Occupational health and safety practices in maritime passenger transportation: Risk assessment and preventive measures

This thesis aims to identify the occupational health and safety (OHS) risks faced by both the crew and passengers on passenger ships, and to eliminate these hazards at their source or minimize them. The confined spaces of ships, unpredictable weather conditions, and the lack of emergency training among civilian passengers make maritime safety management significantly more challenging and critical compared to onshore workplaces. To determine the magnitude and priority of the hazards in this research, a mathematical method known as the "Fine-Kinney" risk assessment model, which is based on the parameters of probability, frequency, and severity, was utilized. Shipboard risks were analyzed under five main categories: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial. Various analyses were conducted based on national regulations and international maritime conventions (such as SOLAS and the ISM Code). In the case evaluations, sector-specific hazards were assessed, including falling from movable ramps, the application of toxic chemical paints, the transmission of infections in common areas, physical strain from lifting heavy loads in confined spaces, and the mental stress generated by crowd management. Regarding solutions, it was emphasized that relying solely on personal protective equipment (PPE, e.g., hard hats, gloves) is inadequate. It was demonstrated that the most sustainable approach to preventing accidents—in accordance with the principles of the Hierarchy of Risk Controls—is eliminating the hazard at its source (e.g., removing obsolete lashing eyes that pose a tripping hazard) or substitution with a less harmful alternative (e.g., utilizing water-based paints). In conclusion, this study presents a human-centric safety vision for the maritime sector by recommending the provision of occupational health and safety training to support the crew, the implementation of dynamic risk assessments rather than static documentation, and the execution of realistic emergency drills that encompass the evacuation of civilian passengers.