esvagt is investing in silence

Published by SEAHEALTH Denmark
ISSUE NO 2
Summer 2015
A GOOD SAFE WORKING LIFE
New guidance:
7
HEALTH AND
SAFETY ON
SMALL FERRIES
4
Buller:
AN APP TO MEASURE NOISE
Hygiene in the galley:
“WE APPLY
COMMON SENSE!” 8-9
ESVAGT IS INVESTING
IN SILENCE
The crew on Esvagt’s newest ship can enjoy the silence on
board, making it easier to recharge for new watches
Out at sea, it is getting quieter and quieter. At least if you
are part of the crew on board
one of Esvagt’s newest ships: the
ESVAGT Aurora, ESVAGT
Faraday or ESVAGT Froude.
So says ESVAGT Aurora’s
Captain, Morten D. Holm, and
Chief Engineer Lars BlackJensen:
“We can feel a great
difference in the noise on the
ESVAGT Aurora compared to
other ships. It is especially due
to the diesel electric engines we
use. They are very different than
traditional engines thumping
away down in the hull. And when
we use the thrusters, you can
practically not hear them even
though they are right below us.
On other ships, you would hardly
be able to sleep in the same
situation, “ says Lars BlackJensen.
“Noise should be reduced
on all ships. The less noise, the
better you sleep on board. Noise
affects us more than we think,”
says Morten D. Holm on the
I think we have achieved
really good results. It is impossible
to completely remove noise, but
now I never notice it anymore on
the ESVAGT Aurora.
Morten D. Holm, Captain, ESVAGT Aurora
phone from Northern Norway
where ESVAGT Aurora is on oil
field standby.
Insulation and
noise absorption
Esvagt made a serious commitment on cutting down on noise
aboard when the ESVAGT
Aurora was built in 2012. Special
insulation, low-noise flooring,
big slow-rotation propellers
and noise absorption under the
diesel engines were some of the
innovations aimed at cutting
down on the decibels.
“On the two Group 1 ships,
ESVAGT Faraday and ESVAGT
Froude, which we have built since
then, we have done even more
to reduce noise and vibration,”
reports Kristian Ole Jakobsen,
who is responsible for Esvagt’s
newbuildings and ship operations.
Wonderful peace
The captain and chief engineer
on ESVAGT Aurora are extremely
pleased with the silence they have
already achieved on the ship.
“I think we have reached
really good results. It is impossible
to completely remove noise, but
now I never notice it anymore on
the ESVAGT Aurora,” declares
Capt. Holm. He explains that now
he can have a normal conversation
on the bridge, even when a
helicopter is hovering right
overhead. And the captain and
chief engineer emphasize that
“It is also very important
that you can sit in the mess or
your cabin in peace and quiet.
Subconsciously, you
probably relax better,”
It is new and innovative. There is less
Lars Black-Jensen adds.
noise and significantly less vibration.
They feel that
When the ESVAGT Aurora was built,
nobody could wish for
it was all so new that I hardly dared
more.
take the step.
being able to hear clearly what
other people say reduces the risk
of mistakes.
2 · SUMMER 2015
Enormous effect
All in all, the two officers on the
ESVAGT Aurora are well satisfied.
But there will be even more
peace and quiet to come on
ESVAGT’s coming ships. Kristian
Ole Jakobsen has especially high
hopes that in the future their
diesel generators will provide DC
power for subsequent conversion
to alternating current. That will
make a clear difference to the crew:
“It has an enormous effect.
You can clearly feel the
difference,” he adds.
“Diesel generators normally
run at a constant speed to maintain the right level of voltage and
current on a ship. But by running
”via” DC, diesel generators operate as a (low) variable speed when
there is little need for power.”
“It is new and innovative.
There is less noise and
significantly less vibration.
When the ESVAGT Aurora was
built, it was all so new that
I hardly dared taking the step,”
says Kristian Ole Jakobsen.
Yet another ship scheduled
for completion in 2016 is being
built upon these same principles.
