Description
Shipboard Safety Officer Notes is a practical safety officer guide designed to help Safety Officers understand their responsibilities and carry out the role with confidence. It explains the key duties, safety management context, and practical actions needed to support a safer working environment on board ship.
Although the responsibilities may appear challenging, this book offers clear, practical guidance to help Safety Officers carry out their duties confidently and effectively.
It covers the criteria for selecting a suitable Safety Officer, outlines relevant IMO regulations, and explains the structure of shipboard safety management. Additional topics include fostering a strong safety culture, conducting risk assessments, and investigating and preventing incidents. This is an essential resource for anyone involved in or overseeing onboard safety.
Readers may also find useful Onboard Safety, Safety and Health at Sea – 2nd Edition Book, Personal Injury Prevention: A Guide to Good Practice, Confined Space Safe Practice (Rec 72), Shipboard Drills Book, and ISM Code International Safety Management Code.
Safety Officer Guide’s Contents:
Contents
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The Role of the Safety Officer
1.1 Who is the Safety Officer?
1.2 Principal Duties of the Safety Officer
1.3 Characteristics of a Good Safety Officer
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Background to the Creation of the Role
2.1 International Safety Management (ISM) Code and Safety Culture
2.2 ILO
2.3 International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Safety Management and Safety Culture
2.4 Health, Safety and Environmental Policy
2.5 The Employer
2.6 Competent Person
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The Safety Organisation Onboard Ship
3.1 Shipboard Safety Organisation
- Safety Culture
4.1 Communication Shipboard Safety Officer Notes
4.2 Motivation
4.3 Role of Communication and Motivation in Shipboard Safety
4.4 Creating a Safety Culture
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Risk Assessment
5.1 Legal Requirements for Risk Assessment
5.2 Task Selection
5.3 Hazard Identification (HazID)
5.4 Evaluating Hazards and Assessing Risks
5.5 Controlling the Risks and Action Plan
5.6 Permit to Work (PTW) System
5.7 Checklists
5.8 Documentation for Risk Assessment
5.9 Risk Assessment – The Simplified Steps
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Incident Investigation and Prevention
6.1 Incident Investigation
6.2 Investigation Process
6.3 Investigation Steps
6.4 Interpreting the Facts
6.5 Report Writing
6.6 Initiating Corrective Actions
6.7 Authorities to whom Reports are Sent
Appendix 1 – Codes and Legislation
Appendix 2 – MAIB Incident Report Form and MGN 289
Glossary of Main Terms
Acronyms and Abbreviations
References
Bibliography
This shipboard safety officer notes title is a practical safety officer guide for anyone responsible for safer shipboard operations. By combining role guidance, safety culture, risk assessment, and investigation practice in one reference, it helps Safety Officers carry out their duties with greater clarity and confidence.





