Risk Assessment

“A combination of the probability, or frequency, of

occurrence of a defined hazard and the magnitude
of the consequences of the occurrence.”
According to International Maritime Organization
(IMO), risk is the “combination of the frequency
and the severity of the consequence”, thereby
articulates two components of the likelihood of
occurrence and the probability of severity of the
(un)predictable consequences.
 What is Risk Assessment for Ships?
Safety management objectives of the company should establish safeguards
against all identified risks” so has it been stated in the paragraph 1.2.2.2 of
the ISM Code (International Safety Management Code).
Does not determine any particular approach to the risk management
theory
It is for the company itself to choose methods appropriate in accordance
with its organizational structure, its ships and trades.
The methods could vary accordingly but how ever more or less formal they
are, they should be well organized and planned if assessment and responses
are meant to be completed and act effectively, and also the entire exercise
should be documented in drafts or amendments so as to provide evidence of
the decision-making process.
 the development and implementation of a documented
safety management system is an exercise in risk
management
 Hazard
A hazard is a substance, situation or practice that has the
potential to cause harm. Briefly, what we are concerned
with, therefore, is:
• the identification of hazards
• the assessment of the risks associated with those
hazards
• the application of controls to reduce the risks that are
deemed intolerable
• the monitoring of the effectiveness of the controls
• The controls may be applied either to reduce the
likelihood of occurrence of an adverse event, or
to reduce the severity of the consequences.
• The risks we are concerned with are those that
are reasonably foreseeable, and relate to:
• the health and safety of all those who are directly
or indirectly involved in the activity, or who may
be otherwise affected
• the property of the company and others
• the environment
• Types of hazard may include: fire, electrical
thermal, noise
Maritime Risk Assessment Process
 RISK ESTIMATOR
Consequence
Slightly Harmful Extremely
Harmful Harmful
Highly Trivial Risk Tolerable Moderate
Unlikely Risk Risk
Likelihood
Unlikely Tolerable Moderate Substantial
Risk Risk Risk
Likely Moderate Substantial Intolerable
Risk Risk Risk

Trivial No action is required

Tolerable No additional controls are required. Monitoring is required to ensure
control is maintained.
Moderate Efforts are required to reduce risk. Controls are to be implemented
within a specified time.

Substantial New work not to start until risk reduced. If work in progress, urgent
action to be taken. Considerable resources may be required.
Intolerable Work shall not be started or continued until the risk has been
reduced. If reduction is not possible, the activity shall be prohibited.
• When deciding on priorities for the application of controls,
the frequency of the activity should also be taken into
account; for example, it may be more urgent to address a
“moderate” level of risk in a process that occurs every day
than to impose controls over an activity that involves
“substantial” risk, but will not be carried out in the near
future.
• Furthermore, the terms applied to the levels of risk in the
table above should not be interpreted too rigidly. Risk
should be reduced to a level that is as low as is reasonably
practicable (ALARP).
• If a “tolerable” level of risk can be reduced still further for
a reasonable cost and with little effort, then it should be.
• Standards of tolerability tend to be far stricter after an
accident than before.
 Example

• Activity: Tank cleaning

• Hazard: Toxic atmosphere or lack of oxygen
• Risk (before controls): Intolerable (likely and
extremely harmful)
• Recommended Controls: Atmospheric
testing, ventilation, use or availability of
breathing apparatus
 ENSURING CONTINUITY AND FLEXIBILITY
• risk assessment exercises - separate, isolated activities.
• enhanced controls identified must be implemented, usually
by inclusion in the company’s documented procedures
• Assessments must be reviewed regularly and in the light of
experience; for example, an increase in the number of
accidents or hazardous occurrences
• sensitive to the signals provided by internal audits, routine
reporting, company and masters’ reviews, accident reports,
and that it responds promptly and effectively.
• subjective nature of risk perception
The best safeguard against accidents is a genuine safety
culture - awareness and constant vigilance on the part of all
those involved, and the establishment of safety as a
permanent and natural feature of organizational decision-
making.
 Sample checklists
Provide safe access areas
• A crew’s ability to perform their job properly depends heavily on its ability to move freely and safely
throughout the ship. Access areas are a good place to start a safety inspection. Specifically:
• Check access areas that are used for general transit, as well as working purposes
• Check ladders and stairs to make sure they’re in proper working condition and are unobstructed
• Check guard rails and handles to make sure they’re secure and properly affixed
• Make sure openings, in which a person could fall, are covered
• Make sure access areas are well lit
• Post warning signs around areas that could be wet, slippery or otherwise dangerous
Secure working areas
• A ship’s working area acts like the body’s central nervous system. Crew members quickly perform the
essential duties to keep their ship afloat and moving toward its destination. Ensure that the working area is:
• Safe to enter at all times
• Adequately lit
• Well ventilated
• Clean and clear of combustible materials
• Well organized with tools and stores properly secured and labeled.
Check on working conditions
• Experienced crew members that are comfortable in their work environment may start to take safety for
granted. This is why the ship’s safety officer needs to check the following:
• Machinery systems to ensure they’re guarded when necessary
• Operating instructions to make sure they’re properly displayed and easy to find
• Safety warnings and signs to ensure they’re visible
• Work-to-permit to make sure requirements are being met
• Crew members to ensure they’re wearing the proper protective clothing and safety equipment
• Machinery systems to be sure they’re operating properly and being maintained
• New and inexperienced crew to be sure they have the proper supervision.
 RISK ASSESSMENT
SHIP’S NAME: DATE: ASSESSMENT NR
Location, activity or other subject of assessment:

Person (s) at risk:

Assessment Leader:
HAZARD: PERSONNEL INJURY DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND / OR ENVIRONMENT
1
2
3
4
5
EXISTING MEASURES OR OTHER FACTORS TO DECREASE RISKS
1
2
3
4
5
 RISK ASSESSMENT (CHECK BOX)
SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD RISK FACTOR
HAZARD
1 2 3 4 5 X 1 2 3 4 5
Nr. 1 =
Nr. 2 =
Nr. 3 =
Nr. 4 =
Nr. 5 =
OTHER MEASURES NECESSARY AND IMPLEMENTED:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 RESULTS AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTED (CHECK BOX)
SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD RISK FACTOR
HAZARD
1 2 3 4 5 X 1 2 3 4 5
Nr. 1 =
Nr. 2 =
Nr. 3 =
Nr. 4 =
Nr. 5 =
Declaration: We as assessors have judged that additional assessment is not required
and work/process can be
Undertaken

SIGNED
Assessment leader: Master: Date:

Risk factor key:

Hazard Severity: 1 = NIL, 2 = Slight, 3 = Moderate, 4 = High, 5 = Very High
Likelihood of Occurrence: 1 = unlikely, 2 = possible, 3 = quite possible, 4 = likely, 5 =
Very likely