When approached to write a chapter for this book, the authors initially considered writing on the learning transfer between different safety critical industries, specifically from airport collaborative decision making to port collaborative decision making and how logistics were impacted by recent events. Upon reflection of the authors' research over the past year, it became apparent that a very different chapter was unfolding. Having researched the wellbeing of healthcare workers in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of wellbeing of the human factor in safety critical systems came to the fore. Now is the time to reflect upon where we were during COVID (Wellbeing I) and where we must be (Wellbeing II) to protect our human factor as the critical element in keeping our seas safe, operational, and thriving for the future.
TopIntroduction
When approached to write a chapter for this book, the authors initially considered writing on the learning transfer between different safety critical industries, specifically from Airport Collaborative Decision Making to Port Collaborative Decision Making and how logistics were impacted by recent events. Upon reflection of the authors’ research over the past year, it became apparent that a very different chapter was unfolding. COVID-19 was unprecedented for the entire globe. Each and every safety critical industry was effected, and no one had prior knowledge of how to respond. In essence, we were all learning on the job.
In 2020, the Irish Government put out a call to researchers asking them to suggest ways in which they could respond to the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland. The authors were involved in a project which aimed to improve infection control and wellbeing for Health Care Workers (HCW) – the PPE Safe Project. The project strived to protect HCW and improve patient safety by reinforcing the correct procedures for Hand Hygiene (HH) and the donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Cahill et al 2021). The wellbeing aspect introduced the concept of brief mindfulness-based interventions as a means to 1) reinforce correct procedures and 2) to provide a much-needed time-out for those caring for COVID-19 patients. Brief mindfulness interventions have been successful in impacting HCW stress, anxiety, and resilience in a positive manner (Gilmartin et al 2017). Cahill et al 2021b found that the concept of mindfulness was positively received by HCW across three hospital sites in Ireland. The concept of self-care and HCW wellbeing were considered to be essential for HCW to function under these stressful, hazardous and traumatic working conditions.
It became evident to the authors that there are lessons to be learned and shared amongst safety critical industries on how to look after the human factor during challenging events. The authors would like to do so here. This chapter will outline a systems perspective on:
- 1.
Examining how other safety critical industries respond to challenging events and how this may transfer to the maritime industry
- 2.
Valuing the human factor and raising the profile of seafarer wellbeing
- 3.
Recommending on how to support the Human Factor for both normal operations and during challenging events
- 4.
Examining how the concept of wellbeing should be approached from a more positive, holistic and proactive systems approach
The “human factor” referred to herein, is the seafarer- the human living and working at sea and in port. As far back as 1948, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Constitution defined wellbeing as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO 2006, Sartorius 2006, Miselbrook 2014). This is the same definition in use today. Some may consider this definition to be robust and to have withstood the test of time, but it has also drawn some criticism for being an unattainable Nirvana and lacking in positivity to strive for (Miselbrook 2014).