Question 1

An OOW supervising hot work under a permit notices conditions have changed in a way that affects the original risk assessment — nearby work has introduced additional flammable materials. What should the OOW do regarding the permit itself, not just the immediate physical hazard?

Accepted Answer

Notify the permit controller (authorising officer) as soon as possible and treat the permit as suspended until the changed risk has been properly reassessed — not just adjust working practices informally while leaving the permit technically active A change affecting the risk assessment requires the permit controller to be notified and the permit treated as suspended — addressing the physical hazard alone, without involving the authorising officer, leaves the permit technically valid for conditions that no longer match its basis.

Question 2

A cadet is told that risk assessment on board isn't just one document but happens at four different levels, including something as informal as a quick personal check before starting a task. What are these four levels, broadly?

Accepted Answer

Generic risk assessments (company-level), task-based risk assessments (onboard, specific to the job), toolbox talks (discussing the assessment with those doing the work), and personal/dynamic assessment (an individual's ongoing informal check while working) COSWP describes a four-level structure: generic risk assessments set by the company, task-based risk assessments (TBRA) carried out onboard for specific jobs, toolbox talks that walk the team through the TBRA before work starts, and personal/dynamic risk assessment carried out informally by the individual as work proceeds.

Question 3

An OOW is about to lead a small team in a non-routine, high-risk job — entry into a void space that hasn't been entered in months. A generic company risk assessment exists for enclosed space entry in general. What additional level(s) of assessment does the OOW need before this specific job can proceed?

Accepted Answer

A task-based risk assessment specific to this entry and these personnel, followed by a toolbox talk walking the team through its findings before work begins Generic risk assessments don't capture ship- and task-specific factors at the time of the job — a non-routine, high-risk task like this needs its own task-based risk assessment, with a toolbox talk to brief the team on its findings before starting.