Developing a simple risk register a basic approach

Developing a simple risk register – a basic approach

HAZARD. This is something that could cause you, a crew member, a passenger, your vessel, another vessel or the environment a problem. It could be a ‘thing’ or a way of doing something (a PROCEDURE).

RISK. This is something that could happen because of the HAZARD. RISK REGISTER. A list of Hazards and Risks related to a vessel.

When thinking about RISK it is important to consider the CHANCES of something happening and HOW OFTEN it has happened before. (These terms can also be called LIKELIHOOD and

FREQUENCY).

CONTROL. This is something you do to either get rid of a HAZARD altogether or to keep the RISK as low as possible.

MONITOR. This is how you check that a Control is working. PROCEDURE. This is a step by step way of doing something. TRAINING. This is how people are informed about PROCEDURES.

A simple everyday example that looks at a PROCEDURE: · Think about what to do before crossing a road. · The HAZARD here is crossing the road.

· The RISK is being knocked over by a moving vehicle and being injured or killed.

· Information from media is that there is a good CHANCE (LIKELIHOOD) of being hit because it OFTEN (FREQUENTLY) happens.

· There are several ways (CONTROLS) used to reduce the risk of being hit. Children are TRAINED to look both ways before crossing when they think it’s safe. They are trained in the PROCEDURE of how to cross a road safely.

· Pedestrian crossings, footbridges, traffic lights and underpasses all help to reduce the risk of being hit. They are all CONTROLS. Drivers are TRAINED in how to behave towards

pedestrians. They are trained in the PROCEDURES to follow, for example, at a pedestrian crossing.

· CONTROLS are MONITORED by the Traffic Authority and the Police. They check to see if the CONTROLS are reducing the number of people injured or killed on the roads. They may identify a ‘black spot’ where pedestrians continue to be injured. They may decide to increase the number of controls, for example, building a footbridge over the ‘black spot’.

Putting this example into a table could look like this:

HAZARD RISK CONTROLS MONITOR

Crossing a road. Pedestrian being hit

by a vehicle when crossing a road resulting in injury or death.

Pedestrian crossings; pedestrian only area; traffic lights; footbridge; pedestrian training; driver training; drivers licensed; fines/imprisonment.

Authorities keep records of accidents. Introduce more controls if needed.

Hazard

Crossing a road

Risk

Hit by vehicle / Death

Controls

Traffic lights / Footbridge

Monitor

Incident records

An everyday PROCEDURE on a vessel is getting people safely on and off.

· The HAZARD is the way people get on and off a vessel (The PROCEDURE).

· The RISKS include: vessel moving away from the wharf; a person falling in; a person being crushed between vessel and wharf; drowning; death; injury to deckhand when lifting gangway. Also BUSINESS risks including a court case; damages; fines; damage to reputation; and loss of business.

· The CONTROLS could include: using an appropriate gangway; tying the vessel up close to the wharf; using two lines; giving a briefing to passengers before they get on or off the vessel; manning the gangway; having an embark/disembark PROCEDURE; training the crew in the PROCEDURE; always looking for a better way(lighter gangway/new materials).

· Checking that the CONTROLS work (MONITORING) might be done by: recording the number of times there is a ‘near miss’ or actual accident; checking the crew understand the

procedure through refresher training; crew feedback.

Hazard Loading Passengers Risk Drowning Controls Training / Procedures Monitor Incident records

Another simple example: · Engine Room Fire.

· The engine, fuel tanks and all other equipment in the engine room make up the HAZARD. · The RISK is a fire that could be caused by: a ruptured fuel line squirting fuel onto a hot

exhaust; an electrical short circuit; exhaust lagging failure; oily rags self- igniting.

· The CONTROLS could include: regular inspection of all engine room plant and machinery; smoke alarms; heat alarms; alarm panel in wheelhouse; regular maintenance of all engine room plant and machinery; following a maintenance schedule; following manufacturer’s guidelines; having a PROCEDURE for reporting things that need repairing; keeping maintenance records; trained crew; ongoing training for engineering crew; maintaining a

· MONITORING the CONTROLS might be by: checking that maintenance records are being kept; checking that repairs have been carried out; making sure crew know repairs have been carried out; visually checking the condition of the engine room; checking crew’s

understanding of engine room procedures.

Hazard Engine room Risk Fire Controls Maintenance / Procedures Monitor

Records / Refresher Training

These examples could be put into a table like this:

HAZARD RISKS CONTROLS MONITOR

Embarking / Disembarking Passengers Vessel moving; passenger falling; crushing between wharf and vessel; death; injury; court case; damages; fines; damage to reputation; loss of business.

Appropriate gangway; tying up securely; briefing passengers; manning the gangway; having a boarding procedure; training crew. Record keeping; checking crew understanding through ongoing training; crew feedback.

Engine room plant, machinery and equipment.

Fire caused by ruptured fuel line; electrical short circuit; lagging breakdown; oily rags self- igniting.

Regular inspection of plant and equipment; regular maintenance; maintenance schedule; following guidelines; repair reporting procedure; training; cleaning engine room.

Checking maintenance records; checking repairs are carried out; checking crew are told about repairs; visually checking the engine room.

MORE EXAMPLES

Water A person falling

in(POB); injury; death; legal proceedings; damage to reputation; injury to crew.

Handrails; ‘no go’ areas; lifejackets; life rings; safety plans; training; procedures; passenger briefing; recording near misses.

Checking crew

understanding through ongoing training; checking records.

Tying up Crushing fingers

between bollard and line; loss of limb; falling overboard; back injury/poor technique; injury to passenger in area; damage to vessel; damage to wharf

Correct size bollard and line; correct position for bollard; training; good communication between master and deckhand; ‘no go’ area for passengers;

lifejacket.

Ongoing training; checking lines and other equipment; record keeping. Submerged object/shallow water/other vessel Collision; grounding; taking on water; injury; death; sinking; loss of vessel; court case; damages; loss of business; loss of reputation.

Crew training; drills; charts; navigational aids; bulletins; bilge alarms; bulkheads; pumps.

Ongoing training and drills to check crew’s understanding; record keeping; maintenance schedule

WHAT’S NEXT?

Go onto your boat with the regular crew. Start at the bow and work towards the stern. Look for things/ways of doing things that could be a problem (Hazards). Write them down.

Now, think about what could happen (RISKS) as a result of the hazards. Write them down. Next, think about what you’ve got in place to reduce the risks or could put in place to reduce the risks (CONTROLS).

Finally, think about how you’ll check that the controls are working (MONITOR).

When you’ve done this, put it all in a table and you have your Risk Register. Use it to help in the operation of your vessel. If things change on the boat, for example, you install a new piece of equipment or you start to operate in a different area, do a risk assessment on it. Write a procedure if needed.