Fatigue And Alertness In Merchant Marine Personnel: A Field Study Of Work And Sleep Patterns.
Abstract
As part of its mission to improve the safety of maritime operations, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has undertaken a multi-year research program to establish a technical basis for maritime operational practice and regulatory guidance in work-rest scheduling and work hour limitations. Numerous studies across various modes of transportation show fatigue to be an underlying factor in a significant percentage of accidents; further, many of the accidents appear to be a result of sleep disruption based on work schedule requirements. The current phase of the program is concerned with the following: (1) identify the nature and extent of sleep disruption-induced fatigue in the commercial maritime industry, and (2) identify the impact of watch duration on personnel fatigue. One hundred forty-one mariners from eight commercial ships (6 tankers and 2 freighters) provided data regarding their work and sleep patterns, as well as a variety of other data pertinent to fatigue. The results show that there is a fatigue problem in the U.S. maritime industry, and by implication, internationally. The incidence of critical fatigue indicators such as severely restricted sleep durations per 24-hour period, very rapid sleep onset times, and critically low alertness levels suggest that fatigue regularly occurs. The results point to sleep disruption, reduced time between watches, fragmented sleep, and long workdays as principal contributors to the problem. Several courses of action for fatigue reduction are discussed: (1) work and rest period guidelines and policy, (2) government-industry educational programs, and (3) design and evaluation of alternative work-rest schedules.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA322126
Entities
People
- Alice L. Maloney
- Antonio B. Carvalhais
- Mireille Raby
- Thomas F. Sanquist