Fishing vessel risk assessments and safety management systems
This guidance provides details on how to conduct and record a risk assessment, and how safety management systems can help to improve safety on fishing vessels.
The importance of risk assessments has increased with the implementation of ILO 188 which requires risk assessments for all vessels whether it is crewed by contracted crew, share fishermen or just yourself. The vessel owner must ensure that suitable and sufficient risk assessments have been carried out and documented for all work activities on the fishing vessel. All crew should be closely involved with the risk assessment process to take advantage of their practical knowledge and experience and to ensure full awareness of the risks that arise with their work. Risk assessments must be documented to ensure availability and familiarity for all on board and should be made available during an inspection. It is important to consider any additional risks which may arise during day-to-day operations and, where appropriate, put in place additional or alternative safety measures.
Conducting a risk assessment
There are a number of resources available to help you conduct your risk assessments. The new Fishermen’s Safety Guide has been written to help you with the conduct of your risk assessment. The guide can be downloaded, or you can order a paper copy.
A FREE online Safety Folder has been developed by industry, which can assist you with recording your risk assessments. As well as this, it can help you comply with ILO 188 regulation, keep track of crew training and certification, provide reminders of equipment certification and servicing, and vessel maintenance. You can also find more information about safety at sea and risk assessments on the Seafish website.
Risk assessment for fishing vessels
Fishing vessel operators - whether of seagoing or non-seagoing ships - must comply with the risk assessment requirements listed in MGN 587 (M&F) (International Labour Organisation (ILO) work in fishing convention (No. 188) Health and safety: responsibilities of fishing vessel owners, managers, skippers and fishermen
A risk assessment is an examination of harm that could come to workers carrying out their duties. Operators should carry out assessments of work activities on fishing vessels to identify:
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seafarers at particular risk while performing their duties
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appropriate health and safety measures
Vessel owners can adapt their existing safety management systems to meet general risk assessment principles, for example:
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checking if enough precautions have been taken to prevent accidents and ill health
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classifying hazards as ‘significant’ or not
Precautionary measures forming part of risk assessment include:
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permits to work
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restricted access to areas of the vessel
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warning signs
Risk assessment is a continuous process, but must also be carried out before any significant changes in the vessel’s equipment or procedures.
Recording procedures
Operators must record their risk assessment findings in written format, and list the main elements of their assessment process, for example:
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classifying work activities
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identifying hazards and personnel at risk
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determining level of risk
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deciding if risk is tolerable
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preparing action plan where necessary
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reviewing the effectiveness of the action plan
Risk assessments of young seafarers
Operators should carry out special risk assessment procedures for young people working on fishing vessels. These should take into account extra risks that arise from their lack of experience, risk awareness and maturity.
Find out about more about what ILO 188 means for the minimum age and protection for young persons on fishing vessels in MSN 1882 Amendment 1.
Further information can be found on the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Employment of Young Persons) Regulations 1998 on the Legislation.gov website.
Safety Management Systems
Safety Management Systems can help demonstrate that the vessel complies with many of the requirements of codes of practice, ILO 188, risk assessments and other legislation.
Much of the documentation is already required, for example you would need:
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The Safety Management Manual;
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Company safety and environment policies;
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All crew certification and training records;
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Planned maintenance system;
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Vessel operation (operating procedures and the risk assessment);
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Testing/Certification relating to the lifesaving appliances and fire-fighting equipment;
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Accident and incident reports and any remedial actions taken thereof;
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Evidence of reviews of your safety management system, self-audit reports and close outs thereof;
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Environmental management and pollution prevention;
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Records of drills and safety training
Having a safety management system will help you:
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provide for safe practices in vessel operation and a safe working environment;
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assess all identified risks to its vessels, crew and the environment and establish appropriate safeguards; and
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continuously improve safety management on board, including preparing for emergencies related both to safety and environmental protection.
Further information can be found in MGN 596 (F) - Fishing safety management code: Helping to improve the management of safety on fishing vessels
Manual handling procedures
The term ‘manual handling’ is used to describe any operation that includes any transporting or supporting of a load, lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving by hand or bodily force. Manual handling procedures for fishing vessels are summarised in the MCA document MGN 90 Amendment 2 (M+F) Implementation of EC Directive 90/269/EC: The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Manual Handling Operations) Regulations 1998, which includes guidance on risk assessment. Fishing vessel operators must have procedures in place to prevent seafarers needing to handle manual loads. These should be based on risk assessments of load handling on board - including factors such as available space, lighting, and the capacity of the seafarer.
The code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers
Chapter 10 provides pictorial guidance on manual handling, communicating good manual handling technique visually.
Protection from vibration in equipment
Operators must take carry out risk assessments of hazards associated with vibration in equipment and introduce procedures to protect crews. Safety requirements to protect seafarers from vibration are set out in the MCA document MGN 353 (M+F) The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Control of Vibration at Work) Regulations 2007.
MGN 353 contains information about controlling the symptoms, causes and management of the risk of hand-arm vibration (Annex A) and whole-body vibration (Annex B).
The code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers chapter 12.16 also provides details on health surveillance and health monitoring regarding vibration.
Drugs and alcohol
You can read fishing vessel safety recommendations regarding the effects of alcohol and drug abuse on survival at sea in the MCA document MGN 193 (M+F) The effects of alcohol or drugs on survival at sea.