President Mahama hails £101m investment in Takoradi Dry Dock facility

Read Comments Comments (2)

• Mr Smith 1 month ago

  So can't we be independent for a while? What is 101 million Pounds? Will the money be used for that exact purpose?

  So can't we be independent for a while? What is 101 million Pounds? Will the money be used for that exact purpose?

  reply

  report
• Nii Larbi Darku 1 month ago

  We must tread cautiously. Some businesses bring significant risks to human health, worker safety, and the environment.
  
  Negative HSE Implications of Ship Repair and Ship Graveyard Businesses on Local Communities
  
  The docu ...
  read full comment

  We must tread cautiously. Some businesses bring significant risks to human health, worker safety, and the environment.
  
  Negative HSE Implications of Ship Repair and Ship Graveyard Businesses on Local Communities
  
  The documentary Where Ships Go to Die (youtube), Workers Risk Everything highlights the serious Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) challenges associated with ship repair, shipbreaking, and ship graveyard operations, particularly in coastal communities. The video shows aging vessels being dismantled under hazardous conditions, often with inadequate safety measures and limited environmental controls.
  
  From a health perspective, workers and nearby residents are exposed to hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), oil residues, and toxic fumes released during cutting and dismantling activities. Long-term exposure to these contaminants can result in respiratory illnesses, cancer, neurological disorders, skin diseases, and other chronic health conditions. The absence of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) further increases the likelihood of occupational diseases and community exposure through contaminated air, water, soil, and clothing.
  
  From a safety standpoint, shipbreaking presents numerous risks, including explosions, fires, falling steel structures, confined-space incidents, and exposure to toxic gases. The documentary illustrates how inadequate training, poor supervision, unsafe work practices, and limited emergency response capabilities contribute to serious injuries and fatalities. These incidents can have devastating consequences for workers, their families, and the wider community.
  
  The environmental consequences are equally severe. Hazardous wastes and pollutants are frequently released into coastal waters and surrounding land during dismantling operations. Oil spills, heavy metals, chemical residues, and other contaminants can damage marine ecosystems, destroy habitats, reduce biodiversity, and degrade water quality. These impacts may affect fishing communities and other residents who depend on local natural resources for their livelihoods.
  
  Air pollution generated by cutting torches, burning materials, and the release of toxic substances can further harm nearby populations. Continuous exposure to polluted air may increase the prevalence of respiratory diseases and other health problems, particularly among children, older adults, and other vulnerable groups.
  
  Using the Swiss Cheese Model of Accident Causation, these outcomes can be understood as the result of multiple failures in safety and environmental protection systems. Weak regulatory oversight, inadequate worker training, insufficient PPE, poor waste management practices, and ineffective enforcement create gaps that allow accidents, illnesses, and environmental damage to occur.
  
  In conclusion, the documentary demonstrates that ship repair and ship graveyard operations can pose significant health, safety, and environmental risks to workers and surrounding communities when effective controls are absent. Stronger safety practices, stricter environmental protections, proper waste management, and enhanced regulatory enforcement are necessary to reduce these risks and protect human life and the environment.

  reply

  report