CHIRP (Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme) is a charity for improving safety in the air and at sea. As the name states, it encourages those in marine and aviation to share safety concerns confidentially. These concerns can relate to physically dangerous practices as well as harassment. Through reports created by independent investigators, CHIRP Maritime strives to improve superyacht safety practices as well as commercial safety practices. In its most recent Superyacht Feedback newsletter, CHIRP Maritime highlights an ongoing issue, crewmembers working aloft without proper safety equipment.
According to CHIRP, it received a photo of crewmembers engaged in risky behavior, submitted by someone on another yacht close by. Specifically, two individuals are cleaning and otherwise taking care of equipment on the uppermost deck, in precarious positions. No harnesses, safety lines, or other personal protective equipment are visible, either. This violates international regulations, which require that every vessel has a safety management system (SMS). An SMS is a documented way of ensuring all crew implement safety practices and environmental protection practices. “We often receive photographs of similar incidents,” CHIRP indicates. In fact, “The regularity of the photos submitted to CHIRP—often several each month—suggests that such behavior is normalized across the industry.”
Further to this point, CHIRP says that when its investigators contact the yachts in question, the response is that the crewmembers in question aren’t adhering to the SMS. This is of no comfort to the charity, however. “At best, it demonstrates that many vessels do not adequately supervise their crews,” the organization states. “At worst, it suggests that, on some vessels at least, such behavior is actively condoned to save time. In reality, donning a safety harness is much swifter than dealing with a severe medical emergency following a fall.” Finally, the investigators issue a reminder that superyacht safety practices are no less important in the industry’s philosophy that “reputation is paramount.”
Adam Parnell, director of CHIRP Maritime, writes, “Every challenge presents an opportunity for growth.” He stresses that creating and adhering to a culture of accountability and proactive safety achieves this.
Read the full newsletter here. CHIRP encourages the yachting community to submit reports when involved in or witnessing an incident or accident aboard a yacht. All reports are confidential, and once investigations conclude, personal details become erased from the database.
CHIRP chirp.co.uk
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