Learning Outcome 2

Marine Law
Lesson 14

HNC Nautical Science

Marine Law & Management
 Aim
• To introduce the application of safe
procedures and practices
 Objectives
By the end of the session the student will be
able to:
• Define a hazard and risk
• Explain why risk assessments are carried out
• Explain the process of risk assessment
• Explain what a permit to work is
• Define the principles of the permit to work
system
Why perform Risk Assessment?

If you are squeamish in any way

look away now
 Barriers/Defences to Accidents

Event
r
Accident

Barrier 1 Barrier 2 Barrier 3 Barrier 4

Design safety Engineering SMS, Human factors,
features safeguards, procedures, competence, fitness
interlocks, training for work
alarms
 Guidance on Risk Assessment
Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant
Seamen

How highly do the MCA rate risk assessment?

 What are employers required to do?

A suitable and sufficient assessment shall be

made of the risks of the health and safety of
workers arising in the normal course of their
activities and duties
 Risk assessment is a process
(definition)
• Risk assessment is a process whereby the
likelihood of a particular event happening is
determined. The particular event in this case is
a hazard that may cause harm to personnel on
board the vessel.
The 8 stages in a risk assessment

Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
 Key Terms
A hazard is a source of potential harm or damage or a
situation with potential for harm or damage

Risk has two elements:

The likelihood that a hazard may occur

The consequences of that hazardous event
Classify Work Activities
 Classify Work Activities
1.1 “Group up work activities including
infrequent activities in a manageable way”, e.g.
by:
– department/location
– stages of an operation or work routine
– planned and unscheduled maintenance
– defined tasks (e.g. loading/unloading cargo)”
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
 2. Identify the Hazards
2.1 Asking these three questions should help
identify where there is a hazard:
– Is there a source of harm?
– Who (or what) could be harmed?
– How could harm occur?
 2. Identify the hazards cont.
Hazards can be categorised, for example by
topic:
• (a) mechanical (f) fire and explosion;
• (b) electrical; (g) chemical;
• (c) physical; (h) biological;
• (d) radiation; (i) psychological.
• (e) substances;
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
 3. Identify Risk Controls
The most effective way to reduce risk is to
eliminate the hazard completely.

In many cases this is impossible, so risk controls

will need to be used.
 3. Risk Controls
If practicable eliminate the risk altogether, or try
to combat risks at the source;
If elimination is not possible, try to reduce risk at
the source;
Reduce risk via procedures and safe systems of
work, adopting PPE only as the last resort after
all other control measures have been
considered.
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
 4. Estimate Risk
The risk from a hazard may be determined by
estimating:
(a) the potential severity of harm
(b) the likelihood that harm will occur
Estimate Risk
Estimate Risk
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
5. Determine the Tolerability of the Risks
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
6. Prepare Risk Control Action Plan
Controls to be chosen from the following in order of effectiveness:

• Elimination;
• Substitution by something less hazardous and risky;
• Enclosure (enclose the hazard in a way that eliminates or controls the risk);
• Guarding/Segregation of people;
• Safe system of work that reduces the risk to an acceptable level;
• Written procedures that are known and understood by those affected;
• Review the blend of technical and procedural control;
• Adequate supervision;
• Identification of training needs;
• Information/Instruction (signs, hand-outs);
• Personal Protective Equipment (last resort) – cannot be controlled by any
other means.
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
Detailed Risk Assessment
Classify Work Activities

Identify Hazards
Detailed Risk Assessment
 In Your Groups
Write a risk assessment for:

• Changing a mast head light on the fore mast

 What is a Permit to Work?

What operations?
 Principles of Permit to Work
(a) The permit should be relevant and as accurate as possible. It
should state the location and details of the work to be done,
the nature and results of any preliminary tests undertaken,
the measures undertaken to make the job safe and the
safeguards that need to be taken during the operation.
(b) The permit should specify the period of its validity (which
should not exceed 24 hours) and any time limits applicable to
the work which it authorises.
(c) Only the work specified on the permit should be undertaken.
 Principles of Permit to Work
(d) Before signing the permit, the authorising officer should
ensure that all measures specified as necessary have in fact
been taken.
(e) The authorising officer retains responsibility for the work until
he has either cancelled the permit or formally transferred it to
another authorised person who should be made fully
conversant with the situation. Anyone who takes over, either
as a matter of routine or in an emergency, from the
authorising officer, should sign the permit to indicate transfer
of full responsibility.
 Principles of Permit to Work
(f) The person responsible for carrying out the specified
work should countersign the permit to indicate his
understanding of the safety precautions to be
observed.
(g) On completion of the work, that person should notify
the responsible officer and get the permit cancelled.
(h) The person carrying out the specified work should not
be the same person as the authorising officer.
 Can you?
• Define a hazard and risk
• Explain why risk assessments are carried out
• Explain the process of risk assessment
• Explain what a permit to work is
• Define the principles of the permit to work
system
 Next Lesson

Training & Watch-Keeping