Clear communication for better work environment and increased safety at sea

In addition to affecting the safety, language issues can affect the organizational and social work environment. A person who does not “get through” to their interlocutor may experience an increased level of stress, and there are several common reasons for this. Lack of language skills, an unusual dialect, and disturbing noise, as well as the possibility that the other speaker simply does not understand what the conversation is about are some examples that can create misunderstandings. This can be very stressful, both for the recipient that misunderstands and the speaker that is misunderstood.

When you who are trying to make yourself understood you could try to adapt your language. Avoid overly advanced language and keep the conversation simple. If you have a lot to say, it is better to divide this into several short messages, and give the recipient time to repeat the most important information. In that way, the recipient is given time to absorb the information, and you will get a receipt of how your intended message has been received.

The project was funded by the Swedish Transport Administration and Stena Rederi.