Summary of Personal Safety & Social Responsibility

Working onboard a vessel involves a lot of dangerous situations. Everyone needs to understand what equipment and conditions can be dangerous - and why/how - to avoid them. Some of the most common accidents onboard are slips, trips and falls, which are just as possible during working hours as they are during spare time.

Other injuries can come from falling from a height, such as a ladder and moving machinery that could catch fingers or clothing. You could get burns from welding sparks, steam pipes or hot machinery, there could be fires or explosions onboard. Extreme weather can make unsecured items shift, which could be a danger to both humans and the vessel’s construction.

The yacht could get flooded, run aground - or get highjacked by pirates. There is a wide range of dangerous situations that could arise onboard a vessel. You can protect yourself from a lot of them simply by using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Other hazardous working situations can be loading and unloading of stores, mooring/unmooring operations. Entering enclosed spaces where the ventilation isn’t kept running can be hazardous, as well as working at height. Falling from a ladder of about 2 meters can be fatal and it is crucial to follow the safety routines. Hot work includes several hazards, and maintenance of the engine room can also be dangerous. 

Teamwork

When you are working aboard a yacht, good interpersonal relationships are essential and everyone must take social responsibility to contribute to effective relationships. Introduce new coworkers and do your best to understand each other. Value individual differences – they can be a strength for the team. Help keep each outer safe and always use appropriate PPE. Senior officers need to be committed to the team and be fair when dealing with personnel. 

Communications

Part of functioning teamwork is communication. Communication can be verbal; which is any communication using words, non-verbal, ;which is body language or sounds, and also iconic, which is signs, diagrams, pictures, and more. 

The essential elements of communication are:

• Sender (the one who talks).
• Receiver (the one who listens).
• Modes of transmission (verbal, non-verbal).
• Methods of transmission (talking, writing).
• Barriers to communication (understanding the language, noise in the background, talking about something irrelevant during a stressful situation).
• Feedback (the listening person says something back, like “OK”).

Emergency

In case of an emergency, the crew onboard need to follow contingency plans. They don’t replace drills and training but assist the team in preparations and tasks during the crisis. 

Examples of contingency plans are Fire & Safety Plan, Man Overboard Instructions, and Oil Pollution Emergency Plan.

The alarm system onboard will signal in case of a fire or other emergency. The alarms sound in different ways depending on the nature of the crisis. Alarm signals typically give the first warning and also indicate the type of situation in question – both in an actual emergency and for drills. It is, therefore, vital to know the meaning of the various alarm signals. 

To keep calm and handle an emergency in the safest way possible, everybody onboard needs to understand what needs to be done in case of a crisis. Emergency instructions with information on where to go and what to bring are indicated on the vessel’s muster lists, which are placed in an open, easy-to-find space for everyone to read - usually the crew mess. 

Pollution

Another kind of emergency is marine pollution, which has a direct impact on marine life. Toxic waste will harm even the smallest organism in the sea, allowing it to quickly pass along through the food chain - and eventually end up in the seafood we eat ourselves. The disposed waste, chemicals and sewage can contain hazardous microbial, chemical or physical agents. It creates a hazard to humans, animals, and the livelihood of human beings.

Working Onboard

A crew member has obligations, responsibilities and rights. A crew member has the right to his/her convictions and to express his/her opinions. They have the right to request help from another crew member, as long as the person in question understands that the other has a right to say no. The crew member also has the right to clarify communications to enhance interpersonal relationships. 

When working onboard, it is essential to contribute to interpersonal relations. To keep a high level of motivation amongst the crew. Delegation, trust and good relationships are useful tools. Drug &/or alcohol abuse can be very costly and may lead to the prosecution of the yacht.  This may lead to the individual's dismissal with potential long term loss of career.