Background
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee-Marine Environment Protection Committee Circulars - MSC-MEPC.7 Circulars - MSC-MEPC.7/Circular.3 – Framework for Consideration of Ergonomics and Work Environment – (22 May 2006) - Annex – Framework for IMO Consideration of Ergonomics and Work Environment - Background

Background

  1 It is recognized that the human operator in the role as seafarer is the ships primary protector of maritime safety and security, and the marine environment. Given the significant variations in work environment conditions (external and internal) that the seafarer is exposed to, it is imperative to ensure a safe working environment.

  2 Fatigue plays a major role in reducing a seafarers alertness and increases the chances of personal injury and human error. In the IMO Guidelines on Fatigue, it states that some ship specific factors that contribute to fatigue are: ship design, level of automation, equipment reliability, inspection and maintenance, age of vessel, and the physical comfort on board.

  3 In addition, one P&I club recently reported that more than one out of five personal injury incidents reported are the result of a slip, trip or fall. Similar figures are seen in other shore side industries.

  4 As a result, efforts should be made to consider guidance on the application of ergonomic solutions as a means to reduce personal injuries and the incidents or accidents brought on by human error.

Parent topic: Annex – Framework for IMO Consideration of Ergonomics and Work Environment
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.