HUMAN ERROR AND MARINE SAFETY

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In spite of improvement in hull design, stability system, propulsion system and navigational equipment, yet maritime casualty rate is still high. It is because ship structure and system reliability are a relatively small part of safety equation. The maritime safety is a people system, and human errors figure prominently in casualty situation.
    Accidents are not usually caused by a single failure or mistake but by a confluence of whole series or chain of errors.
WHAT IS HUMAN ERROR?
          It is sometimes described as being one of the following:-

  • An incorrect decision
  • An improperly performed action
  • An proper lack of action
The maritime safety depends on People, Technology, environment and Organizational factor.
People interact with technology, the environment and organizational factor. Sometimes the weak link is people themselves, but often the weak link is the way the technology, environment or organization factor influence the way the people perform.
HUMAN PERFORMANCE DEPENDS ON :-
  • Knowledge
  • Skill
  • Abilities
  • Memory
  • Motivation
  • Alertness
Effect of following factors on human performance:-
  1. design of technology:- If design is such that all people are not accessible. Critical information in automation is not displayed or if displayed it is in such a manner that it is not easy to interpret.
  2. Environment effect:- It includes physical work environment also like high temperature, noise, ship movement and vibration affect people's decision making abilities.
  3. Organizational factors:- Both crew organization and and company policies affect human performance. Crew size and training decisions directly affect crew workload. A strict hierarchical command structure can inhibit effective team work, where as free interactive communication can enhance it. Work schedules affect fatigue.
Below are the summaries of other human factors that need to be improved to enhance safety:-
  • Fatigue:- It has been cited number one concern of mariners in two different studies
  • Inadequate communication:- Between ship mates, Master and Pilot, Ship to ship , Ship to VTS
  • Inadequate general technical knowledge:- Lack of knowledge of the proper use of technology such as RADAR
  • Inadequate knowledge of own ship system
  • Poor design of automation
  • Decision based on inadequate information
  • Faculty standards, policies or practices
  • Poor maintenance
  • Hazardous natural environment

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