Work hours, sleep patterns and fatigue among merchant marine personnel.
A field study of work and sleep patterns among commercial merchant marine personnel is reported. Data collected over a 10-30-d period from 141 subjects aboard eight ships included information concerning work-rest schedules, sleep timing, alertness on the job and critical fatigue. The data indicate that watchstanders on the 4-on, 8-off schedule show considerable disruption in their sleep. The average sleep duration for all mariners is 6.6 h; watchstanders obtain their sleep in fragmented periods that are frequently less than 5 h in duration. Analysis of critical fatigue shows an incidence of 1-24% across personnel and measures. Of particular concern are the watchstanders on the 04.00-08.00 schedule, who sleep less than 4 h per 24-h period 22% of the time. Potential countermeasures, including changes in scheduling and staffing are proposed.
Sanquist
T F
TF
Battelle Seattle Research Centre, WA, USA. sanquist@battelle.org
Raby
M
M
Forsythe
A
A
Carvalhais
A B
AB
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology; D014937:Work