North of England P&I club has launched a graphic new series of safety posters as part of its continuing campaign to help reduce personal injuries on ships. Unlike previous safety poster series produced by the club, the new 'If only...' series clearly depicts the distressing results of not doing things properly.
Each of the new A2 colour posters shows two different outcomes to a common shipboard activity - one after correct procedures have been followed, the other after getting it all wrong. The caption on each poster simply states 'If only they had followed the correct procedure ...this would not have happened'.
According to loss-prevention executive Tony Baker, who designed the new hard-hitting campaign: 'The aim of the new posters is to make people think - the frightening worst-case scenario image contrasts starkly with the ease of doing the job right.
'Before any task is performed, however seemingly mundane, we want to encourage everyone to ask the question: "How can it be carried out properly?" - rather than say "If only..." after people have been killed or injured,' says Baker.
The first poster addresses the perennial topic of entry into enclosed spaces. One image shows crewmembers at the entry to an enclosed space with atmospheric testing equipment, breathing apparatus and a safety checklist. The other image shows dead seafarers being carried out of the same entry.
The second poster in the series is on pilot boarding arrangements, which includes the recommendations of the International Maritime Pilots Association, and the third will be on lifeboat operations.
The 'If only...' posters are the fourth safety poster series to be published by the 50 million GT club since 1996. The others are on safe work and accident prevention (Swap), management and safety training (Mast) and the Collision Regulations (Colregs). All posters are circulated to the A- rated club's 2500 entered ships and members' offices.
Non-members can buy the new posters from Anchorage Press, telephone +4420 8892 9905, email [email protected], for £5 each or £40 for packs of 10.