[Column] Preventing Seafarers’ Personal Injury (No.1) 21 August 2025 Tweet Capt. Toru Asai General Manager of Loss Prevention & Ship Inspection Department   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This column features the article contributed by our Association to "Mariners' Digest Vol.77", published in April 2025 by the Japan Shipping Exchange, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Highlights   Seafarers responsible for maritime transportation are typically marine technicians with a high level of expertise in vessel operation and cargo management. They play vital roles and bear significant responsibilities. Vessel crews work day and night in a high-risk environment, far from their families for extended periods. They perform many dangerous operations where failure to follow proper practices could cost lives.     Introduction   Vessels are subject to various risks whilst navigating at sea. For example, encounters with stormy weather, hull damage, capsizing, collisions while navigating congested waters, and bottom contact or grounding accidents, fires in engine rooms and cargo holds. As a matter of fact, the crew working on such risky vessels are also exposed to high risks day and night, and it can be said that they share a common destiny.   Companies responsible for the safety management of vessels have formulated safety management manuals in accordance with the SOLAS ISM Code.Based on the basic policy of "ensuring the safety of human life, the safety of vessels in operation, and the protection of the environment," they have formulated and implemented work procedure manuals.   Among the basic policies, the safety of human life must be the most important. In the unlikely event that life is lost, it will be ir