scope:

General

The importance of the human element in maritime safety is increasingly being recognized by the shipping and offshore communities and is receiving increased levels of attention due to the efforts of organizations such as the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). IMO's primary efforts have concentrated on human element issues relating to management, training, and personnel, as reflected by the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (the ISM Code) in 1993 and the update of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) in 2012. While organizations like IMO have issued other documents, circulars, and guidelines related to aspects of ergonomics, systematic application of ergonomics in the maritime industry remains limited. This lack of systematic application occurs even though ergonomics has been recognized to be central to improving safety and productivity. These Guidance Notes are intended to promote the application and understanding of ergonomic knowledge to maritime and offshore systems.