A study of the indicators that are associated with selfreported fatigue by officers of the watch

Abstract

Limited research exist examining fatigue and its indicators among seafarers. The purpose of this exploratory research was to determine the influence of occupational, individual, and environmental factors on subjective fatigue among officers of the watch. Data was collected from 21 participants dispatched on vessels in the Canadian offshore sector. Self-reported questionnaire methods (pre-voyage, before watch, and after watch) were employed to collect data on momentary subjective physical and mental fatigue for comparison with occupational, individual, and environmental factors while on a seagoing trip. Mixed multi-level linear model analysis revealed differences across individuals and the factors that influence before watch and after watch perceptions of fatigue. These factors include caffeine consumption, sleep quality perceptions, environmental factors such as noise and motion, and psychosocial work factors. Age was also found to be an interaction factor with some of these variables. Further future research needs to be conducted to explore this analysis tool among more maritime employees.