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This course addresses the issue of digital stress and addiction we face due to the increased use of digital technology. The course explores what digital stress and addiction are, how they affect people, and how to manage them.

You will inevitably find yourself in a leadership position at some point in your career. Whether by choice or not, leading a team comes with a lot of responsibility. The success or failure of your team will often fall on your shoulders, and it is essential to be prepared for that level of accountability. To set your team up for success, you can do a few things as a leader. One of the most important things you can do is to be a mentor.

Personnel transfers are hazardous operations that can lead to injury or worse if not completed in as safe a manner as possible. The responsibility of safety for such operations lies with all involved, including those undergoing the personnel transfer.

Do you use PPE only to comply with rules and regulations? Or do you use it as part of your routine to maximise safety? Do you make excuses for not wearing PPE? Or do you use PPE during all jobs? Do you use just any available PPE? Or do you carefully choose the PPE that suits your needs and your job? If you are a leader, are you showing little involvement in ensuring that your crew is wearing PPE? Or do you set an example and encourage them to wear the appropriate PPE?

Seafarers are not immune to the negative effects of stress. In fact, the demanding nature of work and being away from their families make them more prone to stress, which when not managed properly can become a safety hazard. Thus, it is within the best interest of not only the individuals experiencing the stress, but also their peers, their leaders, and their employers to ensure that stress is limited to levels that are productive and beneficial.

The Safety I’s is a set of good safety behaviours that support a proactive and reliable safety culture. These behaviours – Insight, Innovation, Influence, Intervention, and Integration, form a safety framework that you and your colleagues can work within.

Safety reporting deals with the gathering of information on actual or potential safety deficiencies, filing reports, and taking the necessary actions to prevent similar events from happening again. It is key to take responsibility for safety so as to build a strong safety culture.

Sometimes, other people say things that are hard to rely on or accept as the whole truth. In order to find out what is really going on, it is important that you ask the right questions.

A no blame culture reflects an open, trusting, and learning atmosphere where everyone can speak about issues and concerns without fearing blame or punishment. While mistakes should be avoided, these are used as opportunities for learning.

Performance appraisal is a systematic evaluation of the crew’s performance and potential. It is mainly aimed at developing the crew and identifying what it would take to prepare them for rehire and promotion.

All crew members, regardless of rank, make small and big decisions to solve various challenges in their work and personal lives. While some decisions can be made easily, most can be handled better if a logical and structured approach is utilised.

Incident investigation is a key process in safety reporting. When the crew are involved in incident investigation, they are more likely to improve their safety behaviours.