Maritime


Collisions at Sea: A Systems Analysis of Causal Factors and Countermeasures

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Author
Simon MURRAY, Patrick WATERSON, Thomas JUN
Abstract
Despite established and proven prescriptive safety legislation, accidents regularly occur across all sectors of shipping. Of particular concern is the number of collisions that continue to occur, even when experienced and trained officers are on board and modern navigation aids are in use. Using a systems approach, this paper will highlight common contributory factors, which can lead to collisions and then propose a set of countermeasures which can be used to reduce these types of shipping accidents.

 


Advancing a Social Licence to Operate for improved evacuation of cruise ships

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Author
Paul Liston, Alison M Kay & Emma Delemere
Abstract
The development of technologies for improved evacuations of large cruise ships necessitates a sociotechnical approach to requirements elicitation, technology development activities, and the evaluation of the solutions produced. The concept of Social Licence to Operate (SLO) offers the opportunity to address concerns around ethics, regulations and de-skilling in planning for implementation and operation. This paper outlines the approach taken in advancing this SLO.

 


Can you have a violation in an environment that doesn’t have formal rules?

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Author
Gareth LOCK, Sarah FLETCHER
Abstract
The use of error identification and classification models has improved safety and performance across multiple domains. The term violation is a special class of error inferring some form of active decision making to defeat or ignore formal rules. This paper will use SCUBA diving as an example to ask whether violations are possible when there are no formal rules. This leads to the point that a social framework is being used to judge violations, but if that social framework is locally, nationally and internationally diverse and there is no common formal regulatory oversight, can a violation truly exist?

 


Estimating Human Reliabilities for Maritime Control Systems

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Author
Mike Tainsh
Abstract
Users of human reliability estimates may experience difficulties in use and acceptance, when addressing applications of maritime control systems. The research literature is reviewed with the conclusion that an additional set of reliability estimates is required. The method of paired comparisons was used to estimate the reliability of users’ task performance for maritime applications when developing control systems. The reliabilities for the tasks are presented in rank order of likelihood of error. The information from this work is being used beneficially in support of performance assessments and safety justifications in development programmes.

 


Setting it straight: Human factors, technology, and pipe alignment in shipbuilding

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Author
Valerie J. O’Keeffe, Arvind Rajagopalan, Kosta Manning, Sara Howard, Ann-Louise Hordacre & John Spoehr
Abstract
Pipe alignment is a critical task in shipbuilding, requiring high precision. Accurate measurement can be assisted by digital technology, with potential benefits for operators and business. This paper summarises a trial comparing a manual and technology-assisted pipe alignment task in shipbuilding.

 


Handling diversity during development when using design trade-offs

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Author
Mike Tainsh
Abstract
The handling of diversity of user characteristics in maritime developments has become increasingly important. A novel technique is proposed for use when designing for diversity in cases where optimum solutions cannot be attained and when trades must be made between variables within design options. A brief review is provided on the technique of “trade-offs” in design. A novel “trade-off” technique is proposed. This approach enables an acceptable design to be identified which includes a statement to support risk assessment. The approach is being developed within BAES for maritime systems and helps ensure that individual, including gender differences, are addressed successfully.

 


Reverse Swiss Cheese – Driving Safety Culture from the Blunt End

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Author
Barry Kirwan, Ben Wood & Beatrice Bettignies-Thiebaux
Abstract
For two decades, Swiss Cheese theory has been an influential metaphor in safety science and accident prevention. It has made barrier theory and the impact of safety culture on operational safety more understandable to the upper echelons of high-risk organisations in many industrial sectors. Yet sometimes the Swiss Cheese model is used to focus on the operational ‘sharp end’ and unsafe acts, like a magnifying glass that acknowledges organizational influence, but still targets the human operator. It is time to ‘turn this lens around’, and allow organisations to focus on the upstream factors and decision-making that can engender these unsafe acts in the first place. This paper reports on an approach to do this, under development in the Maritime sector, called Reverse Swiss Cheese.

 


An Ergonomic Assessment of Small Boat Lobster Fishing

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Author
Ashley Duguid & Helen Vosper
Abstract
Fishing is a high-risk occupation: one of these risks is the high frequency of work-related musculoskeletal injury. While the industry is regulated world-wide, the safety focus is on larger fishing vessels, which is significant given that the vast majority of commercial fishing is carried out by crews using smaller vessels. There is also very little research investigating the impact of such activity on the health and wellbeing of small boat fishers. Given that such operations are less industrialised and involve strenuous physical labour over long hours, this area deserves further study. This paper describes a case study of small boat lobster fishing off the North East coast of Scotland. A flexible approach combined task and postural analysis with qualitative data, identifying task elements posing particular risks to musculoskeletal health and suggesting strategies for risk reduction.

 


Needs for resilient fire safety management on land and sea

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Author
Helene Degerman and Staffan Bram
Abstract
Fires are associated with potentially large consequences for life, environment and property and are therefore an important aspect in workplace design. This article summarises two case studies, examining the preconditions for a well-functioning fire safety system on land and at sea respectively, applying a systems perspective on work and safety. Today’s fire safety management is mainly focused on technical installations, constructional and building measures, control plans and evacuation routines. Fire safety installations could meet all regulative requirements and still create problems for production, sometimes to the point where fire protective routines or installations are bypassed. A common answer to such issues is to strengthen administrative barriers such as rules, safety information and training. However, in tightly optimised organisations like heavy industries or shipping, more checks and routines will only run the risk of aggravating the problem at hand. The problem could instead be viewed as an effect of poor design. Flaws in fire safety design can be traced to the processes of ship and industrial workplace design, building and revision. In the observed fire safety design processes, there are no established ways to ensure that end-user needs are taken into account, and the construction project's main incentive is to keep the construction cost down. Instead, costs are pushed to the operational phase in the form of reduced production and lower safety levels. Safety management in general, and fire safety management in particular, needs to be further developed from a systems perspective.

 


Optimising Operator Attention on the Maritime Platform Human Computer Interface

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Author
Julia CLARKE
Abstract
The ‘dark and quiet’ interface principle has been embedded in the design of the Platform Management System for the Royal Navy’s (RN) future maritime platforms. The aim is to minimise attention-getting features that could distract an operator and/or affect situational awareness. The Human Factors Team has worked with a range of stakeholders to design the content and presentation of system information to optimise operator attention during routine, abnormal and emergency operations.

 


Consideration of Stakeholders for Technology Acceptance in Marine Conservation

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Author
Dr Ella-Mae Hubbard, Melissa Schiele & Prof. Paul Lepper
Abstract
This paper discusses the importance of understanding various stakeholder perspectives before investigating technology acceptance. Stakeholders are identified, from a systems perspective, with their key requirements and interactions. This is part of wider work towards developing an Augmented Technology Acceptance Model (for example acceptance of drone technology) within the context of marine conservation.