Risk assessment is a critical component of safety management in the maritime industry. This article explores the process of risk assessment onboard ships, starting with the identification of hazards and leading into effective risk management strategies.
The first step in any risk assessment procedure is to identify potential hazards. A hazard is any situation or condition that has the potential to cause harm. Within the marine environment, a range of hazards can pose risks to personnel and operations. Examples include:
Weather Conditions: Sea swells, wind, fog, extreme temperatures (hot or cold) can create unsafe working environments.
Chemical Hazards: Exposure to harmful substances can lead to severe health issues.
Electrical Hazards: Live wires or faulty equipment can cause electrocution.
Moving Machinery: Unsecured or unguarded machinery parts can lead to injuries.
Fire and Explosion Risks: Flammable materials and equipment can create fire hazards.
Pressure Hazards: High-pressure systems (like compressed air and steam) can result in catastrophic failures if not properly managed.
Slippery Surfaces: Wet or oily decks can lead to slips and falls.
Working at Heights: Tasks performed outside the ship’s rail involve significant fall risks.
Inexperienced Personnel: New or unfamiliar workers may not recognize hazards effectively.
Improper Tool Use: Using tools incorrectly can result in injuries.
Identifying these hazards is crucial for assessing the risks they present and implementing necessary control measures.
Once hazards are identified, the next step is to assess the associated risks. Risk assessment involves three primary steps:
Identify Hazards: Recognize potential hazards within the work environment.
Estimate Risk: Evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm associated with each identified hazard.
Decide Tolerability: Determine whether the assessed risks are tolerable under current conditions.
Consider the scenario where the foremast navigation light needs to be changed during poor weather conditions. The risk of harm is high due to the dark, rough seas. In such a situation:
If the task is postponed until conditions improve, the risk decreases to a moderate level.
Implementing additional safety measures—such as using personal protective equipment (PPE) like hard hats and safety harnesses—further mitigates risk, allowing the task to proceed safely when conditions allow.
This approach highlights the importance of implementing effective control measures to ensure that risks are reduced to an acceptable level.
To conduct a thorough risk assessment onboard, it is essential to follow a structured approach:
Prepare a comprehensive list of work activities across different departments, including details about machinery, personnel, and procedures.
For each work activity, identify significant hazards. Consider who might be harmed and the potential nature of that harm.
Estimate the risk associated with each identified hazard, taking into account existing controls. Assess both the effectiveness of these controls and the consequences if they fail.
Judge whether existing precautions sufficiently control the hazards and comply with legal requirements.
If the assessment reveals significant risks, prepare an action plan to address these issues and implement necessary control measures.
Regularly re-assess risks based on the effectiveness of implemented controls to ensure risks remain as low as reasonably practicable.
For regular tasks that occur daily but are not specifically outlined in the Shipboard Manual, each department should prepare risk assessments. Newly prepared assessments usually must be sent to the Head Office for record-keeping and periodic review.
For less frequent activities, such as lifeboat launches or major engine maintenance, an initial risk assessment should be conducted and forwarded to the Head Office. These assessments must be revisited before and after the task to incorporate any new hazards identified during the operation.
Before undertaking critical tasks, such as working with new equipment or making organizational changes that may impact health and safety, a thorough risk assessment must be performed. Any changes to risk assessments need to be documented and communicated to the Head Office for review.
All findings from risk assessments should be recorded in writing in the Accident Prevention Log. Additionally, significant activities and their associated risk assessments should be discussed at Protection and Environment Committee (PEC) meetings to ensure ongoing awareness and accountability.
