AMSA Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin – Managing Risk

The Club would like to bring to Members’ attention the recently released AMSA - Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin (Issue 21) — Managing risk highlighting the role of risk perception in risk identification, assessment and mitigation.

Risk perception is a subjective construct and, as recognised in this bulletin, consideration should be given to the factors that may influence the way people respond to a risk, for example the safety ethos and experience of the personnel, and the usual approach to a task – the work culture on board.

Consideration of a task as being “routine” could result in a lack of situational awareness due to a complacent attitude, the absence of critical thinking, and a failure to adopt an objective review of the risks that exist when performing that specific task, at that moment in time. In essence the mentality of “this is how we always perform a particular task” instead of challenging oneself to think “is there a better and safer way to perform this task”.

Encouraging active engagement by a diverse team of participants when undertaking risk identification and developing appropriate mitigation barriers, can help increase and improve the overall perspective and perception of the potential risks. It can also bring more ideas to the table, fostering greater collaboration and resulting in better planning and more effective risk mitigation. Maintaining operational safety requires good Observation Skills, as highlighted in the Shipboard Operations programme of that name, available through Donate & Train, and contributes to the development of a robust risk assessment.

Eliminating a risk may not always be possible, however, by implementing strong controls the probability and the severity of a risk can be minimised.

Further, a post activity review of the workflow and the mitigation measures, complemented by feedback from the team that planned and experienced the workflow, can analyse and, where appropriate, implement amendments to the risk assessment, ensuring that it remains effective, relevant and current.

Members are encouraged to bring this Safety Bulletin and the AMSA Safety Awareness bulletin to the attention of their staff both ashore and on board their vessels, and to ensure:

• Good communication – between ship-shore and on-board the vessel
• Active staff engagement and participation
• Safety management systems capture and address a comprehensive list of all potential risks#
• Hazards and risks are identified early to reduce risks to safety
• Appropriate measures and controls are introduced that effectively mitigate risk
• Risks and control measures are regularly reviewed
• Controls remain effective and up to date
• Ship staff are empowered to “stop work” where necessary for safety

A good safety culture supports an effective shipboard safety management system.