While it’s healthy to have some stress in our life, too much can be detrimental to our well-being. Stress is actually our body’s automatic reaction to threat and is essential for survival. It makes its appearance when someone feels overwhelmed and unable to cope with a situation. However, these feelings can result in reduced work performance and health problems.
During the last SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum, Captain Hari Subramaniam, Regional Head – Business Relations of The Shipowners’ Club, shared his thoughts on seafarers’ fatigue. As per the Club statistics, the human element appeared to be the primary cause of most marine incidents, with fatigue playing a major role. Hence questions are being raised as to whether the marine industry was seeing fatigue in the correct perspective or are we taking it lightly? Most importantly, are we even measuring it correctly?
NTSB published its report on the 2018 grounding of a fishing vessel near Point Reyes, California. The five crew of the ship remained on the vessel, until receiving assistance from the USCG. There were no pollution or injuries.
Workload is considered as one of the factors likely to induce fatigue especially when combined with long periods of wakefulness and long duty hours. Either a very high or a very low workload may lead to fatigue; on the one hand, working extensive hours and having to complete multiple tasks that require excessive demand on attention can increase periods of wakefulness; on the other hand, even simple tasks, that are monotonous and repeating, can result in loss of interest and boredom which also increase the effects of fatigue.
The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport, a component organization of NAVSEA, is planning to take a load off the shoulders of the sailors and civilian workforce by developing technology known as exoskeletons.
Our body has its own internal clock, or circadian rhythms, that signals when to stay awake and when to sleep; As a result, travellers are affected by jet lag that can cause daytime fatigue, an unwell feeling, difficulty in staying alert as well as gastrointestinal problems.
Missing a night of sleep isn’t uncommon but does affect you. How long an individual is awake affects sleepiness and consequently fatigue levels. The longer an individual has been awake, the poorer his/her performance.
The amount of sleep we need each day will change over the course of our life. On average an adult aged 18 years or older needs 7–8 hours a day, however, sleep needs vary from person to person. Lack of sleep and poor quality of sleep and rest can cause fatigue, which is considered as the silent risk factor for seafarers.
During LISW 2019, Dr. Grahaeme Henderson, Vice President, Shipping & Maritime at Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd, highlighted how important is for the industry to continue its efforts on seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing and shared examples of Shell’s work towards a zero-incident future.
We are all biologically programmed to be active during the day and to sleep at night. Each individual has a body clock, and this clock regulates the body’s circadian rhythm. The body clock makes a person sleepy or alert on a regular schedule whether they are working or not. In normal conditions, the sleep/wake cycle follows a 24-hour rhythm; however, the cycle is not the same for everyone.
