Crucial Tips for Maritime Workers

The maritime industry is one crucial sector that directly or indirectly impacts everyone’s life. People know that many of the food, electronics, automobiles, and clothes we use are transported through the ocean, and some enjoy vacations on tourism cruises. However, not many are aware of the challenges that come with being a maritime worker.

The maritime industry is different from other occupational sectors because workers face unique challenges, from heavy equipment and machinery to unpredictable weather and safety hazards. As an employee in this sector, you must be well informed about how to stay safe on the job and remain relevant in the industry while advancing in your career path. This article will show you what you need to know as an entry-level or experienced maritime worker.

Know Your Rights

Due to the hazardous and complex nature of the maritime environment, maritime injuries such as falls due to slippery decks, cluttered walkways, and moving ships are common. Also, injuries occur when crew members aren’t adequately trained on the safe operations of heavy machinery or how to swiftly respond to emergency procedures.

It’s essential to know your rights and limitations as a maritime worker and when to pull the plug on unnecessarily dangerous activities. Your boss cannot force you to work when your safety is at risk, even if it means them losing money. Not many maritime workers are aware of their rights, resulting in various injuries. Sadly, the corporations that own those sea vessels are often more concerned about their profits than workers’ well-being.

According to the Chopin Law Firm, an offshore injury lawyer, ‘’Large maritime companies are notorious for denying workers the compensation they rightfully deserve. Because maritime workers are employed in such a high-risk setting, it comes as no surprise that there are many laws and regulations governing their safety. These laws regularly come into play in a maritime injury case.’’ So, you must know your rights and how to exercise them. When doing so, it’s best to seek legal representation early to avoid being undercompensated for workplace injuries.

Get Sufficient Training and Follow Safety Procedures

Many maritime injuries and accidents are the result of inadequate training. To work effectively and safely on board a vessel, you must be properly trained. Depending on your job role, training can take a year or more, even for entry-level positions.

Some of the essential training seafarers need are repetitive stress injury prevention, safety inspection training, emergency response training, and machinery response training. Pay attention to instructions on how to work around heavy machinery and the procedures pertaining to proper cargo handling.

After getting trained, ensure you put the knowledge into practice by following safety procedures. When executing your duties on board, wear the appropriate safety gear, which would typically include safety goggles, helmets, boots, and harnesses. If your role requires anti-fall gear or personal flotation devices, ensure that you have them on whenever you’re working. Although your safety gear may slow you down a bit at work or increase your prep time, you must never neglect it.

Engage in Continuing Education

If your role requires specific licenses or certifications, ensure you get it. That way, you will become a better employee with higher chances for higher pay and job satisfaction. The maritime industry is rapidly evolving, and safety procedures, technologies, and regulations are being introduced regularly. Maritime professionals must embrace continuing education after their initial qualifications.

Attend workshops, conferences, and short courses, and even obtain advanced degrees while paying attention to on-the-job training. This will help you stay updated with the latest developments in your field. Since efficiency and safety are paramount in the industry, you must stay current with the new regulatory changes, trends, and technologies. When you know the current regulations pertaining to your practice and their practical implications, you’ll be able to operate in accordance with the new guidelines.

Continuing education benefits you and the maritime industry as a whole. If more seafarers take courses in safety, situational awareness, and other relevant areas, they will become better equipped to understand their jobs and the risks associated with their operations. Also, the environment will be better since there will be a collective effort to adopt more sustainable practices. Although continuing education is crucial for all maritime personnel, it is especially important for team leads, executives, and supervisors. To manage their organizations and teams more effectively, executives must have an in-depth understanding of industry trends and developments.

When considering which courses or activities to undertake for continuing education, pay attention to the skills and knowledge that are relevant to your job functions. For instance, if you obtain specialized training in maritime safety, you can become a trainer responsible for educating other crew members on work safety. You could even become a safety officer on your team.  Similarly, If you’re an engineer who decides to take automation and advanced robotics courses, you’d be equipping yourself with new responsibilities. This knowledge can be relevant for developing innovative robotics systems for moving, loading, and unloading cargo.

Maintain Situational Awareness

Situational awareness is your ability to maintain a good perception of your environment, comprehend what’s happening around you, and predict how it will affect you and your team. Maritime workers who have situational awareness can identify likely hazards in advance since they are alert to changing vessel traffic, sea conditions, and weather patterns. Also, they proactively prevent danger by adjusting their routes when needed.

So, maintain situational awareness and establish a culture of trust and safety with your co-workers. You should be quick to alert each other to danger and respond to maritime injuries with appropriate first aid.

Work as a Team

Teamwork is an essential skill that every seafarer needs. It would be dangerous to go overboard, slip, or hit your head when no one knows. Not having immediate assistance in such situations can result in prolonged distress and can even be fatal. That’s why you should avoid working solo when possible and maintain constant communication with your other team members if you can’t have someone present with you when undertaking a task.