Even more has been done on
ESVAGT Froude to minimise noise,
and more is on the way, or rather,
less noise is on way.
relaxing and recharging,”
Kristian Ole Jakobsen explains.
Energy saving
Lower noise levels have also
resulted in less energy
consumption.
“When we reduce noise
and vibration, it is often linked
to a reduction in energy
consumption. Normally, a ship
has relatively large pumps which
just keep on running. When
you use a rectifier, the pumps
use less energy and make less
noise,” Kristian Ole Jakobsen
notes.
Increased life quality
on board
ESVAGT has a common objective
for all their ships: They must be
nice to be on.
“We started on this process
because we wanted to ensure
proper working conditions
for our personnel at sea. For
example, on ESVAGT Froude
and ESVAGT Faraday we have
60 men on board, of whom 40
are wind turbine technicians
who spend their time on and
off duty on the ship until they
go back to work on the turbines
again. When you are on board 30
days at a time, having a proper
working environment is naturally
important. Which is also why we
have installed very big windows
in conference rooms and offices
on our new ships so that people
can sit and look at the sea while
Launching stillness
If shipowners wish to follow
ESVAGT’s example and let peace
and quiet descend in the mess,
galley, control room, bridge
and cabins, the most important
step is to work closely with the
shipyard so that the necessary
installations can be planned
right at the beginning of the
design phase. n
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Danish Shipowners’ Accident Insurance Association (UFDS)
Amaliegade 33B, 2nd floor • DK-1256 Copenhagen K
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Danish Shipowners’ Accident
Insurance Association (UFDS)
UFDS
SEAHEALTH.DK · 3
SEAHEALTH FOR YOU
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About SEAHEALTH
Established in 1993, SEAHEALTH
is a private independent
institution with a board of
12 members, with six from
shipowners and six from
employee unions.
SEAHEALTH works with
the Danish merchant fleet to
promote health and safety for
seafarers regardless of rank.
We provide consultancy
services to shipowners and ships
in order to prevent occupational
injury, including industrial
accidents, occupational disease
and wear and tear. All Danish
registered merchant ships
over 20 GT are obliged to be a
member of SEAHEALTH.
New guidance:
Health and Safety
on Small Ferries
As a supplement to the ”Small
ships and special duties” guidance,
SEAHEALTH is now ready with
“Special Guidance for Small Ferries.
The guidance has been developed
after visiting several ferry
operators and having a good
dialogue with- and contributions
from members of the Small Islands
Ferry Operators.
It is especially the “soft issues”
that affect daily routines on board
the ferries. So the guidance
concentrates on customers and
conflicts, collaboration between
crew members, communication,
HR development and how to tackle
change.
The guidance also entails a
description of the ergonomic
challenges and long-term effects of
carrying money cassettes, giving
change and handling payment
terminals.
The guidance is being sent out to
all small Danish ferries and can be
downloaded at www.seahealth.dk/
publikation/alle-publikationer
(The guideline is only in Danish)
Contact Senior Consultant
Søren Bøge Pedersen
for further information
T: +45 3348 9313
E: [email protected]
DID YOU KNOW THAT:
Not all types of
gloves are approved for
handling food. When it
comes to anti-cut gloves
for food, it is important
to have the right kind
of gloves. The wrong
gloves can give a sense of
false security whereas an
approved type, tested for the
right purpose, can cope with
heavy wear.
4 · SUMMER 2015
There are many kinds of anti-cut gloves.
Many contain Kevlar and have a coating. They
can for example resist cuts but if the gloves
are not approved for food, the coating may
release harmful substances into the food. Use
for example this kind of glove (see photo) with
the type approvals shown. Then you will be
well on the way. If you are going to do major
butchery such as cutting up a whole ham, we
recommend stainless steel mesh gloves with
wrist protection.
Contact Carsten GydahlJensen, M.Sc. for further
information
T: +45 3348 9311
E: [email protected]
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F
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Noise is a health and safety issue.
