The Dutch research institute Marin, the Technical University of Berlin and k+s projects are to co-operate on a new project on stress and workload in maritime jobs.
The first step is a pilot study of the stress/workload during training in a shiphandling simulator. Further studies both in the simulator and on board a ship will follow.
The Human Element
Most overseas transport is carried out by vessels, and every single crew member has to take a high level of responsibility for the ship, goods, human life and the environment. The projects team shares the same idea: working at sea has unique demands, made more challenging by fatigue and a high workload, and influenced by specials demands such as noise, the intense mixture of private and worklife and what often prove to be extreme environmental challenges.
Its focus is therefore sailor, the "human element", and it would like to share its expertise as consultants in this market segment. The team defines its job as a link between humans and the shipping/maritime world.
Finding the Actual Workload Situations
Stress in general, and stress due to a high workload, manifests itself in different ways for different people. Shipping, either at sea or on inland waterways, always involves a high level of responsibility. Sailors always have to deal successfully with critical situations – it is part of their "job description".
What are the most challenging jobs, and which technical operations and equipment contribute towards sailors' good performance at sea? The pilot study is about finding the actual workload situations which challenge individual sailors.
Training scenarios are selected strictly according to real life on the bridge. Measurements include heartbeat rate and skin conductivity, plus an EEG, which together will pinpoint what is most challenging for the test person.
Findings
The findings will be evaluated to assess the influence and impact of job procedures, modern bridge design and time/work shift systems. Which variations have, in practice, offered the chance for real improvement? The team will release details about further steps and developments as they happen. An informative open day is planned for September 2015.
