Question 1

An officer is short-staffed and decides to both authorise the height work permit AND personally go aloft to carry out the task himself, reasoning that he is competent and experienced enough to judge his own risk.

Is this acceptable practice?

Accepted Answer

No - the competent person carrying out the work and the authorising officer must not be the same person, regardless of individual experience, because the separation of duties itself is the safeguard Even a highly experienced officer is subject to the same pressures (time, workload, wanting to get the job done) that the separation of duties exists to counteract. Staffing shortfalls should be resolved by adjusting timing or seeking another competent authoriser.

Question 2

What must be completed and reviewed before a height work permit is prepared, to ensure the permit's precautions are properly grounded?

Accepted Answer

A specific risk assessment (or an existing one reviewed and adapted for the task) covering the hazards involved The permit documents and controls a task whose hazards have already been identified through risk assessment; without that foundation, the permit's listed precautions would not be properly justified.

Question 3

Who typically has overall accountability for ensuring a vessel's permit-to-work system functions correctly, even where authority to issue specific permits is delegated to other officers?

Accepted Answer

The Master The Master retains overall accountability for the permit-to-work system, even when day-to-day authority to issue certain permits (e.g. Chief Officer for deck work) is delegated.