On 3 October 2024, the IMRF hosted its most recent #SaferSAR webinar, focusing on the crucial need for improved safety reporting in maritime search and rescue (SAR) units.

The session was chaired by Jaakko Heikkilä, IMRF International Programme Manager, alongside a panel of experts from various organisations, including Terje Alliksoo of the Estonian Voluntary Maritime Rescue Organisation, Sylvain Moynault from the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM), Ben Wood who is the Safety Learning Manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and Adam Parnell from the Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP).

The webinar is currently available to watch in full for free. Click here to access the webinar.

The #SaferSAR initiative, launched to explore the feasibility of a global safety reporting system for maritime SAR units, aims to enhance the sharing of safety information and ultimately improve the safety of SAR personnel worldwide. Jaakko explained the key findings from a baseline survey conducted among SAR organisations, which indicated that while 86% of respondents feel safety information sharing has improved, there are significant barriers to data sharing, such as fear of blame and privacy concerns.

During the webinar, Terje emphasised the challenges faced by smaller volunteer organisations lacking a formal reporting system, stating, “We don’t know what is going on in other units, and we don’t collect the information.” She highlighted the importance of learning from incidents to enhance safety practices across independent units.

Sylvain discussed the SNSM's existing reporting processes, noting a lack of near-miss reports that could prevent accidents. He showcased the organisation's commitment to fostering a culture of learning and sharing safety insights among local crews.

Following this, Ben provided insights into the RNLI’s well-established reporting system, explaining how it facilitates the collection of valuable data while addressing technological and cultural barriers to reporting. “We’re on a journey to becoming a learning organisation, and that starts with reporting,” he stated.

Finally, Adam shared CHIRP’s approach to incident reporting, focusing on the importance of understanding human factors in accidents rather than assigning blame. He presented a user-friendly reporting form designed to ensure anonymity and compliance with data protection regulations, which can be found here.

The form and the associated process of handling and analysing the incident reports is a useful resource for SAR organisations that do not have one. For organisations that have an existing reporting system, #SaferSAR provides an opportunity of system integration, making it possible to collect a much wider body of safety data than the organisation itself  is capable of collecting.

The IMRF’s #SaferSAR initiative aims to unite SAR organisations around the world, encouraging collaboration and prioritising safety improvements. The IMRF urges all members to participate actively in the development and implementation of this essential reporting system, paving the way for a safer maritime rescue community. You can find out more about the IMRF’s #SaferSAR initiative by clicking here. If your organisation wishes to make use of the SaferSAR reporting, contact Jaakko at [email protected].