What are the most common causes of accidents in maritime and land-based industries? And how can you avoid such situations?
In this article, we will have a look at the main causes of accidents, before we dig into how to prevent these situations. Whether you’re a QHSE-manager, technical inspector, or project manager working in maritime or land-based environments, we hope you will gain valuable knowledge that can help create a safer workplace.
Common types of accidents
As you know, working in maritime or land-based industries one is exposed to hazardous working conditions that increase the likelihood of accidents.
Typical accidents include crushing injuries, machinery accidents, fires, chemical exposures, structural failures – and the most common of all, fall accidents.
One third of all work-related injuries are related to slips, trips and falls, as well as being the second most common cause of work-related deaths. Water, oil, ice, snow, or bad visibility are all causes of these incidents.
Falls can occur for various reasons:
- Uneven terrain
- Wet, oily, icy surfaces
- Lack of railings or safety barriers
- Bad visibility due to inadequate lighting
- Insufficient training and awareness
Consequences
Not only will work accidents have a negative impact on productivity and project progress – it will also lead to additional work in the form of paperwork, hiring substitutes, and deviation reporting.
Just as important is the employees feeling safe at work. Working in an unsafe environment can create a negative workspace, leading to increased turnover rates.
How to prevent accidents
Fortunately, relatively simple measures are needed to prevent such accidents.
Securing thorough training of employees as well as informing about the company’s HSE-policy are important measures to make employees feel safe as well as avoiding injuries.
Then there are physical measures:
- Marking of sharp edges and pointed corners
- Make sure all equipment is up to date
- Sufficient lighting in dark working environments
- Anti slip solutions such as step- and walkway covers, safe escape markers and ladder run covers
Takeaway
Having a safe workplace promotes well-being among your employees, in addition to increasing efficiency and economic growth. By implementing the measures discussed in this article, you can secure a safe workplace and happy employees.
