A core element of life is to raise and to answer questions about the surrounding life including the risks. Asking questions about why and how and to solve questions is fundamental for a good life.

Research is an organised way of asking questions and finding the answers to questions from daily life and daily work activity. While only few persons are researchers, the majority of the population is consumers of research, using the answers and making new questions.

While the subject today is occupational risk prevention we will see how research is a core element of the risk prevention by asking and answering questions. Most people agree that risk prevention is more important than ever and indispensable part of the work processes.  Raising questions about risks and answering them is a core parts of risk prevention when new risks are turning up continuously. The basic elements in research is logical thinking and systematical work and to be open for questions. This way of thinking is not only for research , but for all types of activity. The same way of thinking is used to produce the best quality of the products so the systematical risk prevention and doing work of high quality requires the same type of logical and systematical activity.

The question WHY research is relevant for shipping can be answered by remembering that the maritime industry also wants high quality products from high quality work that also includes high quality of safety and health. None of these objectives can be done without research.