Safety Starts With You – SPOT IT, STOP IT, FIX IT

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s not just about wearing the right PPE or following procedures—it’s about having the right mindset, and the courage to act when something’s not right.

At Wilhelmsen Ship Management, we embrace the philosophy that “Safety Starts With Me.” This means that whether you're on deck, in the engine room, or supporting from shore, your actions—or inaction—can make a critical difference.

Safety means having the right mindset and the courage to act when something doesn’t feel right.

That's why we encourage everyone to take simple but powerful actions:

SPOT IT. Be on the lookout for unsafe acts and conditions.

Every day, we face situations that can quickly escalate into incidents if not addressed early. Hazards don’t always announce themselves—they show up in the form of a loose railing, poor lighting, or a shortcut that someone thinks will “just save a minute.” 

Train your eyes and instincts to spot the signs of danger.

Don’t walk past a hazard. Don’t ignore an unsafe act. Pause, observe, and act. Safety begins when we take ownership of what we see.

STOP IT. Be responsible and exercise Stop Work Authority.

If you’re unsure, uncomfortable, or concerned—STOP THE WORK.

You have the right and responsibility to halt any task if you believe it is unsafe to proceed. This is not just permitted—it’s expected.

Exercising Stop Work Authority (SWA) is a sign of leadership, not weakness. It protects your crew, your ship, and yourself. We’ve seen time and again that a short pause to reassess can prevent major consequences.;

FIX IT. Remove the hazard or implement controls/safeguards before resuming.

Stopping work is only the first step. The next step is fixing the issue.

• Report the hazard
• Remove it if possible
• Put proper controls in place
• Involve your supervisor or safety officer
• Document the fix so others learn from it

Only resume the task when you are confident it is safe to proceed.

We’re building a safety culture where action comes first—spot the risk, stop it, fix it.

A Culture of Action and Responsibility

At Wilhelmsen, we are working to strengthen a safety culture where proactive action is the norm. We don’t wait for an incident to happen. We STOP IT when we see risk. We FIX IT so that the next person isn’t exposed to the same hazard.

This culture is built by every individual on board and on shore taking small, meaningful steps every day.

So, the next time you see something unsafe—don’t look away. STOP IT. FIX IT.

Together, we build a safer tomorrow—one decision, one action at a time.