Page 19: of Marine News Magazine (February 2024)

18 20

ment, work processes and technology progress, and it can if you start the new year out by listening to your workforce be hard to keep up with the latest changes. In 2024, keep and implementing necessary changes to work practices an eye out for updates to existing standards and implement based on their direct input. If you don’t know where to any new ones introduced as recommended by the Occu- start and that seems like a heavy lift, it may be useful to use pational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The the ? ndings from your safety audit. By checking in with

Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety your workers and studying your internal procedures, you and Health (MACOSH) and we at the National Maritime can jump-start your safety culture in the new year.

Safety Association (NMSA) are two organizations that can As we start the new year, we should remain committed help you ? nd the resources you need to stay up to date on to taking measures (hopefully some of these) to make sure emerging changes and new safety standards. our workforce has a safe and healthy place to work. Don’t think about these as huge undertakings but as a part of

Use of safety equipment your company’s culture and safety evolution. Start small

Providing workers with adequate and suitable safety and work your way up. Connect with your workforce, equipment is not only vital to a good safety program, but it’s keep up with industry best practices, and you will promote also an opportunity to show that you care about your work- a safe and healthy working environment for all your water- force’s safety. This includes personal protective equipment front workers. Use the tips we provided, put in the work, such as helmets or hard hats, safety shoes, high-visibility and you can make 2024 a safe and successful year!

clothing, and fall protection systems for work at height. Fur-

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do ther, there are always speci? c needs for different types of wa- not represent the opinions or endorsements of any organization or enti- terfront work which means you will need to ensure the PPE ty. Readers should use their own discretion and consider multiple sources you provide is what your workers need to safely accomplish of information when forming their own opinions or making decisions.

their job. The current boom in “consumable AI” has started to change how we think about PPE and machine-mounted safety technology. In 2024, ensure that all your workers have access to the necessary safety equipment and are trained to use them correctly, but likewise, investigate new and emerg- ing technologies that may enhance your safety programs.

Regular safety audits

Regular safety audits can help identify potential hazards and implement corrective measures. The U.S. Coast Guard, for example, tracks a variety of safety metrics, including the number of serious marine incidents and commercial mari- ner injuries. In the new year, if you are not already, con- sider starting a program to conduct regular safety audits to ensure the safety of your work environment (aboard cargo vessels, warehouse operations, workshops M&R, etc.).

These should not be used to put your employees under a microscope and hand out safety violations like they are an

Initech TPS report (watch the movie Of? ce Space if you need context). But it is a chance to engage your longshore workers in the ? eld, see where your company can improve its daily procedures and grow the safety programs to con- tinually improve work environments for your workers.

Promotion of safe work practices

Moving into 2024, continue to promote safe work prac- tices among your workers and look for opportunities to gain more insight into the practices your workforce is us- ing and why they have been created. It will go a long way www.marinelink.com MN 19|