Preventing accidents and personal injuries

The UK P&I Club’s David Nichol comments on the measures we should be taking to help prevent accidents and personal injuries occurring onboard

Personal injury incidents to crew members represent one of the largest categories of P&I claim both in terms of frequency and cost. By their very nature, significant personal injuries are traumatic, physically and also mentally, potentially resulting in full or partial disability, unfitness for future employment and sometimes death. Their impact can therefore be far reaching, not just for the affected crew members but also their families and dependents. Such incidents can also deeply affect ship management staff, who may have known the seafarer and their family for many years.