Much depends on the trade union

The Technical Labor Inspection of the Seafarers' Union of Russia summed up its outcomes for the first six months of 2025. As before, Inspectors visited vessels at the country's seaports to assess working conditions of Russian seafarers – the Union members. The SUR representatives visited 39 vessels, 10 of which fly the Russian flag, noting that most seafarers strictly comply with labor safety requirements. According to the SUR Chief Technical Labor Inspector Evgeny Khizhnyak, the Inspectors not only regularly visit vessels, but also participate in the work of accident investigation commissions. During the reporting period, they took part in the investigation of two industrial injuries involving seafarers. 

So, in January, the Third Officer of a chemical tanker contacted the Baltic Territorial Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russian seeking assistance in obtaining compensation for occupational injury. In the summer of 2024, during a voyage from Oman to Rotterdam, the seafarer was servicing a breathing apparatus' loading compressor. While dealing with the device, he accidentally touched a rotating wheel with his finger and as a result lost part of his phalanx. He was provided first aid on board the vessel and signed off in the port of Algeria, where he spent a week in the hospital and then returned to Russia. 

To receive compensation, the seafarer had been required to provide the shipowner with a certificate of percentage loss of working capacity. However, as the company is foreign, the processing of documents in Russia proved complicated. For example, social security medical assessment board required an industrial accident report in the form N-1, which foreign employers do not issue. 

The SUR BTO Legal Expert Lyudmila Padubotskaya explained that in such a situation, it is necessary to obtain an act of forensic medical expert examination. 

To this end, the SUR Chief Technical Labor Inspector Evgeny Khizhnyak investigated the circumstances of the accident and issued a conclusion confirming the industrial nature of the injury. Having received this conclusion, the seafarer applied to an independent forensic medical expert examination, where the document was accepted as a fully valid ground for assessing the loss of working capacity. As a result, the seafarer got an official medical report stating a 10% loss of working capacity, which ultimately allowed him to receive an insurance payout of $17,000.

-Much depends on the trade union, - Khizhnyak commented. - Our expertise directly affects the conclusion on the accident, which is used to determine whether the incident is occupational or not. The task of the SUR in this case is to pursue a policy of protecting the interests of seafarers and their families, while respecting the rights of the employer, which is our social partner. 

In addition, during the reporting period, the Technical Labor Inspection considered 21 complaints from crew members regarding the terms of salary payment, of which 19 were resolved favorably. The seafarers received $387,000 according to their demands. 

Additionally, the SUR Technical Labor Inspection participates in industry seminars to exchange experiences with colleagues and advocates for the enhancement of seafarers' working conditions in collaboration with its social partners, shipowners. 

- Besides, we carry on the awareness work on occupational safety among crew members, participants of advanced training courses for Officers, cadets of maritime educational institutions, - Evgeny Khizhnyak added. - Together with our colleagues from the trade union, we will continue to promptly consult seafarers and their family members on a variety of issues. Currently, three Technical Labor Inspectors work as part of the Technical Labor Inspection of the Seafarers' Union of Russia. 

Photo: the author Vitvitsky N.