Clarity Reduces Risk
In April 2016, KGJS started a new "KISS Project" to improve and make their SMS more precise. Precise means being short and clear, expressing what is needed without unnecessary words.
Clarity Reduces Risk
Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Shipping Group (KGJS) quarterly magazine no. 3 2016 reports of a new mindset to improve their Safety Management System (SMS).
Vice President SEQ, Marine & Nautical Capt. Paal Morten Hjulstad
Vice President SEQ, Marine & Nautical Capt. Paal Morten Hjulstad explains how a new method for writing procedures makes complex text concise. Precise means being short and clear, expressing what is needed without unnecessary words. This clarity reduces the risk of missing critical details needed to do the work safely. Auditors find key details easier when checking compliance, making life easier for clients and authorities.
Reducing Words - not a Goal in Itself
The result is user-friendly procedures for both new and experienced personnel. Our aim is to make the safety management system onboard more user friendly and manageable for the onboard staff. The amount of words is often reduced by 40-60%. As an example, the old procedure for hydrostatic testing had 357 words. After text washing the new text had 191 words. But, reducing words is not a goal in itself. The goal is to make precise procedures with a high respect for our people using them. The old text used a very passive style. The objective of any SMS is to be proactive and the new text in the example below has 100% active text.
Training Workshops for the New Writers
KGJS selected key personnel to participate in a series of workshops facilitated by Terje Lovoy and Jodi Lee. The new text that the writers produce is more risk based, written in an active “you-do” style which we can read faster, understand better and remember longer.
Capt. Paal Morten Hjulstad explains, “We have tested the new procedures onboard selected vessels and the feedback is good. Next, we will start replacing the procedures with the ones we have revised. The response from everyone involved has been positive”.