Risk assessment should lead to decisions
A useful risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates exposure, selects controls and assigns responsibility. A document that only produces a risk score without changing the way work is planned has limited value.
Identify the task and credible hazards
Define the activity, location, personnel, equipment and environmental conditions. Consider routine and non-routine operations, foreseeable failures and human-factor issues.
Choose controls using the hierarchy of controls
Where feasible, eliminate the hazard or reduce exposure through engineering and procedural controls before relying solely on personal behavior. Maritime operations often require layers of controls.
Verify the control
Ask how the company knows the control is working. Verification may include inspection, observation, drills, audits, monitoring data or review of incidents and near misses.
Learn from change
Risk assessments should be reviewed when equipment, procedures, personnel, routes, cargoes or environmental conditions change materially.
Need help applying this to your situation?
Start with the free maritime assessment and tell us what you are trying to achieve.
Start the Free Assessment →Related Maritime Insights
Need help applying this to your maritime situation?
Tell us what you are trying to solve — compliance, training, readiness, risk, maritime education or professional development — and start with a free assessment.
Start the Free Maritime Assessment →