Whether it comes from a
compressed air tool, colleagues
or the engine it is regarded as
a problem.
1
1. Very loud noise is defined as a more
or less constant excessive noise
– eg from loud machinery.
You can plan your way out of
noise problems as you can plan
your way out of other working
environmental issues. The Venø
Ferry has shown us that it is
possible. Here, the crew were
consulted, which led to a separation of living room and noise
elements. At the same time a
number of other challenges were
addressed such as annoying
sunlight reflections on computerand tv screens. See page 10.
2
2. Disturbing noise is not per
se harmful but is part of an
inappropriate and potentially
stressful working environment.
3
3. Impulse noise is a sudden
and very loud sound. Both the
hearing impairing noise and
impulse noise can cause
physical injury.
SEAHEALTH.DK · 5
NEWS
NEW GUIDANCE
ON WORKING WITH
NANO MATERIALS
The Danish Working Environment Authority has issued a new
guidance on working with nano
materials. Working with nano
materials is covered by the same
regulations that apply to the use
of substances and materials in
general. What is new is that the
American Environmental
Protection Agency has set some
limits for nano-sized substances.
granulates and pastes. The
greatest occupational health risk
comes from inhaling airborne
particles.
When working with nano
materials, the guidance states
that a risk assessment must be
carried out, and that this should
address the hazardous properties of the nano material. This
can be difficult, also because
there are no official
There used to be some doubt as to
international threswhether personal protective equipment
hold values for nano
could provide protection against these
forms of substances.
very small particles, but it can.
The American EPA has
drawn up recommenWhen particles are so small
dations for limits for nano
that they come into the nano
materials that are considerably
category, they may change
lower than the threshold values
character and have technical
set for comparable substances
properties that differ from larger that are not nano-sized, such as
particles of the same chemical
titanium dioxide (30 times lower)
substance. Particles’ properties
and carbon nanotubes (1000
may also change and become
times lower than for just carbon).
harmful which is important
In addition to a risk assessfor health and safety when
ment, prevention policies must
manufacturing and using new
be applied which here include
products. Nano materials can
substitution, workplace design
also be found as free particles in
and technical measures such as
powder form, aerosols, liquids,
local extraction and encapsu-
lation and PPE. There used to
be some doubt as to whether
personal protective equipment
could provide protection against
these very small particles, but it
can. However, it is important to
use at the very least a respirator
with a P3 filter.
You can read more on the
Danish Working Environment
Authority’s website at:
arbejdstilsynet.dk/da/regler/
at-vejledninger/a/9-3-1-arbejdemed-nanomaterialer.aspx
3F has also drawn up a very
readable folder on ”Nano in
the working environment”,
which mentions the advisory US
threshold values, and includes
two tools with questions for
employers and suppliers.
mediacontent.sd.publicus.com/
pdf/SD1948731120.PDF (This
guideline is only in Danish).
New research by the Danish
NanoSafety Centre also shows
that inhaling nano particles can
affect sperm quality. You can
read the latest news at
www.arbejdsmiljoviden.dk/
Aktuelt/Nyheder/2015/02/
05-Nanopartikler-kan-paavirkesaedkvalitet
NANO MATERIALS
Particles or materials that are
sized 1-100 nanometre in at
least one dimension. A
nanometre is one millionth of
a metre.
NEW
PICTOGRAMS
ON CHEMICALS
The time has come where
the old orange hazard labels
need to be phased out and
replaced. No later than the 1st
of June 2015, all new
chemicals must be classified
and labeled according to the
CLP-standard (red/white
pictograms) and safety data
sheets must also be updated.
Chemicals that have been
marketed before the 1st of
June 2015 must carry the
new labels before the 1st of
June 2017. The labeling in the
safety data sheet must at all
times be consistent with the
labeling on the packing.
Chemicals e.g. cleaning
agents, oils and paints must
carry the new CLP-labeling
before the 1st of June 2017.
This means that from June 1st
2017, all products on board
needs to be relabeled if they
carry the old orange hazard
symbols.
