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while also addressing operational risks through
appropriate barriers and disciplinary action when
needed.
At a minimum, organisations should implement
a policy that addresses prohibited behaviours or
actions, if required. A company’s policy on drug
and alcohol abuse should be formulated in con-
sultation with employees and include prevention,
education and awareness, leadership behaviours
and culture, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well
as details about drug and alcohol sampling and
testing procedures.
Companies should put barriers or mechanisms in
place concerning ‘impaired cognitive function’ so
that they can recognise the impairment, whether
it is caused by the effects of drugs, alcohol, or
other factors, before individuals get to the next
stage, i.e., ‘impaired capability’. Therefore, a com-
pany’s drug and alcohol policy must be aligned
with its health and safety policy and should set out
clear and consistent expectations regarding con-
ditions of employment, employee behaviour, and
the consequences of not meeting these expec-
tations. The OCIMF guidelines recommend that
companies set out in their policy a clear and con-
sistent, legally compliant stand-down procedure
for those cases where the drug or alcohol test is
confirmed positive. Employees are expected to
follow stand-down orders. Depending on the com-
pany, role, and situation, this could mean standing
down from all duties or standing down from safe-
ty-critical duties only. The policy should also high-
light and describe those situations or behaviours
where disciplinary or other action will be taken,
up to and including termination of employment.
Drug and alcohol use can occur in a range of dif-
ferent circumstances and can affect all kinds of CHINA TAKES ACTION TO PREVENT
people who may not show obvious signs. Indeed, ELECTROMECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
some signs may be caused by other factors alto- FAILURES ON SHIPS
gether, such as anxiety, stress, or other mental On 3 April 2024, the Maritime Safety Adminis-
or physical health problems. Shipping compa- tration (MSA) of the People’s Republic of China
nies should raise awareness and understanding issued a notice on the special action to prevent
of these health and wellbeing issues to avoid mechanical and electrical equipment failures on
assumptions and biases, including unconscious ships.
biases, and promote a psychologically safe envi- In recent years, Chinese maritime authorities
ronment. The success of implementing a holis- have paid particular attention to the major risks
tic drug and alcohol policy is directly related to to ship safety caused by mechanical and electri-
leadership’s commitment to wellbeing, how it is cal equipment failures. Shanghai MSA has issued
communicated, and how it is experienced across the “Announcement of Shanghai Maritime Safety
a shipping company. Administration on Strengthening the Safety Man-
A clear and explicit drug and alcohol policy can agement of Ships with Machinery Failure” and
benefit all entities involved in the industry. This the “Notice on Further Strengthening the Safety
policy may be part of an overall health and safety Self-inspection of Ships Planning to Enter the
policy, which could be linked to a company’s Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Channel”. Through
health and wellbeing offering, thus ensuring a con- the formulation and implementation of these spe-
sistent risk-based approach by combining a pre- cific administrative regulations, the safety man-
ventive and supportive approach to help seafarers agement of ships entering and leaving Shanghai

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