It’s time for a wellbeing-first approach to casualty investigation

Ben Beesley, of Qwest Care, suggests mental health must be taken into account when investigating a casualty

There has been an increasing recognition of crew welfare issues across the industry. However, the broader risks associated with these issues are often less widely understood. The consequences of inaction could be wide reaching and dire. At its conference in September 2021, the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) reported that it had seen evidence that the number of near-miss shipping incidents is increasing as a result of seafarer stress, anxiety and fatigue. This is a particularly worrying finding for those of us who deal in risks – and mitigating them.