The function of the Safety Officer is to primarily promote a safety culture aboard the ship. This may be carried out by regular drills and training exercises. Promotion poster displays, holding active safety meetings or making use of the Training (Video) Manual. The Safety Officer would also be a member of the Safety Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Master, and could expect to draw up the agenda for the meeting. He would normally take the minutes of the meeting and give a safety report at this time. Such a report would include details of any investigation undertaken following an accident. Recommendations from accident findings would be a cause for deliberation by the Safety Committee. Accident reports, obtaining witness statements and taking photographs to support any incident, all fall to the duties of the Safety
Officer. The position of the Safety Officer is an appointment and he/she cannot resign this position. In the event the Safety Officer observes unsafe activity on the vessel he has the authority to stop this work immediately. Only the Master can order the resumption of said work. His duty is also to maintain a log account and file of all accidents and accident reports.
