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SEAFARERS HOSPITAL SOCIETY: A CULTURE OF CARE
Published: 1 October 2023
Seafarers are essential to international trade and the global economy, yet their health and wellbeing is often overlooked and undervalued. In response to this, the Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS), a charity based in London, has produced; ‘Seafarers’ Health: On Course for a Culture of Care’, a report which highlights the need for an increased focus on the health and wellbeing of seafarers.
The report identifies three key health and wellbeing areas that the maritime industry should focus on:
- Knowledge gap
- Lack of legislative provision
- Lack of investment in health and safety
KNOWLEDGE GAP
There is a huge lack of knowledge surrounding seafarer health, both on board vessels and ashore. This includes areas such as nutrition, hygiene, mental health, medical standards and occupational health.
LACK OF LEGISLATIVE PROVISION
Despite a number of international agreements concerning maritime safety and welfare, a lack of effective legislation means that seafarers are susceptible to exploitation, leading to poor mental and physical health.
LACK OF INVESTMENT IN HEALTH AND SAFETY
Given the competitive nature of the industry, minimal emphasis is placed on investing in employee welfare, which consequently leaves seafarers exposed and vulnerable.
In light of the report’s findings, various initiatives have been proposed to help improve the health and welfare of seafarers both on board vessels and ashore. These could also lead to greater job satisfaction, improve recruitment and retention rates and help reduce the number of incidents on board. The maritime industry could then attract and retain top talent, reducing the staff turnover rate and the cost of training new employees.
WHAT CAN SHIPOWNERS DO TO IMPROVE CREW WELFARE ON BOARD:
- Implement a comprehensive system of health and safety regulations to ensure seafarers are protected from exploitation and are better supported in terms of their physical and mental health
- Introduce measures such as mental health first aid to improve wellbeing
- Ensure that precautions are in place to combat fatigue, such as limiting overtime and sea-time as well as providing high quality accommodation for crewmembers
- Use key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the number of reported injuries, rates of illness, access to healthcare services and overall crew satisfaction surveys to measure the effectiveness of crew welfare initiatives and programs
- Set up disease prevention initiatives for issues such as dental health, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancers
- Create a clear and effective complaints procedure that allows crew members to report bullying, harassment, workplace violence and sexual abuse. Additionally, establish a confidential whistleblowing policy to encourage individuals to report any misconduct without fear of retaliation
- Provide sufficient access to healthcare on board vessels and shore-side medical services
- Create systems to support seafarers’ families, such as family welfare programs and improved communication links with the vessel by providing internet access on board
By using KPI’s it is possible to establish a benchmark for how seafarer health and wellbeing is monitored and this can provide evidence for companies, seafarers and their representatives, maritime trade unions, trustees, governments and the public alike. Through this data and measurable results, we can identify which interventions are the most effective for quick and cost-effective gains.
The SHS report also emphasises the importance of promoting a culture of care for all stakeholders within the maritime industry. This includes flag states, shipowners, crewing agencies, local port authorities, insurers and healthcare providers. This approach is vital in order to ensure that seafarers are provided with sufficient protection against exploitation as well as improved support regarding their physical and mental health.
This report serves as a significant reminder of the crucial role seafarers play in society, highlighting the need for the sector to prioritise their health and wellbeing. It is evident that greater efforts are required to ensure that individuals can work safely at sea without sacrificing their welfare. By adopting the recommendations presented in the report, we hope that we can create an improved industry-wide culture of care that prioritises the protection of seafarers.
The full report can be accessed here.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact the loss prevention team.