The Functions of a Safety Officer

In this course, you are going to learn about the main functions of the Safety Officer. The safety officer's primary role is to make sure that the ship is safe and up to date. In the ISM code, which is a part of SOLAS (Safety of life at sea), you can find the minimum safety requirements for ship and crew. It is the Safety Officer's job to make sure that the ISM code is followed. The ISM code lays the foundation of safety at sea, you will learn more about this in the lesson about the ISM code.

Even though it is the Safety Officers' job to maintain safety onboard, it becomes a team effort and the whole crew should be involved. In the end, nobody benefits from an unsafe working environment. You will, therefore, learn about how the crew must work together and be aware of possible hazards, such as fatigue due to lack of sleep, etc. Once the hazards are identified, the crew must have knowledge about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Work Permits, and Risk Assessments. Crew need to be aware of the importance of protecting themselves, which this course also covers.  

The Primary Functions of the Safety Officer

The primary functions of the safety officer, preferably an experienced seafarer, are to inspect all areas of the vessel for safety compliance and to report any deficiencies, on a regular basis. (Inspection will be completed as per the ship's Planned Maintenance System.) The purpose is to raise awareness, prevent accidents, and identify regular occurrences that might require the operator's intervention on a fleet-wide basis. The function of the safety officer does not involve equipment maintenance, although it does include identifying equipment deficiencies.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Unless contrary to national law or practice, the safety officer should implement the shipowner's health and safety policy. These duties that the safety officer should carry out are in conjunction with the instructions of the master, the safety officer is also there to improve awareness for the crew. The safety officer will investigate any safety complaints and report to the health and safety committee. The safety officer shall update the individual who reported the complaints to ensure open communication and improve the safety culture onboard. Investigation of accidents, safety recommendations, onboard safety training, and inspections are also included in the safety officer's duties.