Vol 63, No 3 (2012)
Original article
Submitted: 2013-02-18
Published online: 2012-11-06
International regulations on labour health and safety applied to fishing and maritime transport sectors. Are maritime workers under-protected
Julio Louro Rodríguez, Rosa Mary de la Campa Portela, Guadalupe Martín Pardo
Vol 63, No 3 (2012)
MARITIME MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2013-02-18
Published online: 2012-11-06
Abstract
The work activity developed on board is of great importance in our nearby environment, and it has
a series of peculiarities that determine the service rendering of sea workers. On the other hand, work
at sea is developed on an international basis. Nowadays such work becomes a completely globalised
industrial sector in relation to the elements that make up the ship’s operation, including manpower.
For that reason several relevant international organisations have paid attention to this industrial
sector and have adopted a broad regulation on this matter. In the case of the European Union, the
Community procedure emphasises enormous interest in providing specific and comprehensive training
to seafarers, as well as in regulating working time on board with the aim of minimising the safety
problems caused by fatigue. In the present article a schematic presentation of regulations on workers’
health and occupational safety protection derived from the European Union, the International
Maritime Organisation, and the International Labour Organisation has been done. Also it shows what
parts of these regulations are not applicable to the work on board, and it reveals how the workers of
fishing and maritime transport sectors are under-protected with regard to the guarantee of their
health and occupational safety compared to workers in other sectors.
Abstract
The work activity developed on board is of great importance in our nearby environment, and it has
a series of peculiarities that determine the service rendering of sea workers. On the other hand, work
at sea is developed on an international basis. Nowadays such work becomes a completely globalised
industrial sector in relation to the elements that make up the ship’s operation, including manpower.
For that reason several relevant international organisations have paid attention to this industrial
sector and have adopted a broad regulation on this matter. In the case of the European Union, the
Community procedure emphasises enormous interest in providing specific and comprehensive training
to seafarers, as well as in regulating working time on board with the aim of minimising the safety
problems caused by fatigue. In the present article a schematic presentation of regulations on workers’
health and occupational safety protection derived from the European Union, the International
Maritime Organisation, and the International Labour Organisation has been done. Also it shows what
parts of these regulations are not applicable to the work on board, and it reveals how the workers of
fishing and maritime transport sectors are under-protected with regard to the guarantee of their
health and occupational safety compared to workers in other sectors.
Keywords
international regulations; safety and protection in maritime transport
Title
International regulations on labour health and safety applied to fishing and maritime transport sectors. Are maritime workers under-protected
Journal
International Maritime Health
Issue
Vol 63, No 3 (2012)
Article type
Original article
Pages
117-124
Published online
2012-11-06
Page views
670
Article views/downloads
1649
Bibliographic record
IMH 2012;63(3):117-124.
Keywords
international regulations
safety and protection in maritime transport
Authors
Julio Louro Rodríguez
Rosa Mary de la Campa Portela
Guadalupe Martín Pardo
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