The significance of regulatory framework on safety climate

In 2010 we carried out a survey among crew members on coastal cargo vessels operating primarily in Norwegian waters. The aim of the survey was to measure safety climate and risk perception among the crew members. In addition, observation of work practice was carried out on 10 cargo vessels. The survey data shows significant differences between (1) Scandinavian speaking, (2) Russian speaking and (3) Filipinos, thus suggesting that safety climate are determined by different cultural interpretations. However; observations and interviews shows that working conditions and the formal work contexts vary for the people of these different nationalities even though they all sail on cargo vessels, owned by Norwegian ship owners, operating only on the Norwegian coast. We suggest that varying safety climate must be understood by the differences of the regulatory framework they work within. Seafarers of different vessels work under varying regimes dependent on the flag state they sail under; deciding contract formalities and regulatory framework for that vessel. Based on the 2010 survey, in this paper we therefore discuss the relations of varying flag state and ship registers, regulatory framework and safety climate.