SEAHEALTH encourages
ships to ask their suppliers for
chemicals carrying the new
CLP-regulation labels, if they
buy them after the 1st of
June 2015. Experience tells
us that it can take some time
to use up the chemicals. This
way, ships can minimise the
relabeling they have to do
before June 1st 2017.
CHANGES TO THE OCCUPATIONAL
INJURIES ACT ON INJURIES AT WORK
A new interpretation of the Occupational Injuries Act following a Supreme Court ruling has now led
to the introduction of a minimum limit for occupational injuries and accidents
Following a Supreme Court
ruling, the National Board of
Industrial Injuries has amended its
interpretation of the legislation.
This means that more cases will
be rejected than before.
If you are injured or have
an accident in your workplace,
it will not be recognised as
an occupational injury unless
treatment is required for it to
be reduced or disappear. If the
symptoms also disappear in time
6 · SUMMER 2015
and are only temporary, legally it
will not basically be treated as a
personal injury.
Injuries with permanent
consequences may continue to
be recognized when there is a
causal link between the event
and the consequences. This also
applies even if the consequences
do not give the right to compensation for permanent injury.
This means that if you fall
from a roof, you might very well
for example hit your head and
get a concussion, hurt your back,
shoulder, etc. Here there would
be a causal link between the
event and the consequences of
the injury. This would typically
be recognized as an occupational
injury if it leads to permanent
disability.
But it is not normal to get a
slipped disc from getting up from
a chair. Here there is no causal
link and thus no recognition.
A fall only leading to
bruising where there is no need
for medical treatment will
therefore no longer be
recognised as such. This would
also apply for example if you
cut yourself on something sharp
which causes a wound that heals,
with no further symptoms.
This kind of injury used to be
recognized but without
compensation. In the future it
will not be recognised.
MEASURING NOISE
SORRY, WHAT
DID YOU SAY?
“Buller” – an app to measure noise
All kinds of unwanted sound are noise and thereby pose an
environmental health problem. This applies regardless of whether
the noise comes from an air tool, your shipmates or the engine
propelling the ship.
More than 1,800 cases of occupational hearing conditions are
reported every year in Denmark. Hearing conditions are serious
because they weaken or completely destroy one of the most
important senses of the person affected. Damage is irreversible.
Once some or all of the hearing has gone, people have to live with
it for the rest of their lives.
See the three types of noise in the workplace on page 5.
An app for measuring noise
The Swedish Work Environment Authority (which corresponds
to the Danish Working Environment Authority) has made an app
called “Buller” (the Swedish word for noise). This provides a noise
meter that gives an immediate reading of the noise level. The
program can also be set to remember measurements to give an
idea of how much noise people are exposed to during the day.
The app is free. You can read more about the app at
www.av.se (search for ”buller app”). n
SOURCE: WORKING ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION CENTRE
Hearing conditions are
serious because they weaken
or completely destroy one
of the most important senses
of the person affected.
Damage is irreversible.
Experience from Venø
In the shipping industry, great efforts are made to cut the level of
noise on board. One of the shipping companies to have done this is
Venø Ferry which consulted with the crew when planning and building
their new ferry. We asked for their opinions about the changes and
their reactions are given below (see also the article on p. 10 and on
noise proofing in ESVAGT on p. 1-3).
Have you found that the
ship’s design has affected
your physical health and
wellbeing?
We do better in our new
surroundings but cannot say
whether this has any influence
on our physical health. Have you found that the
ship’s design has affected
your mental health and
wellbeing?
Yes, it has had a positive
impact on our mental health
and well-being.
help from the group so that
our accommodation and duty
rooms are sensibly located
from a noise point of view. The
control room, ticket office,
etc., have also been designed
following guidance from us
and taking into account our
work processes, operations
and crew establishment. Who was involved in
the process of designing
your new building?
The whole crew were involved
which had a positive influence
on the ship’s design.
How did you consider
the working environment
in planning your new ship
design?
