An empirical investigation of the work environment on board industrial- and cruise ships and the associations with safety

Abstract

The overall aim of this study was to examine the work environment and the associations with safety, and see the relations with occupational accidents and undesired events on board industrial and cruise ships. 215 seafarers participated in this quantitative survey study, with a response rate of 35%. When conducting the hierarchical block regression analysis separately on superiors/officers and subordinates/ratings, the work environment emerged as a predictor for safety status (compliance, attitudes and commitment). Several significant differences in the beta value between the two groups were also found. When testing the differences in the safety status on ships with high and low number of undesired events and accidents, separately on the two groups, significant differences emerged only for superiors and officers; Significant differences were found in compliance when testing high and low number of undesired events, and for high and low number of accidents safety status and compliance emerged significant. Without assuming causation, the work environment appears to be a possible alternate and indirect way of improving on the safety status on board ships. However, safety status and the relations with undesired events and accidents require further investigation before a more accurate conclusion can be made.