The pre-work talk is the final coordination meeting before any physical work starts. It is held to ensure that everyone involved in the task is aligned on how to work safely and efficiently. The set agenda is very brief, and the full session need not take long.
The important thing is that all crewmembers who will take part in the work attend, and that everyone focus and participate actively during the pre-work talk.
It is our responsibility to understand the hazards present in every task, and to know how to control them. After all, we are the ones who will be out there doing the job.
If something has been overlooked and we see it, it is our responsiblity to bring it up. If there is anything we do not understand about the plan, it is our duty to ask questions until everything is clear. If we think the work is not safe, it is our obligation to say so.
The pre-work talk is our first line of defense against the hazards of our already risky job. It is not merely a meeting that we need to get over with, neither a form that needs to be filled out for compliance's sake. The Pre-Work Talk is a statement of our commitment to not compromise on safety.
Stay safe!
Harald Bauck
VP Risk Management
The statement I always contribute during pre-work talks is derived from the Odfjell 2020 calendar currently being distributed to the vessels via joining crew. These statements are excerpts from our description of HSSE Excellence, and are recommended as themes for the General Safety Meeting.
