The document discusses ISAC's 2013 safety campaign for decent work for seafarers. It notes the increasing number of Filipino seafarers deployed each year and corresponding rise in disability claims. Common illnesses and causes of permanent disability among seafarers are identified. The campaign aims to improve ship safety, address health issues, and promote a culture of safety through advocacy, empowerment and linking seafarers and governments. Its goals are to prevent injuries and illnesses, and ensure seafarer welfare as outlined in the Maritime Labor Convention.

1. A Safe Crew isA Safe Crew is
A Safe ShipA Safe Ship
ISAC Safety Campaign forISAC Safety Campaign for
Decent Work For SeafarersDecent Work For Seafarers
20132013

2. “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 Moon
UN Secretary-general

3. Roughly 400,000 FilipinoRoughly 400,000 Filipino
seafarers were deployed inseafarers were deployed in
2012, a 15% increase from2012, a 15% increase from
the past year and markedthe past year and marked
the 10the 10thth
straight year ofstraight year of
increasing number ofincreasing number of
seafarers deployment.seafarers deployment.

4. Accordingly, as reported byAccordingly, as reported by
P&I clubs, these increase inP&I clubs, these increase in
deployment led todeployment led to
significant increase insignificant increase in
disability claims.disability claims.

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

6. 1. Cerebrovascular Diseases1. Cerebrovascular Diseases
2. Diabetes Mellitus2. Diabetes Mellitus
3. Hemorrhoids3. Hemorrhoids
4. Gallstone4. Gallstone
5. Cardiovascular Diseases5. Cardiovascular Diseases
6. Inguinal Hernia6. Inguinal Hernia
7. Gastritis7. Gastritis
8. Hypertension8. Hypertension
9. Urinary Tract Infection9. Urinary Tract Infection
10. Appendicitis10. Appendicitis

7. In the same report, the ten leading causes ofIn the same report, the ten leading causes of
partial and total permanent disability are:partial and total permanent disability are:
1. Disc Herniation1. Disc Herniation
2. Fractures2. Fractures
3. Cardiovascular Diseases3. Cardiovascular Diseases
4. Traumatic Amputation4. Traumatic Amputation
5. Cerebrovascular Diseases5. Cerebrovascular Diseases
6. Malignancy6. Malignancy
7. Diabetes Mellitus7. Diabetes Mellitus
8. Burns8. Burns
9. Ligamental Tear9. Ligamental Tear
10. Hearing Loss10. Hearing Loss

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

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

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

11. Illness, injury and death are mainIllness, injury and death are main
reasons for loss of employment ofreasons for loss of employment of
seafarers that push their familiesseafarers that push their families
into poverty.into poverty.
Denial of death and disabilityDenial of death and disability
compensation ensure that thecompensation ensure that the
family is permanently marginalizedfamily is permanently marginalized
as well.as well.

12. However, in many instances, casualties canHowever, in many instances, casualties can
be prevented by vigilance in ensuring that abe prevented by vigilance in ensuring that a
safe environment is always maintained,safe environment is always maintained,
or the improvement of shipor the improvement of ship
operations be seriouslyoperations be seriously
put in place.put in place.

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

14. For instance, stress, as one of theFor instance, stress, as one of the
main causes of many of themain causes of many of the
severe conditions seafarers suffersevere conditions seafarers suffer
at work such as hypertension andat work such as hypertension and
diabetes, can be mitigated.diabetes, can be mitigated.
But with a working environmentBut with a working environment
bent on reducing crewbent on reducing crew
complement, work-related stresscomplement, work-related stress
is on the rise.is on the rise.

15. A capesize tanker,A capesize tanker,
ten years ago,ten years ago,
employs 32 deckemploys 32 deck
and engine crew.and engine crew.
Now it employsNow it employs
only 18.only 18.

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

17. Even some innocuously-Even some innocuously-
sounding job order likesounding job order like
““ballast tank cleaning”ballast tank cleaning”
seem to come right out ofseem to come right out of
a horror film scenario.a horror film scenario.

18. Or toOr to
carry out acarry out a
seemingly-seemingly-
mundane choremundane chore
like decklike deck
rust chippingrust chipping
can expose a seafarercan expose a seafarer
to a monster machineto a monster machine
able to rip his brains out.able to rip his brains out.

19. ISAC’sISAC’s
campaigncampaign
for shipfor ship
safetysafety
aims toaims to
serve as a linkserve as a link between seafarers,between seafarers,
shipowners and government to identify theshipowners and government to identify the
hidden causes that give rise to medical caseshidden causes that give rise to medical cases
and find beneficial solutions for prevention ofand find beneficial solutions for prevention of
illness and promotion of seafarers welfare.illness and promotion of seafarers welfare.

20. It shall serve as anIt shall serve as an
advocacy andadvocacy and
empowerment campaignempowerment campaign
to develop a safetyto develop a safety
culture among seafarersculture among seafarers
along the principles andalong the principles and
provisions of theprovisions of the
Maritime LaborMaritime Labor
Convention.Convention.

21. Promote bestPromote best
practices . . . .practices . . . .

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

23. "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 ofattitudes, competencies, and patterns of
behaviour that determine the commitment to,behaviour that determine the commitment to,
and the style and proficiency of, anand the style and proficiency of, an
organization's health and safety programs.organization's health and safety programs.
Organizations with a positive safety culture areOrganizations with a positive safety culture are
characterized by communications founded bycharacterized by communications founded by
mutual trust, by shared perceptions ofmutual trust, by shared perceptions of
importance of safety, and by confidence inimportance 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

24. A safe crewA safe crew
is a safeis a safe
ship!ship!
Join theJoin the
campaign!campaign!

25. 25 June 201325 June 2013