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Structure and management

Scope and responsibilities

Definition 

The nature of the organisation, its facilities and activities, who takes part and your relationship to them, your approach to safety, and who is ultimately responsible for safety in your organisation.

Steps 

Step 1 Set out the scope of your safety management system

Guidance

Make sure you include in scope all the activities you deliver. Using the activities matrix exercise in the further resources may help.

Check out this example - https://www.mudefordsc.org/safety-policy/

Wireframe 

Consider the following headings:

  • Introduction – briefly describe your organisation, what it offers, who gets involved and what you own 
  • Governance and oversight – briefly describe how the organisation is governed and any organisations that provide a level of oversight to any of your activities. 
  • Safety policy – state the importance of safety, the purpose of your SMS, and reference the role risk assessment plays 
  • Roles and responsibilities – identify where responsibility for safety sits within the organisation. 
  • Operations – briefly describe the facilities and activities that are covered by your SMS 
  • Additional commitments – list other relevant statements / policies in place

Checklist 

☐  Can anyone involved in your organisation find about your approach to safety, the scope of your safety management system and who is ultimately responsible? 

☐  Does your safety management system cover all on water activities you are responsible for? 

☐  Do you know if any external organisations have oversight of your safety management system?

Further resources