrical equipment, be sure it's safe.
If required, ventilate the workstation and use gas masks.
Learn and use safe lifting and moving practices for big or bulky loads, such as using mechanical devices to help in lifting.
Resources
https://commons.wmu.se/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2421&context=all_dissertations
https://www.osha.gov/maritime
https://www.attorneystevelee.com/maritime-slip-and-fall-accidents-causes-and-prevention/
https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/DWP/article/view/126/285
Comments