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Work Injuries and Risks
An occupational injury is an injury as a result of an accident or other harmful effects at work.
Physical, as well as mental and psycho-social factors, can cause occupational harm.
On the other hand, an injury of a mental or psychosocial nature does not count as an occupational injury, even if it is a consequence of dismissal, labor dispute, lack of appreciation of work efforts, or dissatisfaction with work tasks. Accidents while traveling to or from the workplace are usually counted as accidents at work. Special rules apply to infectious diseases.
Investigation and Reporting
Accidents, incidents, and illnesses related to the work must be reported to the employer as soon as possible. If you are at sea, you often report it to the Master instead. The employer must, in turn, make a report to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and a report to the Swedish Transport Agency. Accidents and incidents must be investigated internally within the shipping company as soon as possible. The investigation must be carried out systematically and include all factors that may have contributed to what happened. The analysis must be documented in both writings and photographs. Forms for this purpose shall be readily available on board the ship. The result shall be spread to all vessels within the shipping company to prevent similar accidents. The same provisions apply to diseases that are suspected to be due to work. Investigations must be designed in consultation with safety representatives and, if possible, with the injured person himself.
Risk Factors
What can increase the risk of accidents or incidents at work? What can cause the staff to get work-related illnesses? The following factors are important to keep in mind in order to ensure a safe working environment for yourself, your colleagues or your employees.
Shift Work, Scheduling and Fatigue
On ships, work is going on around the clock. However, the biological sleep cycle is adapted to the day's changes between light and dark, and shift work can cause health problems and fatigue. Several of the body's systems run at low speeds at night, it is more difficult to fall asleep during the day, and daytime sleep does not provide the same recovery as night rest. Sleep onboard is also often disturbed by, for example, sea traffic, noise, arrivals, and departures. Fatigue can lead to prolonged reaction time and difficulty concentrating. Several ship accidents have occurred due to the guard on duty falling asleep on the bridge.
In the long run, lack of sleep can lead to ill health with a weakened immune system and an increased risk of infections, cardiovascular disease, and depression. By law, those who work onboard have the right to ten hours of rest per day divided into a maximum of two occasions, one of which must be at least six hours long. Research shows that relief 03-09-15-21 on two-guard ships makes you less tired than when relief 00-06-12-18.
Stress can be both positive and negative. But prolonged stress has a negative effect on the body, regardless of whether the stress itself is perceived as good or bad. Photo: Jörgen Språng
Abuse
Abuse of alcohol or other drugs among employees on board can have fatal consequences. Each shipping company is obliged to have a clear policy for all vessels, which states that abuse must not occur, that alcohol and work do not belong together, and that drugs are not tolerated. The employer is also obliged to draw up an action plan if abuse is discovered. Addiction is associated with guilt and shame and the victim often tries to hide their problems. Some signs of abuse:
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Decreased interest in work.
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Poorer work performance.
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Abnormal absence.
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Mood swings.
For minors, under the age of 18, minors Underwho serve onboard special rules apply by the Seamen's Act, the Ship Safety Act, and regulations from the Swedish Transport Agency/Swedish Maritime Administration. Minors are not allowed to work with toxic paints or solvents, drive trucks, or work at night. Anyone under the age of 16 may not participate in ship work. However, there are some exceptions for apprentices, trainees and more.
