Safer ship recycling is built in everyday routines. In this episode of GMS Podcasts, 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.

Most incidents are not caused by missing rules. They happen when routine takes over and checks get skipped to keep work moving. This conversation focuses on the practical habits that interrupt that pattern, shift by shift.

What SSORP has delivered so far

• 781 safety awareness training sessions
• 12,036 yard workers reached
• 70 distinct topics across India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
• Training provided free for workers

Core themes in this episode

• Permit to Work: authorization, checks, and clear responsibility before high risk work starts
• Hot work and gas cutting: leak checks, flashback risks, ventilation, fire watch, cylinder handling, and stop work authority
• Confined space awareness: atmospheric hazards, entry control, communication, and changing conditions
• Lifting and material handling: rigging basics, exclusion zones, signals, and early warning signs before a load shifts
• Heat stress and fatigue: hydration routines, shaded rest, symptom recognition, and prevention steps
• Near miss reporting: quick reporting, pausing work, inspecting gear, fixing issues, and sharing learning in toolbox talks
• Mock drills and emergency readiness: alarms, isolation, muster points, and clear response roles
• Environmental awareness and waste handling: segregation, storage discipline, and spill prevention

Key messages

• For workers: professionalism is in the pause. Ask for checks, report near misses, stop when conditions change
• For supervisors and mukadams: plan and coordinate work so permits and controls are real
• For owners and management: maintain equipment, support reporting without blame, reinforce discipline consistently