Human Error and the Environment Management Systems for the Gas Industry (Written and compiled for and on behalf of SIGTTO by Mr G. V. Hartland of QSE) SIGTTO WSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd iWSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd i1/22/2009 4:48:38 PM1/22/2009 4:48:38 PM Human Error and the Environment Management Systems for the Gas Industry First Published in 2001 © Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators Ltd ISBN 1 85609 100 7 1st Edition 2001 SIGTTO The Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to protect and promote the mutual interests of its members in matters related to the safe and reliable operation of gas tankers and terminals within a sound environment. The Society was founded in 1979 and was granted consultative status at IMO in November 1983. The Society has over 100 companies in membership who own or operate over 95% of the world’s LNG tankers and terminals and over 55% of the world’s LPG tankers and terminals. Notice of Terms of Use While the information given in this guide has been developed using the best advice available at the time of publication, it is intended purely as guidance to be used at the owner’s risk. No responsibility is accepted by the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators Ltd, or by any person, firm, corporation or organisation who or which has been in any way concerned with the furnishing of information or data, the compilation, publication, or authorised translation, supply or sale of this guide for the accuracy of any information or advice given herein or for any omission herefrom or for any consequences whatsoever resulting directly or indirectly from the compliance with or adoption of guidance contained herein even if caused by a failure to exercise reasonable care. Printed and bound in Great Britain by Bell & Bain Ltd. Glasgow Published in 2009 by Witherby Seamanship International Ltd. 4 Dunlop Square, Deans Estate Livingston, EH54 8SB United Kingdom Tel No: +44 (0)1506 463 227 Fax No: +44 (0)1506 468 999 Email: info@emailws.com www.witherbyseamanship.com WSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd iiiWSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd iii1/22/2009 4:48:39 PM1/22/2009 4:48:39 PM SIGTTO vii Contents Page No. HISTORY v 1. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE 1 2. HUMAN ERROR 3 3. MANAGEMENT 9 4. FORMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 11 5. QUALITY 15 6. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND THE ISM CODE 19 7. ENVIRONMENTAL AND HSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 25 8. THE ASSESSMENT OF RISK 35 9. THE SHIP/TERMINAL INTERFACE 41 10. THE SELF-ASSESSEMENT SYSTEM 45 11. EXTERNAL CERTIFICATION AND THE INTEGRATED SYSTEM 49 12. THE FUTURE 51 13. CONCLUSIONS 53 Appendix 1 IMO 21st Meeting Resolution – Management Aspects 55 Appendix 2 Glossary 57 Appendix 3 Bibliography 59 WSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd viiWSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd vii1/22/2009 4:48:39 PM1/22/2009 4:48:39 PM SIGTTO 28 The standard, ISO 14001, adds further concepts to the process: • we should consider, not only those things that we can control but also those that we can influence • we must take all legal requirements into account • we must take the views of interested parties into account. Those that we can influence and those parties who are ‘interested’ take into account subcontractors, environmental pressure groups, local residents etc. The legal requirement section is a global one, which means all laws in all ports visited. Achieving compliance with ISO 14001, in the spirit that it is meant, is not easy. At present the main global environmental concerns are: • global warming • depletion of the ozone layer • acid rain • water pollution • air pollution • solid waste disposal • transfer of non indigenous species Global warming is an increase in the Earth’s temperature due to the use of fossil fuels and other industrial processes leading to a build-up of ‘greenhouse gases’ (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons) in the atmosphere. The question is whether the measurably increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the last century will lead to elevated global temperatures. This could result in coastal flooding (through a rise in sea level), major climatic changes and have serious implications for agricultural productivity. The potential consequences of global warming are so great that many of the world’s top scientists have urged immediate action, and have called for international co-operation on the problem. The ozone layer is a region of the atmosphere from 19 to 48 km above the Earth’s surface. Ozone concentrations of as much as 10 parts per million occur in the ozone layer. The ozone forms there by the action of sunlight on oxygen. Concentrations this great at ground level are dangerous to human health as the precursors of smog; but because the ozone layer protects life on Earth from the full force of the Sun’s cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation, it is critically important. Therefore, scientists were concerned when they discovered, in the 1970s, that certain chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs (compounds of fluorine) – long used as refrigerants and in aerosol spray cans – posed a possible threat to the ozone layer. Released into the atmosphere, the chlorine-containing chemicals rise and are broken down by sunlight, whereupon the chlorine reacts with and destroys ozone molecules. For this reason, the use of CFCs in aerosols has been banned in many countries. Other chemicals, such as bromine halocarbons, and nitrous oxides from fertilisers, may also attack the ozone layer. Acid rain forms when oxides of sulphur and nitrogen combine with atmospheric moisture to yield sulphuric and nitric acids, which may then be carried long distances from their source before they are deposited by rain. Of the major pollutants of water, mainly oil pollution is significant to shipping and port operations. However, one of the main contributors, dredging waste, is as a direct spin off from the shipping business. WSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd 28WSIL - 198 Human Error and the Environment.indd 281/22/2009 4:48:40 PM1/22/2009 4:48:40 PM