Seeking the best practices of assessment in maritime simulator training

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Exploring the effects of automation malfunction on team communication and coordination in ships' engine rooms

Automation malfunctions within complex socio-technical systems reserve the potential to significantly affect human performance. In the context of maritime operations, varying consequences of automation malfunction on human performance can be observed. This study introduced a two-step research framework to examine the repercussions of such malfunctions, particularly those related to communication and coordination among human teams in ship engine rooms. Initially, a qualitative semi-structured interview was conducted with seven professional marine engineers to explore the potential impact of hypothetical automation malfunction on team communication. Subsequently, a quantitative survey involving 32 professional marine engineers employed coordination demand analysis (CDA) to scrutinize changes in team coordination resulting from malfunction. The findings indicate that an automation malfunction within an engine room can precipitate an abrupt overload of the socio-technical system. This can significantly increase communication frequency among engineers, particularly in relation to the physical and organizational aspects of the environment. Furthermore, the study highlights the influence of disparate levels of expertise among team members on coordination demands. A positive correlation was discovered between differences in expertise and increased coordination demands within a team. These insights underscore the necessity for future research on human–automation interaction, specifically focusing on individual differences and nontechnical skills

Learning from accidents: Nontechnical skills deficiency in the European process industry

Safety-critical industries have long been subjected to extensive research and development to enhance operator performance to improve their efficiency. From a human factors perspective, much of the work in process industries is related to either enhancing technical training of operators or related to improving the physical ergonomics of hazardous workplaces. The importance of Nontechnical Skills (NTS) in the process industries have traditionally been less emphasized, while other domains (e.g., aviation, healthcare) have led the development of investigating and improving NTS for the sharp-end operators. This study aims to investigate the association of NTS deficiencies to the major accidents from the past 5 years in the process industries within the European Union by analyzing the accident reports from The Major Accident Reporting System (MARS) database. The accident analysis results reveal potential NTS deficiencies in 27% (17 out of 64) of the cases involving the lack of situational awareness, decision making, problem-solving, communication, leadership, and time management issues. Based on the results of the analysis, a few implications, as well as future research directions, are proposed, which could facilitate the stakeholders in addressing NTS deficiencies of European process industry operators

Learning from accidents: Nontechnical skills deficiency in the European process industry

Safety-critical industries have long been subjected to extensive research and development to enhance operator performance to improve their efficiency. From a human factors perspective, much of the work in process industries is related to either enhancing technical training of operators or related to improving the physical ergonomics of hazardous workplaces. The importance of Nontechnical Skills (NTS) in the process industries have traditionally been less emphasized, while other domains (e.g., aviation, healthcare) have led the development of investigating and improving NTS for the sharp-end operators. This study aims to investigate the association of NTS deficiencies to the major accidents from the past 5 years in the process industries within the European Union by analyzing the accident reports from The Major Accident Reporting System (MARS) database. The accident analysis results reveal potential NTS deficiencies in 27% (17 out of 64) of the cases involving the lack of situational awareness, decision making, problem-solving, communication, leadership, and time management issues. Based on the results of the analysis, a few implications, as well as future research directions, are proposed, which could facilitate the stakeholders in addressing NTS deficiencies of European process industry operators