Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Doing High-Risk Work

When working in maritime, whether that is offshore work or on a boat, it comes at a much higher risk than working in an office. Maritime work involves big risks, for example, physical injury, health hazards, noise exposure, fatigue, chemical exposure, hazardous material, harsh weather, piracy, drowning, fire, explosions, and more.

It is critical that mistakes are planned for and avoided where possible in such high risk work. This is because any-sized mistake can lead to dire consequences, such as a loss of life, life-changing injuries, environmental damage, financial costs, reputation damage, and more. 

Unfortunately, there are many human mistakes that contribute to maritime incidents that come from factors like poor decision-making, poor communication, fatigue, distractions, lack of safety protocols or adherence, and more.

By understanding critical mistakes and learning how to prevent them, you can not only enhance safety in your work but also avoid injury, improve efficiency, and maintain compliance. 

Not Understanding Your Role or Responsibilities

Not clearly knowing what your role is or your specific duties can directly increase the risk of accidents and mistakes. This is because you might miss very critical tasks from your work, do something that causes a risk without realizing it, or duplicate something that has already been done. This can cause confusion, deviations, stress, and much more, not just to you, but to your team and the overall work. 

Not Conducting a Risk Assessment 

A risk assessment is a crucial safety procedure that should always be followed. It is a big mistake not to carry out a risk assessment, or not to carry one out to the right standard. Risk assessments are there for a reason. If you don’t carry one out, then you are significantly increasing the risk of injury, accident, or fatalities. A risk assessment helps to identify any risk, no matter how small, or the likelihood of a risk. Some people make the mistake of thinking everything is in order and neglecting a risk assessment. This is a huge oversight and an example of poor decision making. 

Insufficient Planning

Not planning properly in maritime work is a huge mistake that can lead to detrimental impacts and accidents. Whether this is accounting for personnel, not allocating sufficient time for tasks, misplacing or not doing paperwork, missing deadlines, or cutting corners, the possibilities are endless when it comes to planning mistakes. A plan is supposed to guide you and the entire team, which is a vital component of safe and efficient work. When you work in a high-risk environment, sufficient and accurate planning is more important than ever.

Incorrect or Broken Equipment

Not using the right equipment, equipment that is not up-to-date, or equipment that is broken, is a very serious mistake to make. This can lead to significant damage to the work, yourself and other employees, or even a loss of life. The responsibility is on both you and your employer. They should provide you with safe equipment to use, but you also take the responsibility of reporting any issues, damage, or equipment that is no longer safe to use. It is also up to you to take care of the equipment and ensure it is maintained properly. 

Distractions 

Being prone to distractions is a very serious mistake to make in maritime work. Not just for your safety, but for your colleagues as well. Distractions can come from many things, such as work stress, taking on too much work, and multitasking, to distractions such as smart phones. This is a mistake in itself, which can also lead to mistakes in the workplace, injuries, and accidents. Make sure you manage distractions and limit them as much as possible. This may be part of your daily risk assessments. 

Poor or Lack of Communication 

Any issues with communication, whether it is poor communication or a lack of communication, can lead to critical mistakes, especially in higher risk environments. Bad communication can lead to a misunderstanding, misinformation, or a lack of awareness about something important. Communication is key in any environment, let alone one that carries increased risks. Effective communication needs to be established amongst all colleagues, so that you can work as a team and reduce risks. 

Fatigue and Burnout 

If you don’t look after yourself properly and end up fatigued or burnt out, you are going to make more mistakes in your work. This is a significant safety risk to yourself, your work, and your team. When you are tired, it can lead to issues with communication, cognitive function, focus, attention, and more. You are more prone to making errors, and this could be major and irreversible. Consider your own self-care and sleep patterns. Make sure you take care of yourself, and consider how you are feeling. See where you can manage your sleep, get enough rest, and ensure you are not taking on too much at work. Address any issues before they become a huge, costly mistake.

Ignoring Personal or Equipment Limitations

It is a huge mistake to avoid any limitations you have, or your equipment has. You should never work outside of your training, unless approved by your manager and supervised. If you try to push yourself, or even equipment, to do things that are not appropriate, you will make a big mistake. This could cost you your job and cause significant damage.

What to Do if You Make a Mistake

At the end of the day, you are human. If you make a mistake, then it is important that you notify your employer as soon as possible and seek the appropriate medical attention. The incident should be reported by following the correct internal procedures your employer has put in place. Make sure you gather all evidence about the accident, including photos and documents, and if necessary, speak with a maritime accident lawyer. 

It is crucial that you do all you can as an employee to reduce risks while you work. Not only will it keep you safe, but it will also protect you in the case of an incident.