What were you especially
aware of when the ship
was being built?
Based on our operations,
crew establishment and
watch system, the ferry
design was organized with
Involving the crew’s experience and knowledge and
learning from other
shipowners.
The Venø Ferry management consulted the crew, when a new ferry was designed and build.
SEAHEALTH.DK · 7
HYGIENE IN THE GALLEY
Mate John Clothier (left), AB Michael Teute, Capt. Jens Eggert and Chief
Engineer Jonny Skafte share work in the galley, even though Michael Teute
has most experience of the cooker and refrigerator. But please do not call
him the ship’s cook, he says.
I am not against the rules. They are
probably good enough and necessary
for a large crew with a permanent ship’s
cook. But here on when all four of us
are in the galley to organise breakfast
and lunch, and hot food as well, too
much paperwork can seem pointless.
Jens Eggert, Captain
It is all very good with rules and regulations
on food, but who are we doing it for, asks
an experienced tug boat crew
HYGIENE
IN THE GALLEY
“WE APPLY
COMMON SENSE!”
The crew now all have
hygiene certificates and
can show they have some
knowledge about what you can
and cannot do when working
with food and preparing it for
others than yourself. They also
check the temperature of the
refrigerator and freezer and they
have a form for doing their own
self-assessments.
On board the tug Svitzer
Nerthus, nothing is left to chance
when it comes to hygiene in the
galley but neither was it before
MLC 2006, emphasise Capt.
Jens Eggert, Chief Engineer
8 · SUMMER 2015
Jonny Skafte, and AB Michael
Teute. They have 36, 34 and 32
years of experience respectively.
John Clothier, the first mate,
only has four months of service
on a tug but the captain’s views
on hygiene on board have him
nodding in agreement.
Good rules but...
Yet another contribution to the
paper mill, says Jens Eggert
about the rules on how to ensure
proper self-assessment.
“Make no mistake about it.
I am not against the rules. They
are probably good enough and
necessary for a large crew with
a permanent ship’s cook. But
here when all four of us are in
the galley to organise breakfast
and lunch, and hot food as well,
we regard them as just more
paperwork.
Hygiene and temperature are
closely watched in the refrigerator and freezer, which used to
be in the same cabinet but are
now separate.
why? So far we have never had
anyone asking for them.
Polite self-service
Assistant Michael Teute, who
most often does the cooking,
breaks in.
“The last time we had
a Lloyd’s representative
We have always done the cleaning
on board; I did see that
but now we have a template to follow.
he looked up the cooker
It ensures that we get all the way
hood. He did not say
round, but I would say that we always
what he was looking
have.
for, but it was probably
about hygiene. I have
We do the checks and record
never been asked to show the
what we should - we have to - but reports of our controls.
HOW TO HAVE ZERO ACCIDENTS IN THE GALLEY
1. Avoid heavy lifting:
a. Place any pans, etc., between knee and shoulder height.
b. Use hydraulic lift tables and trolleys instead of carrying things.
c. S et the working height so there is no tension in your shoulders
and your arms can be kept close to the body.
d. Keep your tools close to you and within reach.
e. If you have to bend to lift, avoid twisting your back at the
same time.
f. Lift as close to your body as possible.
1. Prevent burns and scalds:
a. Use an oven cloth or dry tea towel when touching hot items.
b. Make sure the oven door stays attached and do not swing in
heavy weather.
c. Use the deep fryer as little as possible.
d. If you have to use a deep fryer, use an automatic machine that
lowers food into the oil and adjusts the temperature by itself.
e. Do not touch deep fryer oil while it is cooling and wear gloves
to touch the deep fryer.
f. Train crew in using hot things.
1. Keep things clean:
a. The galley floor should be non-slip.
b. Keep the floor clean and if you spill grease or oil or anything
else, clean it up immediately.
c. S crape/scour, rinse and swab the floor with detergent – three
work processes.
d. Only wear non-slip shoes that keep the feet in place and which
are designed for use on a hard surface.
e. Regularly clean grease and dirt off the soles of your shoes.
f. I n rough weather, use wetted tea towels when putting pans,
etc., on the table.
