In this episode, Jamie Dalzell, Head of GMS Singapore, speaks with Dr. Anand Hiremath, GMS Chief Sustainability Officer and lead of SSORP, the Sustainable Ship and Offshore Recycling Program.
In ship recycling, many incidents happen when routine takes over and basic checks are skipped to keep work moving. This conversation focuses on the small actions that prevent harm on the ground: the pause before lighting the torch, a gas check repeated when conditions change, a supervisor choosing not to overlap high risk jobs, and a near miss report that results in a real fix.
What SSORP has delivered this year (so far)
781 safety awareness training sessions12,036 yard workers reached70 distinct topics delivered across India, Bangladesh, and PakistanTraining provided free for workersTopics discussed in this episode
Permit to Work (PTW): planning, authorization, checks, and clear responsibility before high risk work startsHot work and gas cutting discipline: leak checks, flashback risks, ventilation, fire watch, safe cylinder handling, and stop work authorityConfined space awareness: atmospheric hazards, entry controls, communication, and changing conditionsLifting and material handling: rigging basics, exclusion zones, signals, and early warning signs before a load shiftsHeat stress and fatigue: hydration routines, shaded rest, symptom recognition, and simple prevention stepsNear miss reporting: reporting early, pausing the task, inspecting gear, fixing issues, and sharing learning in toolbox talksEnvironmental awareness and waste handling: segregation, storage discipline, spill prevention, and daily yard practicesMock drills and emergency readiness: alarms, isolation, muster points, first actions, and clear response rolesKey takeaways for different roles
For workers: professionalism is in the pause. Ask for checks, report near misses, stop when conditions changeFor supervisors and mukadams: make work predictable. Plan, brief, coordinate overlaps, and make permits meaningfulFor owners and management: back the system. Maintain equipment, support reporting without blame, and reinforce discipline consistentlyThis episode is a practical look at training that supports safer work shift by shift across ship recycling yards.