IMO has to date accomplished a significant amount of work in addressing the human element in shipping, at sea and ashore. In 1991, a Working Group was established on the role of the Human Element in Maritime Casualties and since then assembly resolutions have set forth the human element vision, principles and goals for the Organization (resolution A.850(20) updated by A.947(23)) and requested the IMO Committees to focus their attention on “shifting emphasis onto people”(A.900(21)).
Key human element regulations include the STCW Convention – particularly the revision of the Convention in 1995- and the ISM Code – mandatory for most ships since 2002. IMO has also
developed Guidelines for the Investigation of Human Factors in Marine Casualties and Incidents, included in the IMO Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents, and comprehensive Guidance on fatigue mitigation and management has been published.
