Mental Health and Wellbeing

The topic of mental health in recent years, has come much more to the forefront of everyday conversation and consideration. The COVID pandemic has shone a spotlight on the subject in particular, due to added potential pressures of loneliness, uncertainty, job security, loss of income, etc.

The seafarer’s lifestyle has always brought with it unique pressures (being away from family for extended periods, lack of ability to “escape” from the work-place), and it is recognised that the lifestyle of seafarers makes the topic of mental health particularly relevant.

The MSF Health and Wellbeing document sets out to inform the reader of what mental health is, what poor and good mental health looks like, how the seafarer can take control of matters that they can influence to better manage mental health, how to recognise when fellow seafarers are struggling and what to do in such an event, all through the lens of the seafarers lifestyle. The document also promotes some simple steps adopted by onshore and offshore managers which can make a meaningful contribution to managing mental health and wellbeing onboard.

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Confined Space Entry

Created in collaboration with Step Change in Safety – this pack contains a high-quality film which follows a successful task involving confined space entry, from planning phase to completion, highlighting good practice and controls throughout with questions at the end to encourage discussion and engagement. Also included within the pack are speaker notes, a variety of Confined Space Safety Alerts, guidance for confined space entry working and a safety moment.

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H2S Awareness – “The Danger Within”

This Video has been produced by a cross industry workgroup to heighten the awareness of the risks of H2S and other hazardous gasses associated with the back loading and transportation of oil contaminated wet bulk waste (slops) from offshore installations on Offshore Support Vessels.

The Video highlights the criticality of adhering to the guidance and procedures found within the recently updated “Guidelines for Offshore Marine Operations” (GOMO)

Marine Operations – 500M Zone

Developed by the MSF and Step Change to raise awareness on the risks from marine operations within offshore installation safety zones.

The film has been created by compiling several incidents which have occurred in the North Sea where vessels have collided or nearly collided with offshore installations.

Most of these incidents involve vessels that had been invited into the area around the platform –  not errant vessels that had drifted in. The ‘500m safety zone’ surrounds all installations, and the OIM or a delegate is responsible for all marine operations in that zone. All vessels must be invited to enter.

Having a ‘marine responsible person’ communicating with, and monitoring, the movements of the vessels within this zone is good practice in the prevention of collisions. The JuT safety pack has several tools to help manage risk including:

• a document which outlines the good practice involved when vessels work within the zone including; safe approach, pre-entry checks, working alongside and exiting
• a poster
• a short Joined-up Thinking video
• bulletin and speaker notes

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Static Dropped Objects (VIDEO ONLY)

Joined up Thinking collaboration between Marine Safety Forum and Stepchange in Safety to promote the hazards associated with dropped objects.

Dynamic Dropped Objects

Joined up Thinking collaboration between Marine Safety Forum and Stepchange in Safety to promote the hazards associated with dropped objects.

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