A Safe Crew is A Safe Crew is A Safe ShipA Safe Ship

ISAC Safety Campaign for ISAC Safety Campaign for Decent Work For SeafarersDecent Work For Seafarers

20132013

“On the Day of the Seafarer, I urge everyone to spare a thought for those courageous seafarers, men and women from all corners of the world, who face danger and tough working conditions to operate today’s complex, highly technical ships, every hour of every day of the year – and on whom we all depend.”

Ban Ki MoonUN Secretary-general

Roughly 400,000 Filipino Roughly 400,000 Filipino seafarers were deployed in seafarers were deployed in 2012, a 15% increase from 2012, a 15% increase from the past year and marked the past year and marked the 10the 10thth straight year of straight year of increasing number of increasing number of seafarers deployment.seafarers deployment.

Accordingly, as reported by Accordingly, as reported by P&I clubs, these increase in P&I clubs, these increase in deployment led to deployment led to significant increase in significant increase in disability claims. disability claims.

In a report to The Swedish Club In a report to The Swedish Club Dr. Nicomedes Cruz of the Dr. Nicomedes Cruz of the Marine Medical Services stated Marine Medical Services stated that the ten leading causes of that the ten leading causes of medical repatriations due to medical repatriations due to illnesses and according to their illnesses and according to their prevalence are as follows:prevalence are as follows:

1. Cerebrovascular Diseases1. Cerebrovascular Diseases2. Diabetes Mellitus2. Diabetes Mellitus3. Hemorrhoids3. Hemorrhoids4. Gallstone4. Gallstone5. Cardiovascular Diseases5. Cardiovascular Diseases6. Inguinal Hernia6. Inguinal Hernia7. Gastritis7. Gastritis8. Hypertension8. Hypertension9. Urinary Tract Infection9. Urinary Tract Infection10. Appendicitis10. Appendicitis

In the same report, the ten leading causes of In the same report, the ten leading causes of partial and total permanent disability are:partial and total permanent disability are:

1. Disc Herniation1. Disc Herniation2. Fractures2. Fractures3. Cardiovascular Diseases3. Cardiovascular Diseases4. Traumatic Amputation4. Traumatic Amputation5. Cerebrovascular Diseases5. Cerebrovascular Diseases6. Malignancy6. Malignancy7. Diabetes Mellitus7. Diabetes Mellitus8. Burns8. Burns9. Ligamental Tear9. Ligamental Tear10. Hearing Loss10. Hearing Loss

In an ISAC study on the In an ISAC study on the marginalization of Filipino marginalization of Filipino seafarers, it was noted that 8% of seafarers, it was noted that 8% of Filipino seafarers were not able Filipino seafarers were not able to return to employment due to to return to employment due to death or disability.death or disability.

It is thus no wonder why It is thus no wonder why shipowners are very much shipowners are very much concerned on the issue of the concerned on the issue of the health and safety of Filipino health and safety of Filipino seafarers, and accordingly, of seafarers, and accordingly, of insurance claims, that push insurance claims, that push insurance premiums upward insurance premiums upward and threaten their profits.and threaten their profits.

The issue of crew health The issue of crew health and safety has become of and safety has become of vital importance, not only vital importance, not only for shipowners but more for shipowners but more importantly to seafarers, importantly to seafarers, their families, the their families, the government and society in government and society in general.general.

Illness, injury and death are main Illness, injury and death are main reasons for loss of employment of reasons for loss of employment of seafarers that push their families seafarers that push their families into poverty.into poverty.

Denial of death and disability Denial of death and disability compensation ensure that the compensation ensure that the family is permanently marginalized family is permanently marginalized as well. as well.

However, in many instances, casualties can However, in many instances, casualties can be prevented by vigilance in ensuring that a be prevented by vigilance in ensuring that a safe environment is always maintained, safe environment is always maintained,

or the improvement of ship or the improvement of ship operations be seriously operations be seriously put in place.put in place.

These are issues that are These are issues that are addressed by the Maritime Labor addressed by the Maritime Labor Convention, which only need to Convention, which only need to be strictly implemented by the be strictly implemented by the shipowners, managers and crew shipowners, managers and crew themselves to be successful.themselves to be successful.

For instance, stress, as one of the For instance, stress, as one of the main causes of many of the main causes of many of the severe conditions seafarers suffer severe conditions seafarers suffer at work such as hypertension and at work such as hypertension and diabetes, can be mitigated.diabetes, can be mitigated.

But with a working environment But with a working environment bent on reducing crew bent on reducing crew complement, work-related stress complement, work-related stress is on the rise.is on the rise.

A capesize tanker, A capesize tanker, ten years ago, ten years ago, employs 32 deck employs 32 deck and engine crew. and engine crew.

Now it employs Now it employs only 18.only 18.

Fresh water generators designed Fresh water generators designed to supply cooling water to the to supply cooling water to the engines become also the source engines become also the source of drinking water for the crew, of drinking water for the crew, even if it is not designed for that even if it is not designed for that purpose.purpose.

Even some innocuously-Even some innocuously-sounding job order like sounding job order like ““ballast tank cleaning” ballast tank cleaning”

seem to come right out of seem to come right out of a horror film scenario.a horror film scenario.

Or to Or to carry out a carry out a seemingly-seemingly-mundane chore mundane chore like deck like deck rust chipping rust chipping can expose a seafarer can expose a seafarer to a monster machine to a monster machine able to rip his brains out.able to rip his brains out.

ISAC’s ISAC’s campaign campaign for ship for ship safety safety aims to aims to

serve as a link serve as a link between seafarers, between seafarers, shipowners and government to identify the shipowners and government to identify the hidden causes that give rise to medical cases hidden causes that give rise to medical cases and find beneficial solutions for prevention of and find beneficial solutions for prevention of illness and promotion of seafarers welfare.illness and promotion of seafarers welfare.

It shall serve as an It shall serve as an advocacy and advocacy and empowerment campaign empowerment campaign to develop a safety to develop a safety culture among seafarers culture among seafarers along the principles and along the principles and provisions of the provisions of the Maritime Labor Maritime Labor Convention.Convention.

Promote best Promote best practices . . . .practices . . . .

. . . . and serve as linkage to . . . . and serve as linkage to shipowners and government shipowners and government to address the health to address the health issues and concerns.issues and concerns.

"The safety culture of an organization is the "The safety culture of an organization is the product of individual and group values, product of individual and group values, attitudes, competencies, and patterns of attitudes, competencies, and patterns of behaviour that determine the commitment to, behaviour that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an and the style and proficiency of, an organization's health and safety programs. organization's health and safety programs. Organizations with a positive safety culture are Organizations with a positive safety culture are characterized by communications founded by characterized by communications founded by mutual trust, by shared perceptions of mutual trust, by shared perceptions of importance of safety, and by confidence in importance of safety, and by confidence in efficiency of preventative measures.“efficiency of preventative measures.“

UK Health and Safety Commission, 1993UK Health and Safety Commission, 1993

A safe crew A safe crew is a safe is a safe ship!ship!

Join the Join the campaigcampaign!n!

25 June 25 June 20132013