SAFETY FIRST!
from the SQE Department
Message from the DPA:
Learn & Improve instead of Blame & Punish Dear seafarers,
The Company’s NO BLAME culture is something that we all need to work on and constantly try to improve. Having been a member of a shipping company for a As a result of this effort, we have launched our recent number of years, I have come to realize that learning campaign: changing SWA to SWO. Changing just how work is done onboard is very difficult. Work as one word? Can Authority imagined and work as done are not the same. Seafarers becoming Obligation actually are the experts onboard and the written systems and make a difference? Words are procedures are only a mirror of their successful work. powerful and it’s important And here comes the oxymoron: “The higher up and the for us all to be aware of how further away you are from an awareness of workplace Elli Moretti we use them. Using the right hazards – the lower down and the further away you are words, being clear, positive, from influencing the work systems”. polite and humble, not only improves So, can these systems protect you? If your expertise feedback is communication but also safety. Such available on how to improve the processes and what safeguards a seemingly small change can have a tremendous impact on your onboard are needed, then yes! On the other hand, learning your work systems is your most relations. powerful tool for safety & reliability, but it is something that NO BLAME behaviour always starts at takes effort. The enemy of learning is knowing – when you think the top, it encourages good relations and creates clear lines of you know a task, you will not ask important, relevant questions. communication: Be curious, be smart, be humble. • Leaders of all levels shape how the organisation learns by Waiting for failure to occur is too late – learn while operations their reaction to failure. All eyes are on them. are normal. • Be ready to receive feedback even when it is bad. But failures at some point are inevitable... Error is normal. People • Communication at all levels is important and it can only be make mistakes; they are not machines. We all need to strive for achieved with good relationships. a work environment where it is safe to fail and learn. This can be • If you don't know what's wrong, it can't be rectified. achieved by asking what failed instead of who failed. Sometimes we think we can fix the problem by fixing the person who failed by blaming them. But blame is the opposite of encouragement. No one can improve in this way because mistakes are not choices and errors are not a conscious decision to fail – error is an unintended deviation from an expected outcome.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: You can blame and punish or you can learn and improve, but you can't do both. I wish you calm seas and safe voyages, Elli Moretti
We wish to thank ALL fleet vessels for embracing Health and Safety campaigns and for providing feedback of their onboard implementation with such enthusiasm! As there is no space to address each and every one of you separately for your efforts in the SWO campaign, this time we chose M/T MIKELA P. So thank you Cpt. Leonid Yelenchuk for sending us this great “time out” photo!
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Issue 73-September 2020
