How Risk Assessement is done on board ?

• The agreed measures are to be implemented.
• Any identified measures relating to any relevant permits are stipulated within the permit as ‘Additional precautions / Special Instructions’.
• The work force undertaking the task should be advised of the results of the Risk assessment and the measures to be employed. This will take place in the form of a Toolbox meeting.
• The Task/Job Risk Assessment form should be signed and dated by all participants of the exercise
• The task may only be carried out once all the above has been accomplished and any relevant permits issued.

In the event of any changes to the situation under which the risk assessment was made, the task should be halted as soon as possible and the situation re-assessed.

All associated documentation should be kept in the Risk Assessment File.

Since Risk Assessments depend on the individual ship type, the nature and frequency of the operation concerned, and the competency of the crew involved, even for seemingly similar tasks, a risk assessment carried out on one vessel may not be wholly applicable to another.

From a practical point of view, Risk Assessments are best commenced well before the job is to be carried out, and then reviewed and improved upon, prior taking up the task concerned.

Once made out, the risk assessment for the particular task should be maintained in a Risk Assessment File and revisited before and after taking up the named task. Any new hazards identified and/or any fresh mitigation developed, should be added to the original listing. Maintaining a soft copy of Risk Assessments will allow easy editing and quick accessibility. In this manner, the risk assessment for a particular job will be updated and improved upon, and readily available for the crew’s reference