Michael Teute has, as recommended, bought five different coloured
chopping boards to indicate what they should be used for so that he does
not mix meat juices and vegetables by mistake.
We have always done the
cleaning but now we have a
template to follow. It ensures
that we get all the way round, but
I would say that we always have.
We now have a separate
freezer and refrigerator but that
does not have much influence
in our daily routines. We shop
at Føtex or Netto or local shops
near the port and assume that
the products are in order.
We don’t go around with a
thermometer and check the
temperature in shops’ display
counters. But then, neither do
I change clothes when I go from
working on deck to the galley.
There is no time for that and it is
impractical since lunch is always
self-service. In that case we
would all have to change clothes
several times a day.”
Common sense
“We simply do what we do at
home,” interjects Chief Engineer
Jonny Skafte.
“What we do on board is
perfectly ordinary housework
and if anybody slacks on the
hygiene, we will certainly say so!
And it is not by chance
that four elderly, grumpy men
1. Reduce wounds from cuts:
a. Only use sharp knives and wash them separately.
b. Do not leave sharp knives to soak but wash them immediately
after use.
c. Have the right knives for different purposes.
d. Always keep unused knives on a magnetic knife holder or some
other knife rack.
e. Always use a steel mesh glove for difficult butchery and
cut-resistant rubber gloves for other cutting and slicing (see
article p. 4).
f. Train crew in using knives and machinery safely.
have ended up on the same
boat?
No, no, they insist.
“We use our common sense.
Everyone can come and go in
the galley. That is what we are
used to and the introduction
of MLC 2006 has not made us
change our ways. However, we
can now document that we do as
we should but have not yet found
out who we are doing it for,”
they say.
With 102 years of service
between them on the tug, Jens,
Jonny and Michael have not
yet had a single case of illness
because of poor hygiene or lack
of controls on food on board. n
COMMENT FROM SEAHEALTH
The rules exist because we still
see examples in the maritime
industry of poor hygiene
conditions, cases of food
poisoning and poor quality
of the provisioning. Each ship
has the ability to customize
their monitoring so it fits the
circumstances on their
particular ship.
SEAHEALTH.DK · 9
SHIPBUILDING
The small roof extension to the right above the car
deck is visible proof of the minor structural changes
that created space for the mess and cabin,
away from sources of noise.
IT IS SO
QUIET NOW
Crew were consulted when the Venø
Ferry was being built and their working
environment improved as a result
There are 271 m between the
ferry dock on the little island of
Venø in Limfjorden and the
mainland of Jutland to the west,
slightly north of Struer. The
current is strong in the narrow,
up to 17 m deep channel when
there is a northwestern wind.
There is no need for a dredger
here, only good seamanship
when the ferry runs east to west
or vice versa like a floating yoyo
every 20 minutes, or when it is
needed. The crossing takes
approximately 2 minutes.
”When it is blowing more than
30 m/s and the buoy is missing,
we stay put,” remarks Capt.
Charly Clemmensen, one of the
five captains on the route.
The storm called Bodil the year
before last taught him the limits.
The two 360 Volvo engines could
not cope against the current and
wind when he tried after five hours
of waiting to get passengers
and cars across the channel. He
succeeded but experience shows
that when the anemometer
shows the wind is more than 30
m/s, it is best to be patient.
Consulting the crew
The Venø Ferry is a 280 ton steel
ferry built in 2010 at the Hvide
Sande shipyard and owned by
Struer Municipality which has a
policy of supporting maritime
operations. Running the ferry
has greater appeal to tourists
than a bridge. This is why the
municipality invested DKK 56m
in the ferry and in building two
new ferry docks.
The job was put into the
hands of Søren Adsersen who
was operations manager on
the route and he immediately
involved ten experienced
personnel because “after all,
they have more experience
than I do. They see things that
I do not. I would in fact advise
against making a start on such
a project without consulting
the personnel. It has turned out
well,” reports Søren Adsersen.
