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Simultaneous tasks as a contributory factor to maritime accidents: a socio-cultural approach
Citation
Rajapakse, A and Emad, GR and Lutzhoft, M and Grech, M, Simultaneous tasks as a contributory factor to maritime accidents: a socio-cultural approach, The Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics, 38 pp. 234-244. ISSN 2092-5212 (2022) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ajsl.2022.09.001
Abstract
Analyses of accident investigation reports show that attempting to simultaneously perform tasks onboard ships to manage workload has led to many accidents at sea. These accident reports point out that seafarers fail to follow procedures as expected by shipping companies when conducting tasks simultaneously. Only a handful of studies that examined such discrepancies between work as imagined by shipping companies and work as actually done by seafarers exist. This study aims to examine why seafarers engage in simultaneous tasks, which may lead to accidents. In an exploratory qualitative study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with selective and targeted seafarers previously involved in maritime accidents. The collected data were analysed using interpretive and descriptive qualitative methods with a socio-cultural approach. The findings of this study show that the substantial regulatory changes over the years in the maritime industry have resulted in increased occupational workload for seafarers. Some of these regulatory barriers designed to improve safety at sea prompted seafarers to engage in simultaneous tasks to perform excessive paperwork and compensate for insufficient crewing. The research also revealed how a poor speak-up culture onboard might encourage simultaneous tasks leading to accidents at sea. The analysis shows that reasons for engaging in simultaneous tasks at sea are varied and complex. Therefore, complex intervention efforts to discourage seafarers from engaging in simultaneous tasks is needed to mitigate accidents at sea
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | task deviation, seafaring, work as imagined and work as done, simultaneous tasks, human element, shipping companies |
| Research Division: | Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services |
| Research Group: | Transportation, logistics and supply chains |
| Research Field: | Maritime transportation and freight services |
| Objective Division: | Transport |
| Objective Group: | Water transport |
| Objective Field: | International sea freight transport (excl. live animals, food products and liquefied gas) |
| UTAS Author: | Rajapakse, A (CAPT Asanka Rajapakse) |
| UTAS Author: | Emad, GR (Dr Reza Emad) |
| UTAS Author: | Lutzhoft, M (Professor Margareta Lutzhoft) |
| UTAS Author: | Grech, M (Dr Michelle Grech) |
| ID Code: | 153831 |
| Year Published: | 2022 |
| Deposited By: | Seafaring and Maritime Operations |
| Deposited On: | 2022-10-10 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-12-16 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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