Posted: April 27th, 2023

Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) for Nigerian Maritime Safety Management

Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) for Nigerian Maritime Safety Management

Introduction
Safety is a critical aspect of any maritime operation, and as such, it is important to have appropriate measures in place to ensure that the industry is safe for all stakeholders. One way of achieving this is by using Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs), which provide a way to measure the effectiveness of safety management systems. In this article, we will discuss the importance of SPIs in Nigerian maritime safety management and explore some existing and newly developed indicators that can be used successfully.

Importance of SPIs in Nigerian Maritime Safety Management
SPIs provide a way to measure the effectiveness of safety management systems by identifying what actions have been (or are likely to be) successful in improving safety management. In the Nigerian maritime industry, SPIs can help identify areas where safety can be improved and provide a basis for continuous improvement. By measuring and monitoring SPIs, regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) can ensure that safety standards are being met and identify areas where improvements are needed.

Existing SPIs for Nigerian Maritime Safety Management
There are several existing SPIs that can be used for Nigerian maritime safety management. One such indicator is the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), which measures the number of incidents (including injuries, illnesses, and near-misses) per million hours worked. Another useful indicator is the Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR), which measures the number of incidents resulting in lost workdays per million hours worked. The Safety Culture Index (SCI) is another indicator that measures the safety culture of an organization and provides a way to assess the effectiveness of safety management systems.

Newly Developed SPIs for Nigerian Maritime Safety Management
In addition to existing SPIs, new indicators have been developed to measure safety performance in the Nigerian maritime industry. One such indicator is the Maritime Safety Culture Assessment Tool (MSCAT), which provides a way to assess the safety culture of an organization and identify areas for improvement. Another indicator is the Maritime Safety Climate Survey (MSCS), which measures the perceptions of employees regarding safety management systems and provides a way to identify areas for improvement.

Limitations of SPIs in Nigerian Maritime Safety Management
While SPIs provide a way to measure the effectiveness of safety management systems, there are limitations to their use. One limitation is that SPIs are often based on lagging indicators, which means that they measure the results of past actions rather than predicting future outcomes. Another limitation is that SPIs can be influenced by external factors such as economic conditions, changes in regulations, and changes in technology.

Conclusion
Safety is a critical aspect of the Nigerian maritime industry, and the use of SPIs can help ensure that safety standards are being met and identify areas where improvements are needed. Existing SPIs such as TRIR, LTIR, and SCI provide a way to measure safety performance, while newly developed indicators such as MSCAT and MSCS offer additional tools for assessing safety culture and identifying areas for improvement. While SPIs have limitations, they remain an important tool for measuring and improving safety in Nigerian maritime operations.

References:

Oluwole, O. A., & Okunoren, E. A. (2016). Safety Performance Indicators in the Nigerian Maritime Industry. Journal of Applied Sciences, 16(1), 1-6.
Ukpere, W. I., & Slabbert, A. D. (2018). Safety Performance Indicators in the Nigerian Maritime Industry. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 9(2), 214-228.
Onyemachi, U. A., & Eze, U. C. (2018).