Page 66: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 1996)

SAFETY UPDATE

The

International

WorkBoat

ShowA jiMm

New in '96 -

Full Conference

Program Discussing

Issues Important to the Entire

Commercial Marine

Market!

Pre-Register for FREE!

Pre-register to visit by November 1,1996 and get in

FREE! Tel: 1-800- 454-3007 or Fax: 1-800-454-3002 for more information. —Find— Technology

The International WorkBoat Show® is the Only Way to Access Technology for Commercial Marine Operations.

If you're buying or selling products and services for shallowdraft and deepdraft operations, you'll find the technology you need from more than 650 companies in 1000 booths at the 18th annual International WorkBoat Show®. • Tug & Towboats • Passenger & Cruise Vessels • Tankers & Freighters • Oil Supply Vessels • Military & Patrol Craft • Port/Shoreside Services • Utility Vessels • Marine Contractors

December 5 -7,1996

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

New Orleans, LA USA

Interested in exhibiting?

Call 207-842-5508 or fax 207-842-5509 for more information.

Circle 251 on Reader Service Card

Hydraulic

WESTERN MACHINE WORKS 1870 Harbour Road - North Vancouver, BC - Canada - V7H 1A1

Phone: (604) 929-7901 Fax: (604) 929-7951

Circle 394 on Reader Service Card

SUPERIOR ENERGIES INC.

MANUFACTURING and CONTRACTING

TEMP-SET®, COVERS

Removal Reusable Insulation

Manifolds, Turbos, Silencers, and complete Exhaust Systems.

ACOUSTICAL INSULATION

ASBESTOS ABATEMENT

TURN-KEY JOBS

Let us take care of all your insulation and abatement needs.

WANT SUPERIOR QUALITY

WANT SUPERIOR SERVICE

CALL SUPERIOR ENERGIES INC.

See Us At The Workboat Show, Booth No. 1107 1 -800-BU Y-SEI-1

P.O. Drawer 386 Groves, TX 77619

Telephone: (409)962-8549 Fax: (409)962-4027

Work needs vary, therefore, the Workskiff is built simple, yet tough all over. Adapt the versatile 16', 19', or 23' aluminum Workskiff to work for you. 18204 Bothell Hwy. SE Bothell, WA 98012 206/481-2628 206/481-7688 FAX GSA # GS-07F-7294C

Features: 0 Hard wearing manganese steel vertical rollers rotating on bronze^ bushings 0 Optional tow line hold- down and stern rollers available 0 8" and 12" diameter pins now available with 12" or 16" vertical rise 0 3,4 or 5 pin models and compact unit available

Call or Fax for our free brochure 65 Circle 364 on Reader Service Card

Circle 391 on Reader Service Card

ALUMINUM BOATS FOR SEVERE SERVICE sleep period, preceding days of sleep deprivation, and a number of other factors. Circadian

Technologies, Inc. (CTI), a Cambridge, Mass.- based management consulting firm, has devel- oped a computer program that does circadian alertness simulation (CAS).

Using the CAS software, CTI researchers mod- eled a number of maritime incidents, including the grounding of oil tanker World Prodigy. World

Prodigy's master was severely impaired by fatigue and loss of sleep as a consequence of his work schedule leading up to the time of the acci- dent. The accident occurred at 16:39 in clear vis- ibility and calm seas. In this incident, the master was on duty for 35 hours without relief.

Based on all of the available data, the CAS sim- ulation shows that the master would have been fighting sleep for almost 18 hours. In that condi- tion, response time is slow, ability to fully com- prehend events is impaired, and microsleeps (bursts of sleep of several seconds' duration) almost unavoidable

As the data shows, the master was at an extremely low level of alertness when he came on duty, and though his alertness improved in the next 18 hours, he never reached a state of com- plete alertness.

Cutting the Costs of Fatigue

Fatigue causes accidents and health problems increases turnover, damages labor relations, anc results in increased operating costs, overhead capital costs, legal liability and reduced customei service — ultimately, leading to lower corporatf profits.

Often fatigue is passed off as a disciplinary issue and the result of individual irresponsibility

In fact, fatigue is the result of many factors tha can be addressed through a systematic alertness assurance process.

Lifestyle training can greatly improve the situ ation. Just as crew members receive training t< do their jobs, lifestyle training is equally neces sary. Helping crew members to understand th< importance of proper sleep, diet, and exercise cai pay big dividends to both the individuals and thi company. Alcohol, caffeine, medications am other drugs can all interfere with their ability t< get the quality of sleep needed.

At the same time, maritime operators shouli revise their policies and practices to take int account the current state of knowledge abou human alertness. There are many simple an inexpensive steps (fatigue countermeasures) tha can significantly reduce the risks and costs c fatigue. Other steps, while more expensive, ca: in many cases result in dramatic reductions i: fatigue costs.

Designed properly and well implemented, thes fatigue countermeasures provide benefits to bot employer and employee. In addition, by reducin accidents, the need for additional regulatory c legislative efforts to address fatigue is minimizec

Ed Coburn is the publisher of Shiftwork Aler a newsletter for managers of round-the-clock opei ations, and Working Nights, a lifestyle trainin newsletter for people working non-traditionc hours. He can be reached at tel: (800) 878-0071 or e-mail: [email protected].

Maritime Reporter/Engineering New