Fifteen senior managers and shipyard superintendents from Gulf Copper Manufacturing recently attended a Risk Assessment training course presented by Signal Mutual Safety professionals at Galveston , Texas. The course was developed through the efforts of Signal Mutual’s Safety Committee, made up of member representatives from the Maritime Industry. Gulf Copper’s Risk Manager, Mike Haughton, is an active member of the Signal Mutual Safety Committee.

The training course was designed to teach supervisors to assess the risks in a marine workplace, including:

  1. Identification of hazards
  2. Determining who might be harmed and how
  3. Evaluating the risks and deciding on precautions
  4. Recording significant findings
  5. Reviewing assessment and updating as necessary

Signal Mutual instructors provided guidance on use of a risk matrix with weighted values to determine level of risk associated with shipyard tasks. Participants used interactive techniques to familiarize themselves with the risk assessment process. Gulf Copper attendees found the course very helpful in promoting the safety culture critical to daily operations at their shipyards. Signal Mutual is now working with Gulf Copper to schedule additional on-site training for supervisory personnel at other shipyard locations.

Established in January 1986 to meet the demands of multiple industries for reasonable and stable workers’ compensation insurance rates, Signal Mutual Indemnity Association Ltd. is now the largest self-insured group provider of Longshore benefits in the United States. The Membership of the Association is drawn from a broad range of employers throughout the United States in the stevedoring, shipbuilding/ship repair, offshore, marine construction, and professional/technical industries. Signal’s role is to assist the senior management of Members to reduce both the frequency and severity of claims. The Managers through its own staff of safety professionals provide the Members with an extensive range of safety resources.

Founded in 1948, Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation is an employee-owned company that repairs and refurbishes marine vessels and offshore rigs and fabricates specialty components for the oil and gas market. The company operates strategically located shipyards, drydocks and fabrication facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Gulf Copper serves the marine transportation, offshore construction and offshore drilling markets in addition to various United States government agencies.