Welcome to this Personal Safety and Social Responsibility elearning course where you will learn about the procedures and planning to be followed to avoid disasters such as foundering or capsizing.

You will also learn about safety and pollution prevention duties, and how to look after yourself and fellow crew members.

Learning outcomes are shown below:

Explain the meaning of the term ‘emergency’ in a shipboard context and identify the main types of emergency which may occur, including:
• Collision
• Fire
• Foundering
• Ingress of water

Explain the purpose of shipboard contingency plans for response to emergencies including the use and provision of muster lists and other sources of onboard information.

Identify a range of typical alarm systems found on board merchant ships.

Describe the actions to take on hearing emergency alarm systems or on discovering an emergency.

Identify personal safety equipment used in emergency situations.
Explain the value of training and drills, highlighting the significance of emergency preparation and onboard procedures.
Describe the use of escape routes and internal communication systems.

Explain the meaning of the term ‘pollution’ as applicable to the marine environment and how this may affect a complex and diverse ecosystem.

Outline international measures for pollution prevention and containment including how seafarers can positively act to prevent pollution.

List marine pollutants commonly found on board ship and how basic environmental protection procedures can be managed onboard.

Identify the consequences of polluting the marine environment and how this may occur either operationally or accidentally.

Identify personal responsibility (legal) to comply with the current Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

Identify a range of typical hazardous shipboard work situations that may compromise the health and safety of persons aboard ship.

Explain the importance of adhering to safe working practice at all times.

List commonly used safety and personal protective equipment provided on board ship to protect against potential hazards and identify when to use it.

Describe the risks of entering dangerous spaces on board ship and explain the precautions to be taken prior to entering enclosed spaces.

Identify good practice procedures for safety familiarisation training prior to seafarers being assigned shipboard duties.

Identify relevant seafarer health and safety publications published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO).

List typical methods of shipboard communication and identify the consequences of poor, wrong or inappropriate communications.

Identify the barriers and challenges to effective communication and describe what can be done to reduce them.

Identify personal attributes essential to achieve effective communications.

Describe the typical differences between shipboard and shore-based work environment.

Identify the seafarer’s social responsibilities in a shipboard context.

Identify the consequences of poor teamwork.

Describe simple strategies for conflict resolution.

Outline an individual’s rights and obligations including employee responsibilities in a shipboard context.

Outline the meaning of the term ‘fatigue’ in a shipboard context and identify a range of common causes and the importance of obtaining the necessary rest.

Define the circadian rhythm and how this and sleep can be disturbed by schedule changes, physical and external environmental stressors.

Identify actions to control short term fatigue through personal actions and line management solutions.

Outline the current regulatory requirements for hours of work and rest periods, to include young person’s legislation.