Muster reporting is the process of compiling a list of personnel who are currently on site. This report can be used in emergencies to determine who is at risk and needs assistance. However, muster reporting isn't just a feature for security emergencies. It can also be used in fire, evacuation, or even severe weather conditions. In these cases, it's essential to know where your employees are, who is accounted for, and who is not.
Offshore, a mustering report is based on the current personnel-on-board (POB) list. The list of personnel on board a ship is an essential document that details who is responsible for what onboard. The list should be completed before the ship leaves port and should be updated as crew members come and go. On offshore installations, the POB list constantly changes as crews leave and arrive at the platform from the mainland.
The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) ensures that the list is accurate and up to date. In an emergency, they will need to know everyone on the board's names, roles, and contact information.
If you are working on an offshore installation, make sure you know where the personnel-on-board list is kept so you can update it as needed. It could be the difference between life and death in an emergency, as it will feed your mustering report.
Muster reporting is a crucial part of any emergency response plan. In many cases, it's the first step in ensuring everyone is accounted for and safe. It can also help reduce anxiety and confusion during an emergency. In addition, muster reports can be used to determine evacuation routes, identify refuge areas, and provide information to first responders.
Muster reports can benefit anyone who needs to know the location of personnel in an emergency. This includes security personnel, first responders, and even building managers. In some cases, mustering may be required by law. For example, many jurisdictions require that commercial buildings have an evacuation plan that includes mustering and keeping a list of all employees on-site in case of fire.
Mustering reports are required by law on offshore installations. The captain or Offshore Installation Manager is accountable for keeping an actual and accurate POB list and providing a mustering report in case of a mustering incident.
There are two ways to create a muster report: manually or automatically.
Manual muster reports are created by security personnel, mustering officers or first responders who go through the building and check for people. This method can be time-consuming, especially in large buildings or if there are many people to account for. It can also be inaccurate, relying on human memory and observations. This can be a complex and dangerous task on offshore installations due to confined space, harsh conditions and limited escape routes.
Automatic mustering reports are created using an electronic, tag-based system. This system tracks who enters and leaves the building or installation to generate a list of all on-site personnel. However, it records the location of crew members automatically, and in case of emergency, it can display the current position of all personnel on the installation. Therefore, automatic mustering is more accurate than manual mustering, as it doesn't rely on human memory and observations. They are also more efficient, as they don't require security personnel or first responders to go through the installation to check for people. It's also faster, as the system can generate a report in minutes.
An automatic mustering system is a type of access control or POB system that includes features for generating mustering reports. These systems use badge readers to track when people enter and leave the building or offshore installation. They then use this information to list all currently on-site personnel. Automatic mustering systems can be used in any construction, from office buildings, factories, and mines to offshore installations.
The technology to read badges is quite different. Optical badge readers are as simple and widespread as bar code readers. Most optical badge readers use a laser to read the encoded information on a badge. The laser is directed at a photodiode, which converts the light into an electrical signal. The reader then processes this signal to decode the information on the badge. There are two main types of optical badge readers: linear and area. Linear readers can only read badges oriented in one direction, while area readers can read badges oriented in any direction. Area readers are more expensive than linear readers but offer greater flexibility.
Optical badge readers are used in various applications, including access control, time and attendance tracking, and event management. They are relatively simple to use and maintain and offer a high degree of security. However, they are not foolproof.
RFID badge readers don't need a direct visual line of sight between the reader and the badge. However, the badge (or tag) must be within a distance of the reader, which can vary if the badge is a passive or active RFID tag. Active RFID tags may range a hundred meters or more, depending on the surroundings. An RFID reader is a network-connected device that can be portable or permanently attached. It uses radio waves to transmit signals that activate the tag. Once activated, the tag sends a wave back to the antenna, which is translated into data. The transponder is in the RFID tag itself (see more about worker safety monitoring).
Automatic mustering reports are used in various industries, including healthcare, education, hospitality, and retail, but foremost in hazardous industries like offshore or mines.
Electronic muster reports offer several benefits, including:
Visitors, contractors, and other non-employees can also be included in muster reports. Most access control systems can track visitors entering and leaving the offshore installation or building. This information can then be used to generate a list of all currently on-site people. Including non-employees in muster reports is essential for organizations with high visitors, such as retail stores or museums. It's also vital for organizations that need to track people who are working in different shifts or locations.
Most access control or POB systems can generate reports for specific periods. This is useful if you need to know how many people were on site during a particular shift or event.
What is the importance of mustering reports in emergencies?
Mustering reports have evolved to become a very important component in emergency planning response, providing information at any given time as to who was on-site and where exactly. This would be quite critical in the case of emergencies due to fire, evacuation, adverse weather conditions, or security concerns. The speed at which an exact mustering report is made available allows response personnel to quickly identify who could be in danger and may require immediate assistance. Such reports are legally required for offshore installations and high-risk industries to ensure the safety and accountability of all persons present. With a clear picture of who has been accounted for and who may be missing, the emergency teams can act quickly and confidently to alleviate potential confusion and anxiety. This may also help ascertain safe routes for evacuation and refuge areas and equipping first responders with vital data to handle any crisis better. Generating a mustering report automatically enhances this process in terms of accuracy and speed, reducing further risks with manual procedures that could be slower and prone to human error.
Why is automatic mustering favoured over manual mustering?
Automatic mustering is preferred over manual mustering because it boasts higher speeds, accuracy, and reliability. Manual mustering consists of physical headcounts and observations that are very cumbersome and prone to human error, especially in big facilities or offshore installations boasting harsh conditions, confined spaces, and the need for fast action. On the contrary, automatic mustering systems have grown to monitor the entry and exit of personnel from the site with the help of electronic badge readers or RFID technology. It can create an on-site list of personnel, which may take just a few minutes to develop, and also includes non-employees like contractors or visitors. Automation of these systems means reports will be more accurate, such as removing reliance on manual checks, which, in turn, reduces response times in case of emergencies and retains the integrity of personnel tracking even in complex evacuations. This improved safety comes through this reliable flow of information whenever every second counts.
Automatic mustering reports are used in a variety of industries, but especially on offshore installations. It is a proven, state-of-the-art process solution offering an additional layer of safety in emergencies. Generating a muster report is simple with the right software solution. Contact us to learn more about how electronic mustering and Crew Companion can help your organization.
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Sources:
(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950423018307988
Note: This article was updated on the 5th of November 2024