Risk Assessments and Installation Guidance

A risk assessment is intended to be a careful examination of any area or element that could cause harm to the crew. It allows decisions to be made about whether enough precautions have been taken or whether more should be done to prevent harm to crew, equipment or the ship. The aim is to minimise accidents and ill health onboard ships.

The assessment should first establish the hazards present at the workplace and then identify the significant risks arising from the work activity. The assessment should include consideration of the existing precautions to control the risk, such as permits to work, restricted access and use of warning signs or personal protective equipment.

Emergency Towing System Risk Management

All towing operations (planned or emergency) should be pre-planned (so far as possible in an emergency), and a risk assessment of the operation should be completed. Only suitably qualified and trained personnel should inspect, maintain or deploy the emergency towing system. 

Careful thought should be given to the rope arrangements so that the fairleads used are the most suitable and will not create sharp angles. No other ropes and wires should be fed through the same lead. 

To ensure personal safety when the equipment is being deployed or is under load, personnel essential to the operation should, as reasonably practicable, be able to stand in a protected position and not in any circumstances stand in a bight of rope or wire.

During towing, lines are under immense strain, so all personnel in the vicinity should remain in positions of safety, avoiding potential ‘snap-back zones'. The whole of the mooring deck may be considered a danger zone. Viewing the mooring deck arrangement from a high point is recommended to identify potential snap-back zones.