Risk-Based Decision Making Guidelines: A Detailed Hazard Analysis of Lifeboat Inspection/Drill Activities on Foreign-Flagged Deep Draft Vessels

Performing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) inspections and drills on lifeboats of foreign flagged deep draft vessels requires inspection, launching, and recovery of a vessel's small boats. Situations are encountered where the crew is not well trained in lifeboat operations. In these situations, the USCG officer must assess the risks of conducting boat operations. This assessment can include factors such as urgency of the drill, wind, visibility, temperature, experience of the lifeboat crew and deck personnel, fatigue, and potentially changing weather conditions. Due to the many variables involved, absolute standards governing lifeboat inspection/drill decisions do not exist. The Coast Guard inspection area was selected by Coast Guard Activities Baltimore (ACTBALT) to be examined with a risk tool from the 2nd edition of the Risk-Based Decision-Making (RBDM) Guidelines. The development of a 2nd edition of RBDM Guidelines supports the Office of Design and Engineering Standards (G-MSE) strategy of developing a risk toolbox for marine safety activities. A detailed hazard analysis used for this activity combined the use of two assessment methods. The two methods used for this study were the Worker and Instruction Safety Evaluation (WISE) and Human error (error-likely situation) review. Based on the results and insights gained from performing this detailed hazard analysis, the team identified ways to improve personnel and equipment safety during lifeboat operations. The opportunities identified for reducing risk include both procedural and physical design changes. Although there was not a lot of new information created from this analysis, it was effective in generating: 1) a better understanding than what could have been achieved from a higher-level risk screening tool, and 2) specific risk reduction opportunities that would not have been identified from a higher-level risk screening tool.