The effect of stress and fatigue on seafarers and ship operations

1. Fatigue on board
Ascent Marine Institute
Capt Ashok Menon

2. What is fatigue?
• It is difficult to explain fatigue in one
definitive statement. What is clear,
however, is that anyone can be
subject to fatigue given exposure to
certain factors.
• It is probably easier to understand
how fatigue manifests itself and the
consequential effects on our ability to
perform both physically and mentally.

3. What causes fatigue?
• Shortage of sleep / poor quality sleep
- restlessness, disturbed sleep, inability
to relax fully, rough weather restricting
sleep.
• Negative environmental factors
- such as noise and vibration.
• Frequent port turnarounds
- which interrupt standard working
patterns.

4. • Adverse weather conditions
- fighting against the elements both
the cold and wet or intense heat.
• Consistently working more than 12
hrs a day
- There is a demonstrable link between
both the number of hours we work
and sleep deprivation.

5. Why does fatigue matter?
• Safety reasons
- Fatigue is a safety issue. Marine Accident
Investigation Branch have found that
fatigue was a factor in a number of
maritime accidents.
• Health reasons
- Fatigue may also be a health issue. The
fatigue study showed that seafarers who
report being fatigued also report poorer
health than those who are not fatigued.

6. How to recognise fatigue in
seafarers
• The seafarer
- looks tired, yawns
- falls asleep for small amounts of time
- rubs their eyes
- may slur their speech
- is unable to concentrate properly

7. • The seafarer
- appears to be suffering with a lot of
negative emotions
- seems more irritated than usual
- appears easily frustrated by tasks
• is uncommunicative or unwilling to co-
operate with others.

8. Recognize a tired seafarer

9. If not this can happen!!

10. What can Ship Operators / managers
do to avoid and reduce fatigue?
• Ensure full compliance with the
relevant Regulations....
• Safe manning
- The Merchant Shipping require all
vessels over 500gt to obtain and
carry a Safe Manning document
specifying the minimum manning
levels.

11. • Hours of Work
• The Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work)
Regulations 2002 require a Schedule of
Duties showing the planned working hours
for each seafarer on board.
• It must comply with the rest requirements
of at least 10 hours rest in any 24 hour
period and 77 hours rest in any 7 day
period. The Schedule should take account
of all duties, not simply watchkeeping
responsibilities.

12. Take Practical Steps to avoid
and reduce fatigue
• Keep the Schedule of Duties under
review to ensure that the hours of
work continue to be realistic and
workable.
• Provide compensatory rest if it is
necessary to exceed normal hours of
work.

13. • Work with the seafarers to identify
and reduce exposure to fatigue
inducing risk factors.
• Be proactive in identifying hazards
and reducing exposure, review safety
procedures and re-enforce safety
training.
• Encourage discussion of individual
and group concerns about fatigue and
take action based on their onclusions.

14. • Consider introducing a Fatigue
management programme – which is
auditable and where its success can
be measured.
• Consider using tools and techniques
to assess and manage factors
contributing to fatigue

15. Possible steps to resolve
a temporary problem
• Allow the seafarer to;
• Take a break
• Have a nap - 40 mins if work will
resume shortly after waking
• Have a drink – water is best, avoid
caffeine Have something to eat (this
should not too heavy)

16. • for a longer term problem.....
• Rotate the seafarer to a task with lesser risk
• Give consideration to whether the task must
be continued – as would be the case in
watchkeeping, or can be delayed, as with
unloading
• Consider lying over in port, or at anchor to
allow seafarers to recover
• Consider increasing manning levels to
continue commercial activities without
jeopardising safety
• Review pattern of duties and manning levels

17. What are the implications of
ignoring fatigue?
• “ Reduced safety due to fatigue
will increase the risk of accidents
that may lead to loss of life,
environmental damage and huge
economic cost.”
(Seafarer Fatigue : The Cardiff Research Programme)

18. STRESS IN SEAFARERS
• Stress is a part of modern living
- Faster pace
- Increasing demands
• Seafarers are more prone to stress
- Away from home and family
- Alien working environment
- No social life

19. WHAT IS STRESS
• Stress occurs when pressure
exceeds your perceived ability to
cope
- S Palmer, 1999

20. Causes of stress
1. Demands of Job
- Too much or too little work
- Boring or repetitive tasks
• Ship Culture
- Confusion over responsibility
- Alien environment
- Lack of job security

21. 3. Environmental Factors
- Noise and Vibration
- Dangerous or poor working
environment
- Adverse weather conditions
4. Relationships
- Poor working relationship
- Harassment / bullying on board
5. Health Concerns

22. Fatigue
• A further cause of stress is fatigue.
You need to be rested when you start
work,
and obtain adequate rest during off-
duty periods.
- If this is not possible, the reasons
should be discussed with the
management.

23. Symptoms of stress
• Obsessive worrying
• Inattention to detail
• Dry mouth and feel warm or hot
• Frequent aches and pains
• Fatigue and headaches
• Nervous stomach
• Sweating and panic attacks

24. • Fearful and anxious
• Heartburn and Nausea
• Anger and restless feeling
• Unusual breathing and heartbeat
• Lack of concentration
• Difficulty in remembering
• Poor sleep
• Loss of appetite

25. Recognize if you are stressed
• Are you clear about your role on
board?
• Are you happy with your boss?
• Do you have problems at home?
• Are you sleeping properly?
• Do you have a healthy diet?
• Do you take regular exercise?

26. How to reduce stress?
• Stress is not a sign of weakness!
1. Talk to others about any issues or
problems you are facing at work.
2. Talk to your boss, if you are having a
problem with your work, working
environment, colleagues, fatigue
- See if you can get things right

27. 3. Take regular exercise – this will
reduce stress caused due to unfitness
Relaxes tense muscles and aids sleep.
4. Get a healthy diet – More of fruits,
vegetables, pulses, cereals and less
of alcohol, red meats, caffeine, junk
food and soft drinks.
5. Practice relaxation techniques

28. Benefits of managing stress
• Improvement in staff performance
• Greater commitment to work
• Improved recruitment and retention
• Greater customer satisfaction
• Improvement in organisation’s image
• Improved well being and quality of life

29. Stress Management Policy
• Company should encourage and
support good management practices
by ensuring all managers and
supervisors are well trained.
• Offer support and counselling to
those crew affected by stress.
• Make resources to enable managers
implement stress management policy.
• Identify workplace sensors

30. On board stress mitigation
1. Good communication
2. Crew fully trained
3. Crew provided with development
opportunities
4. Monitor workloads
5. Monitor working hours and overtime
- adequate rest hours

31. 6. Provide crew full leave entitlement
7. No harassment or bullying on board
8. Be vigilant and offer support to those
crew undergoing personal problems
Be Proactive, not Reactive.
- Encourage crew to take steps on their
own to manage stress.