Question 1

A risk assessment for overside hull painting identifies the fall and drowning hazards but, after implementing all available controls, still shows a high residual risk due to a forecasted swell that cannot be eliminated.

What should the responsible officer do?

Accepted Answer

Stop the job until conditions change or further controls reduce the risk to ALARP Adding observers or limiting personnel doesn't address the root hazard (vessel motion in swell); COSWP requires stopping the job if the risk cannot reasonably be brought down, rather than compensating with secondary measures.

Question 2

What does COSWP mean by a "dynamic risk assessment" in relation to a toolbox talk before height work?

Accepted Answer

An in-the-moment review confirming the existing risk assessment's hazards and controls are still relevant and understood before starting the task The toolbox talk uses the existing task-based risk assessment as its foundation, checking that nothing has changed (conditions, personnel, scope) since it was written, rather than generating a brand new assessment each time.

Question 3

If, during a dynamic risk assessment, a person does not believe the existing controls are sufficient for the conditions on the day, what should happen?

Accepted Answer

Go back to an earlier stage of the risk assessment process and reassess before continuing COSWP explicitly allows stepping back to an earlier stage of the process if the dynamic assessment raises doubt - this empowers any team member to pause work rather than push ahead on an outdated assessment.