Policies and Plans
Safety
General
As a result of the accident involving the grounding of the Sea Empress at Milford Haven, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch carried out a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident and published a report of its findings. The reports main proposal was that a Port Marine Safety Code (P.M.S.C.) should be developed for ports which would cover all safety functions and not be limited solely to Pilotage.
The Newport Harbour Commissioners recognise and accept that in carrying out its statutory duties and responsibilities, safety must be its paramount consideration. Newport Harbour Commissioners’ aim is to minimise the risk of accidents to vessels navigating within the Newport Harbour as far as is reasonably practical.
The following are all driven by safety considerations:
- the promotion of a pilotage service and the provision and maintenance of navigation aids;
- the issue of pilotage directions, general directions, notices to mariners and directions issued by the Harbour Master;
- the promotion of the Newport Harbour Byelaws;
- the enactment nationally of legislation relating to Harbours and Shipping;
- the emergency plans dealt with at paragraph 9.10 Part III Marine Environment.
These matters are dealt with in greater detail later in this plan.
Safety Assessment and Management
The P.M.S.C. requires Harbour Authorities to apply well-developed principles of formal hazard and risk assessment and safety management systems.
Harbour authorities are required to follow these general principles:
- The regulation of navigation in harbours must be based upon a formal assessment of hazards and risks;
- Every harbour authority must develop and maintain a published safety management system dealing with all the hazards and risks identified by the assessment;
- Statutory powers to regulate navigation in a harbour must be reviewed to ensure that they remain related to identified risks, and the harbour authority’s safety management plan;
- A safety management system should be subject to independent verification and audit;
- The safety management system should deal with preparedness for emergencies.
Newport Harbour Commissioners have carried out a Risk Assessment to identify marine hazards and risks and the means of eliminating or controlling them. This exercise has been conducted in accordance with the guidance given by the P.M.S.C.
SAFETY POLICY 1
Newport Harbour Commissioners will make management safety assessments for formal hazards and risks a key task of the Authority in accordance with the guidance given in the P.M.S.C.
SAFETY POLICY 2
Newport Harbour Commissioners will ensure that the safety implications are taken into account in all aspects of its work.
Health and Safety at Work
Harbour Authorities (HA’s) have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the safety at work of its employees and other persons who may be affected by their activities.
Newport Harbour Commissioners are committed to protecting the Health and Safety of its employees (which includes those for whom it is responsible).
Employees are reminded that each of them must accept their respective degrees of responsibility for health and safety in their own work place.
SAFETY POLICY 3
NHC will in relation to the health and safety
- Comply with their statutory duties;
- Provide its employees with
- a safe and secure place of work
- a safe system of work
- safe and suitable equipment with which to undertake their work
- support and training;
- Ensure that contractors and suppliers have health and safety policies relevant to the nature of the work being undertaken;
- Require all accidents to employees arising during the course of their duties to be logged in an accident book;
- Investigate all accidents to its employees which arise during the course of their duties and initiate any new procedures necessary to prevent a recurrence.
- Arrange for its health and safety policy to be reviewed at regular intervals of not more than one year.
