A recent circular issued by the maritime administration of St. Vincent and the Grenadines reinforces the responsibility of ship operators to safeguard occupational safety and health onboard. It highlights the need to provide seafarers with safe, hygienic conditions for living, working, and training throughout a vessel’s operation.
Under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006), administrations must establish national guidelines for managing occupational safety and health onboard ships. These requirements aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases through proactive risk management and safe operational practices.
Shared responsibility for onboard safety
Shipowners carry primary responsibility for the health and safety of everyone onboard. At the same time, seafarers must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others. This shared approach supports safer operations and reduces the likelihood of preventable incidents.
Shipowners are expected to develop and implement a clear occupational safety and health policy. This policy should focus on accident prevention and address specific protections for young seafarers under the age of 18.
Restrictions on hazardous work for young seafarers
Unless properly trained and certified, persons under 18 must not engage in work that could endanger their health or safety. Prohibited tasks include, among others:
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Handling heavy loads
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Entry into enclosed or confined spaces
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Exposure to excessive noise, vibration, or hazardous substances
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Operating power-driven machinery
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Mooring, anchoring, or tow line handling
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Working aloft, outboard, or during heavy weather
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Night watch duties or night work
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Electrical equipment servicing
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Welding, flame-cutting, or fire-related work
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Handling ship’s boats or catering machinery
These restrictions are intended to reduce exposure to high-risk activities during early stages of a seafarer’s career.
Safety policies and onboard communication
A written occupational safety and health policy must be made available to all seafarers. Operators should clearly communicate any updates or changes to this policy to ensure consistent awareness and compliance onboard.
In addition, shipowners should:
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Identify and assess risks using operational experience and relevant data
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Implement preventive measures to reduce exposure to hazardous conditions
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Conduct safety inspections at least every three months, or more often if work conditions change
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Investigate, record, and report occupational accidents
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Analyse near-miss incidents and share lessons learned across the company
Risk assessment as a core obligation
Risk assessment remains a central responsibility of shipowners. Assessments should aim to reduce risks to an acceptable minimum and cover a wide range of operational and environmental factors, including:
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Structural safety and access arrangements
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Machinery and equipment hazards
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Temperature extremes on working surfaces
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Noise, vibration, and other ambient factors
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Cargo handling and ballast operations
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Fire prevention and emergency response
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Fatigue management and mental health
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Alcohol and drug dependency risks
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Personal protective equipment use
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Contractor and subcontractor safety
By systematically addressing these areas, operators strengthen onboard safety culture and improve overall compliance with international labour standards.
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Source: Safety4Sea
