Either through a voluntary reporting system or through the vessel’s reporting system, when there has been an incident or accident where fatigue may have been a contributory factor, open feedback and reporting should be promoted across organization’s culture.

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Key factors for a healthy shipboard environment

Seafarers not only work, but also live on board a vessel. To minimize the risks of fatigue, the following should be taken into consideration:

#1 Focus on sleep quality

Provide bedding, pillows, mattresses, adequate light management

#2 Mitigate stress

Ensure appropriate support to seafarers suffering from stress.

#3 Nutrition is a priority

Focus on healthy nutritious food and unlimited access to drinking water

#4 Maintain a healthy lifestyle on board

Adequate, well-designed and equipped training facilities and outside spaces are important

 

6 tips for effective reporting culture on fatigue

#1 Use forms

Forms need to be easy to access, quick to complete and submit

#2 Confidentiality comes first

Have clearly understood rules about confidentiality

#3 Set limits

Have clearly understood voluntary reporting protection limits

#4 Analysis is vital

Take into consideration all forms submitted and include regular analysis of reports

#5 Provide feedback

Regular feedback about decisions or actions taken based on the reports is important

#6 Communicate lessons learned

Useful in reinforcing awareness of fatigue among seafarers

 

Questions to include in a fatigue event reporting form

  • How did you feel when the event occurred? (Alert / Neither alert nor sleepy / Sleepy)
  • Did you feel fatigue before duty?
  • Did you feel fatigue while on duty?
  • Did you have dirscupted sleep?
  • Did you take any actions to manage or reduce fatigue?

 

Reports, incidents and lessons learned should be circulated on a ship-by ship basis to promote fatigue awareness and prevention!