Seafarers' fatigue could impact on safety within the industry and may be linked to longer term individual ill-health. It can only be addressed by considering how multiple factors combine to contribute to fatigue.
Day to day changes in fatigue are measurable, and may vary among particular sub-groups of seafarers. Used among larger groups, such a diary method could help identify times and activities associated with the greatest risk.
There is an extensive literature on the scale of, and risk factors for, stress at work, and outcomes associated with negative job characteristics and perceived stress. More recently, however, there has been a growing awareness that unemployment is harmful to health, and that work is beneficial and may be an effective way to improve health and wellbeing. However, there has been little attempt to draw together findings from this newer area. This paper gives an overview of current perspectives on work and its associations with improved health and well-being. It provides a framework for discussing the main themes which have emerged in this area. This framework allows consideration of the issues of conceptualisation, definition, approach and measurement which are important for future research. It is concluded that this area is still in its infancy, but clearly has the potential to make as influential a contribution as its negative counterpart. Currently, however, our understanding of what makes a good job and how we should conceptualise, study, and help workplaces provide that, is incomplete.
The use of Information Communication Technology is growing in the maritime industry as more systems become monitored remotely and new technologies are introduced to aid environmental awareness and increase safety. An exploratory survey was conducted as part of the EU project 'FLAGSHIP' to assess how seafarers perceive the current state of technology onboard ship and to identify areas of resistance to advancements in this area. Only 5.8% of the sample of British officers (overall n = 805) reported feeling resistant to new technology either 'quite a lot' or 'a great deal' at a general level compared to 82.8% when asked about the specific issue of training. Logistic regression analysis revealed older seafarers and those with low computer literacy to show greater resistance to new technology. Resistance was also higher on vessels with smaller crews, although a confound with vessel type is likely. Technology training for seafarers should be improved but not as a means of compensating for equipment developed without reference to user-centred design principles. Around 90% of all goods are transported by ship yet ergonomic research into the onboard environment is extremely limited. New technology is being introduced to substitute for the human element but little has been done to investigate how work processes have adapted. Seafarers' perceptions of new technology are examined here.
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