Marvin C. McCallum

Procedures for Investigating and Reporting Fatigue Contributions to Marine Casualties

This project was aimed at identifying strategies for improving current U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) procedures for investigating, reporting, and analyzing fatigue contributions to marine casualties. The focus was on evaluating the contribution of fatigue in vessel and personnel injury casualties. A total of 397 casualties were investigated. Fatigue contributed to 16 percent of the critical vessel casualties and 33 percent of the personnel injury casualties. These estimates were substantially greater than the ones currently available from the USCG Marine Investigations Module (MINMOD) database. Analyses identified three potential indicators of fatigue: (1) the number of fatigue symptoms reported by mariners, (2) the number of hours worked in the 24 hours prior to a casualty; and (3) the number of hours slept in those 24 hours. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using simple procedures to obtain meaningful data on the contribution of fatigue in transportation accidents.

Effective Ivis Icon Comprehension Research: Context and Response Scaling Methods

A refined approach used to determine the comprehension level of in-vehicle information system (IVIS) icons is introduced. This approach provides three primary improvements over classical evaluation procedures (e.g., ISO, 2001). First, this approach recommends the inclusion of context to ensure realistic comprehension scores. Second, the scaling method employed provides concrete, well-defined measurement criteria based on major and minor elements included in the icon message. Third, this approach allows the comprehension testing team to provide better diagnostic information back to the icon designers because it allows for analysis of what element(s) of the icon the subjects seemed to understand and what element(s) may have led to errors in comprehension. We recommend using this approach to provide high quality comprehension information for IVIS icon evaluations.

A Review, Evaluation and Classification of Fatigue Countermeasures for Transportation Operators

An expert panel and scientific literature analysis provided data for classifying and evaluating countermeasures for transportation operator fatigue. The panel identified a set of risk factors that are common across transportation modes, and a variety of strategies used or available to reduce fatigue. Twenty such fatigue countermeasures were identified and evaluated on the basis of empirical data in the literature. Of the twenty, only six provide reasonable relief from fatigue without undesirable side effects; these include: adequate sleep, caffeine, napping, anchor sleep, trip planning, and a good sleeping environment. The remaining 14 countermeasures either produce side effects, are illegal without a prescription, are impractical for everyday implementation, or simply do not work. These latter countermeasures, such as opening a window for fresh air while driving, or stopping to exercise, are potentially dangerous, as they may lead drivers to believe they are not fatigued when in fact they are.

Methods for Assessing Training and Qualification Needs for Automated Ships

Introduction and Background Changes in maritime technology are occurring at a rapid pace. A wide range of new technologies are being introduced on ships that are either under construction or currently operational. A recent report entitled Minding the Helm (National Research Council, 1994) identified a number of navigation technologies that have the potential to improve shipping performance, such as electronic chart information display systems (ECDIS), integrated bridge designs, and automatic docking systems. The NRC report also points out that the introduction of new technology poses certain risks, including lack of familiarity by the mariner. One recommendation is that “training requirements for new technologies ... need to be determined and .... training provided prior to using technology.” This recommendation challenges traditional methods of training needs assessment, which focus on observable behavior and global job descriptions. Modern automated systems place much greater emphasis on the unobservable aspects of human judgment and decision making, and therefore require more refined methods of training needs assessment.

Communications Problems in Marine Casualties: Development and Evaluation of Investigation, Reporting, and Analysis Procedures

The contribution of ineffective communications to marine casualties was studied. A standardized procedure was used to guide casualty investigations by Coast Guard investigators over a six-month period. Analyses of the resulting 589 casualty reports were conducted to characterize the extent and nature of communications problems in critical marine casualties. The results suggest that increased efforts to address these problems through improvements in operational procedures and training could reduce occurrences of such casualties. The study procedures were revised for future use in marine casualty investigations.

Identifying and Reducing Workforce Fatigue in Rapid Renewal Projects

This report describes a three-year research project and results performed as the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP) Project R03. The research scope involved studying factors associated with workforce fatigue and stress in the rapid renewal environment and the risks to worker safety and construction productivity. The study team developed an integrated fatigue management toolkit, including work scheduling and work practice guidance based on fatigue models, organizational practice guidance, fatigue management reference material, and training materials for managers and workers. This suite of products was prepared with the goal of integrating applicable components into existing safety management systems for highway projects, thereby reducing fatigue risk and increasing safety.

Guide to Identifying and Reducing Workforce Fatigue in Rapid Renewal Projects

This guide is designed to help in the development and implementation of fatigue risk management in rapid renewal highway construction environments. The guide includes organizational practices guidance, technical reference materials, fatigue training materials, and work scheduling aids and guidance. This suite of products may be integrated into existing safety management systems for highway construction environments, thereby reducing fatigue risk and increasing safety.

A Survey of Operational Fatigue Risk Factors among Commercial Transportation Operators

Operator fatigue is a critical issue that applies to all modes of commercial transportation. Managing the fatigue of commercial transportation operators requires an understanding of the practical challenges faced by operators in managing alertness. A survey of risk factors was conducted among twenty-five commercial transportation operators to help the broader commercial transportation industry understand the relevance of fatigue problems to their operations. A number of factors associated with operator fatigue were found to be common across the airline, rail, maritime, and trucking operations studied. Findings pertaining to eight factors that were found to have a major influence upon operator fatigue are presented. When these factors are present, they can be addressed through comprehensive fatigue management programs that address the systemic causes of fatigue; as well as through countermeasures that may provide long-term or temporary relief to operators.

Methodology for Evaluating a Simulator's Capability to Support Assessment of Mariner Proficiency

The goal of this project was to develop a structured process for evaluating the capability of simulators to support mariner performance assessment. In this approach, simulator evaluation objectives and criteria are based on performance-based mariner assessment requirements. The approach produces a simulator evaluation protocol that addresses four areas of simulator capability: (1) providing flexible exercise programming to the assessor; (2) replicating the characteristics of actual equipment; (3) simulating the operational conditions required to demonstrate the desired mariner performance; and (4) supporting thorough debriefing of the assessment candidate. A case study showed that our evaluation process was feasible. The process proved to be both sensitive and valuable in differentiating the capabilities of two simulators used to support mariner assessment objectives. This approach can be generalized to the evaluation of simulators of equipment used in other industries.

PREDICTING DRIVER BEHAVIOR USING ADVANCED TRAVELER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

As a part of the Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS), Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) will offer tomorrows drivers significantly expanded capabilities for getting where they want to go safely and efficiently. Vehicle-based navigation systems combined with information on highway conditions and services have the potential for improving driver performance. Though ATIS may offer considerable advantages, the system design must be consistent with the primary tasks of controlling and operating the vehicle. This paper describes an attempt to identify the likely interaction between what a driver must do to operate the vehicle safely while at the same time using the various ATIS systems. As such, it is an attempt to visualize what driving with these advanced systems will be like and to translate that vision into standard human factors task analytic techniques. Though a broad range of ATIS systems and functions were addressed in this project, this paper will address the macro-level task analyses that resulted from the examination of 165 tasks related to ATIS use.