2. INTRODUCTI
ON
Course Handbook
Assessments
Assessment 1 – Crosswords (5%)
Individual work
Assessment 2 – Essay (10%) Individual
work
Assessment 3 – Multiple Choice (15%)
Individual work
Assessment 4- Case Study 70%)
Readings & additional resources
3. OUTLINE
Introduction to the course
Course Handbook
Introduction to HELM
Origins of HELM
Influences on HELM
Key concepts
4. OBJECTIVE: To introduce students to the Human Element in Shipping and some of
the Key Issues
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students should understand what is meant by the human element
Identify the different actors within the socio-technical system
Describe and make linkages among the various components that drove the shipping
industry’s focus on the human element.
Identify and understand the different human factors impacting safety on-board.
Describe the different ways the industry attempts to address casualties at sea.
Begin to think critically about the discourse on the human element in shipping
5. INTRODUCTI
ON
HELM
Why a focus on the human
element?
What gave rise to this focus?
Discussion Sheet 1a
6. Some major maritime casualties between 1987 and 1996 (Source: Anderson 2003: 14-15)
Year Vessel Casualty Consequences
1987 Herald of Free Enterprise – capsized off
Zeebrugge
190 people lost their lives
1987 Donna Paz – ferry collided with a tanker in
the Philippines
Estimated 4,384 people lost their lives
1989 Exxon Valdez – ran aground off the coast of
Alaska
37,000 tonnes of oil spilled causing extensive
environmental damage. Final claims level may
possible exceed US$10 billion
1990 Scandinavian Star – ferry disaster 158 people lost their lives
1991 Agip Abruzzo – collided with ro-ro ferry
Moby Prince off Livorno, Italy
Fire, pollution and 143 persons lost their lives
1991 Haven – fire and explosion off Genoa Claims in excess of US$700 million
1991 Salem Express – ferry disaster sinking 470 people lost their lives
1992 Agean Sea – broke in two off La Coruna,
Spain
Extensive pollution and claims approached US$200
million.
1993 Braer – grounding on the Shetland Islands Widespread pollution. Claims in the region of
US$200 million
1994 Estonia – ro-ro passenger ferry sinking 852 people lost their lives
1996 Sea Empress – Milford Haven, UK Major oil pollution
7. HUMAN ELEMENT = SAFETY [security & marine environmental
protection]
The Narrative:-
80% of accidents at sea caused by the human element
Human error
Technological advancements made ship safer, human factors
neglected
Navigation equipment (Radar, GMDSS, ECDIS)
Improved Standards & Enhanced Regulatory Regime
(SOLAS, MARPOL)
8. IMO:
I have one gnawing concern which embraces the whole question
as to why intelligent, well trained, highly-skilled and experienced
professional seafarers make critical mistakes despite the
advances in technology which have been designed to make them
more efficient and, by inference safer in the way they operate. It
is extremely important that we should get to the root of this
question so that we can introduce corrective measures (William
O’Neil, 2001).
9. IMO:
It has been recognized that there have been marked improvements in
the casualty records and that fewer ships and fewer lives are being lost
at sea than was the case a decade ago. The records also show that
there has been a concurrent decline in the amount of pollution
entering the marine environment from vessels transiting the oceans.
These successes have been achieved mainly through improved
standards and an enhanced regulatory regime involving the structural,
mechanical and operational characteristics of ships, accompanied by
the introduction of technologically advanced navigational systems.
(O’Neil 2002: 1).
10. IMO: How to address the problem?
STCW
SOLAS
ISM Code
(MARPOL)
Safety culture video : What is Safety Culture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNbKEWuh814
11. “At the heart of our work are two measures which cannot be
overemphasized. The International Safety Management (ISM)
Code and the 1995 Convention on Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) rank
among the most important pieces of legislation to have passed
through IMO in recent years. “
World Maritime Day 2001: IMO – Globalization and the role of the seafarer
https://www.marinelink.com/news/globalization-maritime307805
12. IMO: The ISM Code
“Effective implementation of the ISM Code should lead to a move
away from a culture of "unthinking" compliance with external
rules towards a culture of "thinking" self-regulation of safety -
the development of a “safety culture”, with every individual -
from the top to the bottom - feeling responsible for actions taken
to improve safety and performance. Application of the ISM Code
should support and encourage the development of a safety
culture in shipping.”
13. From the IMO’s perspective,
Culture is something that the company has it is about having
a “want to” rather than a “have to” attitude [to safety]. So the
values, beliefs, perceptions and attitudes (which influence
actions) of all the persons in the company towards safety,
where safety is integrated in every aspect of the organization
and is not compromised, is considered as having a safety
culture.
14. SUMMARY of the main argument:-
Shipping had improved its casualty record
Less pollution of the marine environment
These successes were achieved mainly through:
Technology
Improved standards, (of operation, MET etc)
Enhanced regulatory regime
Most accidents are attributed to the human element (human error)
Human element needs greater attention
Important to create a safety culture in the people to address safety
at sea
15. The human element is:
A multi-dimensional concept that deals with the people in a socio-technical system. The
term human factor also applies and is mostly used as the professional term. It is defined
as:-
Human factor is about people in their working (inserted: and living environment). “It
is about their relationship with machines and equipment, with procedures and with
the environment about them. And it is about their relationship with other people.”
Hawkins 1993: 20).
IMO defines the human element as:-
The human element is a complex multi-dimensional issue that affects maritime
safety, security and marine environmental protection involving the entire spectrum of
human activities performed by ships' crews, shore-based management, regulatory
bodies and others. All need to co-operate to address human element issues effectively.
16. QUESTION: What is one important area that is
missing from this diagram?
17. The socio-technical system refers
to all the factors (social and
technical) that influence actions
within the work environment from
the people at the various levels
and their interaction with and
influence on the technical and
organizational aspects of the work
environment
18. Socio (SOCIAL the human and the organization) –
workers at the sharp end (i.e. those in the immediate work
environment) i.e seafarers on ships
Shore-based management/company
Shipowners and Ship Managers
Shipping Agents and superintendents
Port administrators and Port-workers
Local regulators and policy makers (maritime
administrators) (Flag State)
Regional – Port State Control (for eg. Memoranda of
Understanding)
International (for eg. the IMO/ILO international regulators
and policy makers)
Equipment designers (Naval architects)
Ship builders
Classification societies
Pilots
TECHNICAL
• Hardware – ship and
machinery
• Software – computer systems
• Port machinery
