How second thoughts and hesitations can evade you from dangers and accidents

Second thoughts and hesitations act as your hunch to refrain you from being in a wrong company. I'm talking about certain occasion that you feel you don't want to attend to amid the persistent encouragement of your friends or family members.

Trust your instinct. Your mind is willing but your body is complaining. People who persuade you to do this and do that without even liking what you're doing will leave you stressed out.

You can just imagine how your inner self will be shouting a soundless protest about the prodding of your superior to accomplish a task that's not even your expertise.

Because of such instance, it can ruin your instinct to resist and defy the order. It can lead you to accidents and even ruin your life that leaves you gasping for life.

Dead man tells no tales, as the old saying goes.

I feel this is the time to share the tragic story of my former colleague in seafaring who was about to sign-off on board his second international vessel.

The Greek company we used to work for also hired Indian officers to manage and operate some of their vessels.

Let's call my friend, *Greg (not his true name). Greg was typically high for the average Filipino, fair-complexioned and a humble guy. He was planning to marry his girlfriend-fiancee when the tragic accident happened.

His reliever, an Indian wiper arrived already and reported to the master, then proceeded to the cabin he was to be vacated.

Then, the second officer, an Indian second mate told Greg to go down the engine room again for the last time to help the oiler cut a big empty barrel by using an acetylene fuel. He obeyed although he was hesitant because he was already preparing to depart. His luggage was already packed, passport, seaman's book and other papers, plus money were already given by the captain.

Due to his respect at his superior, he still obeyed the order. There, below at the engine room, he met his untimely death. The crew inside the ship heard a very big explosion. They rushed into the engine room and saw Greg and his fellow engine rating (an oiler) also got wounded but recovered. He was still delirious upon getting to the hospital but after 24 hours he perished.

If only his reliever officially reported to his officer and do the job, Greg's life will be spared.

Lesson: Never accept a work order if you are already finished with your contract. Your officer will hate you but that's alright. As long as you're alive you can still work to other company.

If you're trying to impress your boss as you are vying for promotion, you can do ridiculous things that can endanger your life.

Here's a very dangerous situation.

Still on board another ship. This time it's a very large crude carrier (VLCC). It's already past five o'clock in the afternoon.We're sailing the Atlantic ocean. The officers and crew were composed of Greek, Filipino, Indian and Rumanian.

I already served the dinner both for the officers and crew. Only one was still not accounted.

A very industrious Filipino rating was on promotion because he got already a third mate certification. Meaning, being an AB ( able-bodied seaman- helmsman) can be promoted on board the vessel.

I was about to throw the garbage with the help of the messman-steward, when suddenly the ship lurked due to a sudden big waves.

I looked at the super weatherdeck, and there he was. The Filipino AB who was still chipping rust at the pipeline suddenly fell from the metal ladder. The result was an injured left foot.

He was to be repatriated at the next port of call because of the accident.

Lesson: Never impress your master or other officers by doing long hours on your job. Something will happen like what it did to the Filipino AB seaman.

How about me?

Well, at times or so many a time, I tried impressing my superior that even long hours working in my area was not a problem.

When insomnia and stress attacked me, giving me sleepless and troubled nights, I started thinking twice.

In a special working area, like the ship, sleep is the most precious item to be consumed with. My body clock and body rhythm suffer because of the constant travel and change of locations.Flesh and bones complained.

Now, I realized that I must practice second thoughts and hesitations in order to exist for quite a period of time in my job. I must obey my intuition. Helping others is necessary, but if it's time to rest, I must the most of that free time.

Overtime were often cutoff, not following what is written in the contract. Don't succumb to the abuses that happen on board ship and similar workforce.

Let your voice be heard. Ask for a corresponding remuneration. Work is not free anymore. You must stick to what your work order states you to do.

Safety is business. It's a universal motto but a precaution is an ounce of prevention.

Think about it.