Risk Analysis and Management of Occupational Accidents on Ships

Ships involved in maritime transportation are exposed to various occupational health and safety (OHS) risks due to the complexity of onboard operations and the unpredictability of environmental conditions during navigation. This study aims to identify the factors leading to occupational accidents on merchant ships, conduct a risk analysis, and determine which types of ships are more frequently associated with such incidents. To achieve this, the Fine Kinney method and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were employed. The Fine Kinney analysis revealed that “liquid cargo ships” have a higher number of hazards classified as very high risk compared to other ship types, with “management inefficiency” identified as the primary hazard. The AHP analysis indicated that “insufficient sea experience” is a significant risk factor among the hazards, and, again, “liquid cargo ships” are particularly high-risk for occupational accidents. The findings suggest that the AHP method is advantageous for risk prioritization, and that both methods be used complementarily to address methodological limitations in ship-based risk assessments.