Noise
One much discussed issue was
noise. Two of the crew members
sleep on board since the ferry is
part of the emergency services
on Venø. The original idea was
for crew accommodation, cabins
and mess to be located at deck
height but that was changed. Some
slight alterations created room
for this on a floor between the
bridge and deck. From here, there
is a view and it is far from sources
of noise, making it possible to
talk normally and watch TV.
This solution gave the crew
their own quarters, free from
passengers and free from noise.
And to such an extent that it was
immediately noticed.
“It is a little unusual not to be
able to hear when the engines
speed up,” remarks Charly
Clemmensen, while continuing:
“It is pure luxury. And now we no
longer sleep in the hut on Venø.”
Ownership from influence
Another significant change was
relocating the screens on the
bridge. Originally they were
positioned facing south. Since
Operations Manager Søren Adsersen
shows that the design of the mess
means that the crew can watch
television and also monitor the
ferry, and also thirdly that they
have a good view of the surrounding
area from their quarters a couple of
metres above deck.
10 · SUMMER 2015
At the crew’s request, the
screens were turned to face
away from the sun, making them
easier for the five captains to
read.
the ferry always sails with the
same side facing south, it made
it difficult to see the screens. So
they were moved to the north side.
The rev counter and other
instruments were also moved up
to eye height, making it easy for
the captain to read them without
having to take his eyes off the
channel.
Søren Adsersen:
“Having influence gives
ownership and that is important
for success. And no, it was not
a difficult process. The most
difficult thing was to switch from
an elderly chain ferry to high
technology.” Technology that
also means that Søren Adsersen
can connect to the ferry’s control
systems and provide “first aid”
from his home. So can the company that developed the software so that they can remotely
identify and solve any problems
that previously required an
engineer to be called out.
Last year, the Venø Ferry
carried about 280,000 passengers across the channel on
38,000 trips. n
DRAWINGS FACILITATE UNDERSTANDING
OHS IN DRAWINGS
“It is a good way to flag up the challenges,” concludes Niels Heegaard, Royal Arctic
Line, after the Greenlandic debut for OHS drawings
The drawings say so much
more than words. They can also
be the reason for many words!
Niels Heegaard, Royal Arctic
Line, was positively surprised
about the effect of various
health and safety drawings when
he presented them at a seminar
in Nuuk for the sea-going crew
in the company’s “Settlement
Service.”
The drawings have been
made by SEAHEALTH to show
the long-term consequences of a
poor working environment.
Preview
The crew on the ships servicing
settlements in Greenland are
moving to the company’s newest
vessels that are larger than the
current ones and so covered
by ISM.
The company therefore issued an invitation to a seminar in
January on the new conditions
at Greenland’s Maritime Center.
A couple of days in the weeklong seminar were reserved for
occupational health and safety
which was where the drawings
had an important part to play,
even though they had not yet
been officially released.
“We were allowed a preview
of the drawings. And that was
good because I feel they
changed the attitudes of the
crew. The drawings show very
clearly what it is all about
without using lots of words,”
reports Niels Heegaard.
“After all, this is not the first
seminar we have held with health
and safety on the agenda. You
are often in a situation in which
you have to struggle to make
challenges easy to understand,
and also where people need to
protect themselves. Clear drawings
with few words make it easy to
understand such concepts as
workplace risk assessments and
nearmisses, etc.,” he says.
Many words
On the other hand, the drawings
gave rise to lots of words. The
drawings were handed out
to groups who were asked to
talk about what the drawings
showed. And that got people
talking with stories about their
own experience, which again got
all at the seminar going.
A situation which tells Niels
Heegaard that the delegates this
year were more eager to discuss
issues compared to previous
seminars. The drawings also
helped create understanding
for why risk assessments can
result in a healthier, safer
working environment. This is
one of the preconditions for
having a long, good working
life and not being worn out by
retirement age. n
SEAHEALTH.DK · 11