Health & Safety (PTW, Risk Assessments)

Question 1

What are the principles to ensure health & safety on board?

Answer 1

• Avoidance of taking risks
• Evaluate unavoidable risks
• Adopt safe systems of work
• Provide updated & relevant information to crew
• Constantly update and improve procedures

Question 2

Define a “Hazard”…

Answer 2

Source of potential injury, harm or damage

Question 3

Define a “Risk”…

Answer 3

Likelihood that harm or damage will occur
Potential severity of harm or damage

Question 4

Determine the 4 levels of risk assessment, as per COSWP…

Answer 4

Level 1 = Generic
Level 2 = Task Based
Level 3 = Tool-box Talk
Level 4 = Dynamic

Question 5

What are the initial stages of creating a Risk Assessment?

Answer 5

• Identification of hazards
• An assessment of likelihood of harm
• An assessment of consequences
• Identify safety measures to reduce risks

Question 6

How would you make a Risk Assessment effective?

Answer 6

Identify the following:
- ALL hazards
- WHO will be harmed
- LIKELIHOOD harm arising
- QUANTIFY severity
- RECORD findings
- CONTROL MEASURES
- REGULAR review & updating

Question 7

If a young person joins your vessel, what would you have in place to comply with Health & Safety Regulations?

Answer 7

Create a risk assessment considering the safety of the young person (MSN 1838)

Question 8

What is the purpose of a Permit to Work System?

Answer 8

Organised and predefined safety procedure - contributes to the measures for safe working

Question 9

You see a Bosun up on the main mast to change a Navigation Light without a safety harness. What are your actions?

Answer 9

• Stop work
• Ask why the Bosun is not wearing a harness
• Depending on outcome of answer, explain it is part of the risk assessments and safe systems of work (PTW)
• If they are still unaware and not happy, explain that they have broken the law (health & safety, PPE, working at height) regs
• Outcome will be additional training, review of safety culture or disciplinary actions

Question 10

What is the purpose of a strong Safety Culture on board?

Answer 10

To promote a proactive approach to safety and pollution prevention through shared values, attitudes and practices

Question 11

How would you know there is good safety culture on board?

Answer 11

• Clear defined expectations
• Good communications
• Clear leadership
• Good planning
• Risk assessments
• Accountability

Question 12

How does a strong safety culture contribute to accident prevention and overall ship safety?

Answer 12

It encourages open communication, proactive hazard identification and continuous improvement, reducing accidents and enhancing safety

Question 13

When must a safety officer be appointed on UK vessels?

Answer 13

Any merchant vessel (not fishing) carrying 5 or more seafarers
Not advisable to be either Master or Medical Officer

Question 14

When must you have a safety committee onboard and who should be part of it?

Answer 14

Any merchant vessel carrying 5 or more seafarers
Should include Master, Safety Officer and any other persons elected covering all departments

Question 15

What is a Permit to Work?

Answer 15

It is a checklist to ensure all control measures are in place from the risk assessment

Question 16

What does the Authorising Officer do before signing the permit to work?

Answer 16

They open the permit having made sure that all the control measures are in place, and after the work is complete, they close it

Question 17

What does the Competent Person do before signing the permit to work?

Answer 17

Verify the risk assessment and put the control measures in place. They are the person in charge for the task

Question 18

When filling the permit to work, can the Competent Person be the Authorising Officer?

Answer 18

No, they have to be separate crew members, otherwise there will be insufficient cross checking

Question 19

Describe some of the key features on a permit to work…

Answer 19

• Location of Task
• Description of Task
• Date, Time and Validity (max = 24 hours)
• Risk assessment & control measures
• Names & signatures of key personnel (Crew taking part in task, Competent Person and Authorising Officer)
• Completion or cancellation signature

Question 20

What is the purpose of the “Lock Out / Tag Out” (LOTO) procedure?

Answer 20

To ensure equipment is shut off and has no possible way to be re-started when work is being carried out

Question 21

Briefly describe the procedure of “Lock Out / Tag Out” (LOTO)…

Answer 21

Identification of hazardous sources or dangers within the work environment
Those dangers are isolated
Isolations are locked with padlocks and tags put on to indicate they are shut off
Further process can be to “Try Out” - trying to operate the equipment to ensure that its not working