Structures and External Industry Structures on Safety Management Performance A previous human element research project identified the leadership qualities which are most conducive to effective safety management (RP521, “Driving Safety Culture: Identification of leadership qualities for effective safety management”). It also concluded that another substantial constraint to the delivery of a viable safety culture, i.e. one which balances safety and commercial pressures, is the influence of the internal company organisational structure. This includes the designation of individual roles and responsibilities. An additional factor is the structure of the overall maritime industry itself, including how the industry is organised and the influences it creates. Maritime organisations operate under these pressures, and can be controlled by them in the case of regulatory or financial influences etc. For example, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Model Audit Scheme will benchmark best practice in national administrations with respect to implementing and enforcing applicable IMO Conventions, and disseminate it to other flag states. The results of this research project will inform the UK’s input to the scheme, thus enabling the MCA to influence not only its own way of working but also the wider industry. To be best able to lead change as required, the MCA needs to determine whether it can make improvements in maritime safety most effectively by working within the current industry structure or by challenging and changing it. To do this the MCA needs to enhance its understanding of all the influences on safety management performance, including its own as the UK regulators. This will allow the MCA to be able to continue to drive quality into the industry at all levels, with the confidence to be best aware of how those changes will influence the wider industry. The full report can be downloaded from here A summary of the findings can be downloaded from here Contractor: Greenstreet Berman Project dates: 21 October 2005 – 21 April 2006 |