The global recognition of Safety and Health at Work is an annual moment of reflection, and for MR Marine Group, it serves as a powerful reminder of our foundational, year-round commitment to the well-being of every employee. We would like to take this opportunity to specially thank all key and frontline workers globally who have helped the world navigate the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic thus far. Their resilience, dedication, and personal sacrifices have been instrumental in keeping vital industries, including the maritime sector, functioning under extraordinary pressure.
Upholding Global OSH Standards
MR Marine Group is unequivocally serious about health and safety at work. Our commitment aligns perfectly with the highest global standards, as championed by international bodies. The United Nations highlights a crucial framework, stating: “The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021 focuses on leveraging the elements of an OSH system as set out in the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006.” This framework is not merely a set of recommendations for us; it is a blueprint for action. We understand that, as employers, we bear the fundamental responsibility for ensuring that the working environment is comprehensively safe and healthy for all our employees. This duty is non-negotiable and applies equally to our highly skilled service technicians operating in diverse and often challenging environments, and to our dedicated operating staff working within our office and remote settings.
Rigorous Safety for Our Frontline Service Technicians
The maritime environment presents a unique constellation of risks, and ensuring the safety of our service technicians is paramount. These professionals often work in confined spaces, at heights, or around complex, high-voltage machinery on board vessels. Consequently, we have established and rigorously enforce a set of strict safety rules, precautions, and preventative measures. These are not merely suggestions; they are mandatory protocols.
Each technician is required to adhere strictly to these comprehensive internal regulations and guidelines. This detailed framework encompasses everything from mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements—including specialised gear for welding, electrical work, and working in extreme conditions—to detailed hazard identification and risk assessment procedures before any job commences. We invest heavily in continuous, specialized training that covers emergency response, first aid, working at heights, and lock-out/tag-out procedures for energy isolation. Furthermore, our safety culture encourages a ‘stop-work’ authority: any technician who perceives an immediate and unacceptable danger is empowered and expected to halt operations until the risk is mitigated. These proactive internal regulations and guidelines are continually reviewed and updated based on incident analysis and best industry practices, all with the explicit goal of helping to significantly reduce the number of accidents on board during maintenance and service jobs. Our investment in their safety is an investment in the quality and reliability of the service we provide, demonstrating that operational excellence and occupational health are two sides of the same coin.
Addressing the New OSH Challenges of Remote Work
The unprecedented global lockdown situation introduced a new set of health and safety challenges, particularly for our operating staff. With the sudden shift to remote work, employees found themselves spending more time indoors and inevitably sitting down in front of their computer screens for long periods of time. The MR Marine Group management team grew profoundly concerned about the potential negative impact this sedentary lifestyle and social isolation was having on everybody’s long-term mental and physical health. The traditional risks associated with the office were replaced by risks like musculoskeletal disorders (due to poor home ergonomics), digital eye strain, and critically, increased psychological stress and burnout from blurred work-life boundaries.
Recognising that OSH extends beyond preventing physical injury in the workplace, Management decided that a proactive, holistic approach was required. The decision was made to not only encourage but actively facilitate and reward the entire team to exercise and get some much-needed fresh air outside on a regular basis. This shift acknowledged the profound connection between physical activity, mental resilience, and overall well-being.
Championing Wellness Through Engagement Campaigns
To translate this concern into meaningful action, we have successfully completed two distinct and highly engaging movement campaigns, which have profoundly shaped our internal culture of wellness.
The first initiative, launched in November 2020, was titled “Walk for Charity.” This was our inaugural venture of this sort, designed to introduce the concept of collective physical activity with a philanthropic purpose. We encouraged each staff member to commit to walking a minimum of 5,000 steps a day, tracking their progress and sharing their achievements. The campaign’s success was measured not only by the miles walked but by the enthusiasm generated across all departments. The collective effort led to a significant achievement: once the initiative was over, the company was proud to donate €1,000 to the WWF Oceans Project. This campaign beautifully illustrated that improving personal health could simultaneously contribute to a greater, global cause, reinforcing our connection to the marine environment we serve. The charitable element provided a powerful, extrinsic motivator, forging a sense of community and shared purpose that transcended the physical distance of remote work.
Building on the success of this first campaign, we recently launched our second initiative: the “Sunset to Sunrise Cycling Challenge.” This campaign encouraged staff to cycle more, leveraging the growing interest in outdoor exercise. Participants were challenged to log as many kilometres as possible over a defined period, competing in a friendly, supportive environment. The campaign required greater commitment and different logistics, including ensuring safe cycling practices and promoting the joy of exploring the outdoors. This initiative further solidified the message that MR Marine Group values the integration of physical activity into daily life, viewing it as a critical component of stress management and energy maintenance.
A Holistic View of Health and Productivity
We firmly understand the critical importance of both physical health and mental wellness. We reject the outdated notion that health and safety is solely about compliance and risk aversion; instead, we embrace the belief that it is an active investment in our human capital. We understand intimately how this balanced state of well-being affects not only our collective productivity, efficiency, and ability to serve our clients but also, crucially, the quality of our employees’ lives at home, their relationships, and their overall happiness. A well-rested, physically active, and mentally supported team member is a more engaged, creative, and resilient professional.
Our future OSH strategy will continue to evolve, integrating these lessons learned during the pandemic. We plan to expand our focus to cover aspects like mental health first aid training for management, ergonomic assessments for both office and home workstations, and continuous campaigns that promote healthy habits, from nutrition to sleep hygiene. MR Marine Group’s dedication to safety and health is a dynamic, ongoing process, ensuring we provide the best possible environment—whether on board a vessel or behind a computer screen—for our employees to thrive both professionally and personally. Our ultimate goal is to foster a culture where every employee feels valued, safe, and empowered to prioritise their own well-being.
