11 LMM V I S I O N ISSUE 22 | Q3 2025 SEAFARERS’ INTERVIEW everybody the authority to stop work activities if they identify potential hazards, safety violations or imminent dangers onboard. How do you promote SWA onboard vessel? GN: By emphasizing its importance during safety meetings, drills and safety campaigns, setting examples of issued SWA and giving possible outcomes with and without given SWA practices, and boosting the confidence of every crew to issue SWA in every aspect of life onboard. SG: By emphasizing the need to all crew members to speak up and ensuring that their opinions, concerns and experience are heard and valued. If crew members know their voice and knowledge are valued, they will not be afraid to voice their concerns. NB: We promote SWA by speaking up during toolbox meeting and reminding the team that we all have equal responsibility for safety. JLR: In order the officers and crew to be proactive in implementing SWA is to lead by example. The management onboard should consistently follow safety procedures and address safety concerns promptly. Ensure that all crew members, regardless of rank, feel empowered to exercise SWA without fear of punishment. Recognize/appreciate crewmember that are proactive in implementing SWA particularly during safety meeting or during short talk when in break time. Do you believe SWA improves safety? GN: Yes, because it is human nature to be complacent sometimes and this approach helps maintain a strong safety culture onboard and ensures that all operations are carried out safely and in compliance with company and regulatory requirement. It somehow reduces human error element. SG: I do, reason why is that it builds a culture of watching for one another’s back which has significant impact in the long run. NB: Yes, because it prevents accidents by identifying hazards before they turn into accidents, and it builds culture where everyone watches each other’s back, it shows the value of human life over work activity and pressure. JLR: Yes, it does by empowering all crew members to implement SWA to any operations which they believe is unsafe, thereby preventing accidents before they occur. It also promotes a strong safety culture where the ship’s crew feel comfortable identifying hazards without fear of reprisal, leading to a proactive hazards identification and risk mitigation. How confident is everyone onboard to use SWA? GN: Onboard the vessel, there is a high level of confidence among the crew in using the Stop Work Authority. All personnel are aware that they have the full right and responsibility to stop work whenever they observe an unsafe act or condition, regardless of rank or nationality. SG: Very confident but it depends on a level of experience of the person in question. NB: Confidence varies, but overall, most of us feel encouraged to use it. The stronger the safety culture, the more comfortable the crewmembers are. JLR: The crew onboard are confident to use SWA when they understand fully the company’s policy, received proper training and practice using the authority without reprimand. This builds their confidence as they know the steps to take and feeling supported by management and practicing with colleagues to reduce fear of retribution. What do you need to use SWA? GN: There are six conditions to use SWA. First is the identification of hazard, meaning observing an unsafe act, unsafe condition, equipment defect, procedural deviation or sudden change of environment. Then there’s personal safety concern; a reasonable belief that continuing the task could cause injury, damage or pollution. Third comes the clear communication, which implies Informing the work party by calling “Stop Work”. Fourth is the commitment to safety culture. In other words, understanding that safety takes priority over time, cost or operational issues. Fifth is company and onboard support, that basically translates knowing that the Company, master and senior officers fully support the use of SWA and apply no blame culture. Lastly, the follow up action, which includes reassessment of risk, implementation of corrective measures, and confirmation that the conditions are safe before resuming work. SG: Will and courage from the person using it and continuous support from Officers for it to be used. All other items we have for stopping work are just extras but these three I listed previously are critical. NB: To use SWA, all we need is a valid safety concern, courage to speak up, support from crew and officers, a culture where stopping is respected and encouraged, clear understanding of procedures to recognize when something is off, and most importantly is the assurance that safety comes first. JLR: To carry out training to the ship’s personnel on identifying, the clear authority to stop work without fear of punishment and a process for notifying others, investigating the issue, correcting the problem and resuming work only when it is safe.
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