This document provides guidance for supervisors to lead discussions on invisible hazards with vessel crews and marine operations staff. It defines invisible hazards as those that cannot be easily seen but still pose risks, such as pressure in pipelines, tension in mooring lines, or hazardous atmospheres. The discussion is meant to encourage sharing of experiences and learning about how to better identify and manage invisible hazards. Example invisible hazards covered include pressure, dropped objects, tension, hazardous atmospheres, and psychological hazards. The document provides discussion points for supervisors to use to facilitate conversations on these various hazards.

1. Invisible Hazards

2. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Notes for Guidance
This Engagement Pack IS NOT to be used for skills
training or a task requiring a licensed operator. This IS
NOT a tool box talk. This is an opportunity for staff on
board to talk about safety without feeling rushed to
commence their work. The rate of learning is more
important than completing the pack so allow two or more
sessions if necessary.
What the Engagement Pack includes
• Key points the supervisor should cover in their discussion
• Questions the supervisor can ask the group
Purpose of the Engagement Pack
To help supervisors provide their staff with a platform to have a
meaningful safety discussion and encourage sharing of
experiences and discussions around their learning outcomes.
Using the Engagement Pack
This pack has been designed for use by a supervisor in front of a
group of no more than 10 people. The pack should be placed on a
table with the pictures facing the group and the notes facing the
supervisor. Use practical demonstration where possible. The notes
are memory joggers to highlight key points but should not be read
word for word.
Preparing for an Engagement Session
Before beginning the session the supervisor should familiarise
themselves with the content and its purpose. Make sure there is
enough space and time for the staff to interact with each other.
Who is to be Engaged?
For the use of vessel crews and all those who are involved in
marine operations.
Where?
Engagement should be carried out in a quiet room/area where they
will not be disturbed. The vessel’s office, mess room, or quiet area
in a workshop would be suitable.
When to hold the Engagement
Choose a time that is suitable for all staff. This should be when
they are alert and most likely to contribute to the discussion. This
will help in absorbing and retaining the information for much longer.

3. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Invisible Hazards - Introduction

4. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Introduction to Invisible Hazards LET
The main issues:
• Just because we can not see the hazard does not mean it
does not exist, eg pressure inside a pipeline, tension in a
mooring rope, an atmosphere in an enclosed space, these
are not easy to see however they all have the potential to
cause harm.
• Harder to identify
• People become normalized to their surroundings
• People focus on visible hazard
Always pay special attention to the following:
• Take a fresh look around you. Do I miss anything?
• Assign competent personnel to conduct the hazard analysis
• Take time to evaluate potential risks involved
• Use brainstorming and “what if” scenarios
• Know the equipment vulnerabilities
• Be aware of environmental conditions
• If change occurs, stop and reassess
• If in doubt, do not proceed
Key Message: Can you spot the hazard?
Discussion Points:
1. What is an invisible hazard? Give an example
2. Why invisible hazards are harder to be identified?

5. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Pressure

6. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Pressure
Discussion points:
1. Where is stored pressure on your vessel?
2. In what ways can pressure escape violently?
3. How do we assess risk when working with pressure?
Key message: If it can find a way to escape it will,
violently
The main issues:
• Ruptured / dropped cylinders
• Damaged valves / pressure gauges
• Whipping air / water hose
• Spray by high pressure hot oil (high pressure mediums can enter blood
stream and cause severe injury or even fatality).
• Hydraulic pipeline failure.
• Steam.
• Blasting equipment.
• Failure to follow manufacturers guidelines
Always pay special attention to the following:
• Protection covers on cylinders
• Proper carriage, handling and storage of cylinders
• Install whip checks.
• Be aware of surrounding pipework and instrumentation.
• Isolate, depressurise and verify pipework before breaking containment.
• Inspection routines to ensure integrity.
• Report any leaks.
• Follow manufacturers guidelines and limitations.
• Use proper PPE.

7. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Dropped objects
Potential ice
falling from
Loading Arm

8. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Dropped Objects
Discussion points:
1. How do you identify a potential dropped object hazard?
2. How do we manage our lifting operation?
3. What is our maintenance routine for inspection?
4. How do you make sure people don’t get under a suspended load
on your location?
Key message: Look UP!!!!
The main issues:
• Loose items have potential to fall
• Poor housekeeping
• Inadequate planning for lifting operation.
• Sudden movement of equipment during transportation.
• No risk assessment when working at height
• People underneath work area.
• Unplanned activities.
• Poor maintenance and inspection leading to corrosion and failure of
supports.
Always pay special attention to the following:
• What is happening above and around you.
• Do not leave loose items lying around.
• Do risk assessment for lifting operation.
• Secure equipment during transit.
• Working at height
• Ensure barrier control in place.
• Use STOP job triggers when work scope or condition changes
• Inspection and maintenance.
• Use suitable PPE at all times.

9. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Tension

10. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Tension
Discussion points:
1. What equipment under tension do you have on our location?
2. How do you make sure that this equipment is fit for purpose and in a
good state?
3. How do you anticipate changing weather conditions?
4. How do you minimize exposure to equipment under tension?
Key message: Don’t be near, stand clear.
The main issues:
• Overloading caused failure of :
• Mooring lines / Anchor chains / Hoisting wires / Tow lines / Slings.
• Windlass / Winches
• Bollards
• A rope or wire parting under tension can result in a recoil velocity of up to
800 km/h (500 mph).
• Selection of correct rope design for intended purpose and good rope
management (inspection and maintenance, storage etc)
• Manual winding of equipment resulting in recoil with people in line of fire
• Equipment failure can happen without warning (ropes, cables etc).
• Change in weather and external condition.
Always pay special attention to the following:
• Your position in relation to any of the above.
• Condition of equipment before use and inspection routines
• Follow manufactures and industry instructions and guidance. (MEG4,
OCIMF- Effective Mooring)
• Minimize the amount of exposure to lines under tension
• Observe the positions of colleagues – intervene if appropriate.
• Weather forecast and changes to conditions, (trim of vessel and traffic
movement eg passing ships)
• Mooring plans – identifying risks during mooring and moored conditions,
tending to moorings and understanding the use of winch brake settings
against line failure.

11. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Other Invisible Hazards

12. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Other Invisible Hazards
Discussion points:
1. What other invisible hazards can you identify on your vessel?
Key message:
We are surrounded by Invisible Hazards
The main issues:
• Atmospheres - Gases, dusts, fumes, vapours and lack of oxygen. (see
LET Dangerous (Enclosed) Space LET for more information)
• Radiation hazards – Microwaves, infra-red, ultraviolet, lasers, X-rays and
gamma rays.
• Psychological hazards – Shiftwork, workload, dealing with 3rd parties,
harassment, discrimination, threat of danger, constant low-level noise,
stress, loneliness.
• Biological hazards - Infection by bacteria, virus, fungi or parasites through
a cut, insect bite, or contact with infected persons or contaminated object.
• Electricity – Burns / Arc Flash / Fire / Shock /
• Temperature – Burns (hot and cold) / exhaustion / Fire / metal fatigue

13. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Intervention / Behaviours

14. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Intervention / Behaviours
Discussion points:
1. How can nationality or hierarchy differences affect positive
interventions?
2. What situations or factors would stop you intervening and how
would you overcome these?
Key message: Safety has no hierarchy or
nationality
The main issue:
• Lack of effective intervention
• Failure to establish one team mentality on-board
• Hierarchy on-board
• Different nationalities - cultural background
• Communication – language barrier
• Lack of support in speaking up
• Fear of repercussion
• 3rd party pressure to deviate from safe working practices
Always pay special attention to the following:
• Do not be afraid to completely stop the job.
• Everybody on-board is a leader and lead by example, no matter what rank.
• Always speak up if you feel something is wrong
• If you do not understand, seek clarification – Do not be afraid
• Ensure signage is clear, concise and can be understood by all.
• Intervention can be difficult, so consider training and practicing your skills and
techniques .
• Seek clarity from 3rd parties in relation to instructions and obtain guidance
from shore management, if required

15. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Family, Friends, and Colleagues
Remember
YOUR FAMILY NEEDS YOU

16. Health, Safety, Security and Environment
Invisible Hazards – October 2019
Family, Friends, and Colleagues
Discussion points:
1. Why is taking care of yourself important for your home life?
2. How can we set good examples of safety for our friends and
colleagues so that we can all go back safely to our families?
Key message: We all want to get home safely
Notes:
• Taking care of ourselves can improve our relationships with
family and friends
• Demonstrating better safety behaviours and choices also
benefits our family, crew, and others too
• Achieving work/life balance is important in keeping the mind and
body primed to deal with challenging situations