Posted: March 26th, 2024

The Impact of Fatigue and Workload on Safety in Indian Port Operations

The Impact of Fatigue and Workload on Safety in Indian Port Operations
1. Introduction
By understanding these objectives, it becomes easier for the reader to comprehend the importance of the research findings and the positive impact it can have on the Indian port sector.
The primary objectives of this research paper are first, to investigate and understand reasons behind fatigue in workers for port operations. Second, understand the severity of fatigue as a cause of accidents by studying and analyzing past accidents occurred in the port sector, which had involvement of fatigue of the worker. Eventually, the final objective is to find out effective and efficient measures to prevent fatigue and thus the prevention of accidents for an overall safer working environment.
The necessity to address fatigue and workload of workers is of ultimate importance in order to prevent accidents in the port sector. It can be claimed on the record of major and minor accidents caused, which would not have occurred unless the worker was in the state of fatigue and underestimation of the workload of the task to be performed. Most of these accidents have involved the worker losing life or suffering some serious injury. This results in the responsibility of the employer to provide large sums of money as compensation and also impacts productivity of the organization. For the government, it results in loss of valuable manpower and loss of revenue paid through taxes. This is a joint concern for all industrialized and developing nations. It is important for every employer to create a safe working environment for their employees whilst ensuring that they are not underestimated and receive fair compensation for the work they provide. This is arguable when comparing different occupations, but especially true for the blue-collar, unskilled or semi-skilled labor type work which is most commonly associated with port operations.
India’s ports are the prime facilitators of our country’s economic progress, handling around 95% of India’s total international trade volume. The major ports are one of the main contributors to the government’s exchequer and have a vital role in sustaining and promoting trade. The non-major ports, which have become functional due to liberalization in the 1990s, also contribute to significant economic progression of the regions in which they are located and nearly all of them are enlisted for development.
1.1 Background of Indian Port Operations
India has a coastline of about 7517 km with 12 major ports and about 184 minor ports. The nature of Indian economy and the geographical features of the country demand for a well-functioning port sector in order to facilitate foreign trade. At present about 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value is moved through maritime transport with continuous growth trends. In respect to the global shipping there has been a phenomenal increase in the quantity of cargo handled at Indian ports during the last couple of years. From 245.2 million tones in 1986-87 to 625 million tonnes of cargo in 2004-05 and about 1052 million tonnes handled in 2013-14. This rapid increase in port traffic has called in for significant improvements in port infrastructure including capacity expansion, better material handling equipment and different improved handling techniques. At the same time there has been significant increase in mechanization and containerization with a view to improve productivity and also to ensure competiveness of coastal and transhipment cargo. These changes have a significant impact on work demands and working conditions of port workers. With the objective of increasing productivity and reducing unit handling cost, port workers are called in to work for longer durations, work during odd hours and also work at a faster pace. All these factors have significant impact on health and safety of workers. In a study conducted by International Labour Organization on Health and working conditions in the Port sector, it was observed that there has been an overall deterioration of working conditions of port workers in world over. This has also been true in the Indian context. In a study conducted by National Institute of Occupational Health, India, stated that the there are several health hazards and occupational illnesses among the Indian dock workers which include different respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, auditory and postural discomforts, affecting their work capacities and work abilities. This further affects the health and safety of the workers. With the changes in global shipping scenarios and with the drafting of new policies, Indian ports are going to see more changes in the future. So it is imperative that there has to be a good understanding of work conditions, work demands of the port workers and the safety consequences of these work demands in the context of future improvements and policy changes in the port sector. This would also include the testing and development safety systems, safety management and OHSMS in the port sector. Based on these factors, this study is an attempt to understand the consequences of work demands i.e. fatigue and workload on safety in Indian port sector and also to provide guidelines for future safety improvements.
1.2 Importance of Addressing Fatigue and Workload
The primary functions for Indian port operations are cargo handling. In modern times, cargo handling has been influenced by trade liberalization and global competition. Efficiency and productivity are the drivers towards improvement and change. Studies linking specific fatigue effects with performance and efficiency have been few, but it is well known that fatigue has negative effects on cognitive and psychomotor functioning, performance, and work quality. The effects of fatigue on the performance and safety of port operations are therefore relative to the progression and changes to work demands incurred in an attempt to increase efficiency and productivity. Measures to identify, isolate, and control the effects of fatigue on performance and safety in an effort to maintain work quality are directly focused on preserving the function and future of modern port operations. This may be best defined as any work aimed at avoiding any loss in desired goals or obtaining the same goals with less expenditure of resources. Loss of work quality due to fatigue-induced errors and/or accidents is therefore also an important issue for the safety of seafarers and other workers in port operations.
Since the secondary aim or port of call of all ships is to reach an objective where work can be performed, the character of work and workload of seafarers is a very broad issue and difficult to generalize. High mental and physical workload is often brought on by limited time in port and pressures to complete various tasks. Task demands at sea can be influenced by elements of uncertainty, lack of control, isolation, and responsibility. Talks of global competition and an increase in trade have indicated that port work demands will increase in pace and intensity. This increase in workload is not without consequence if it does not come with a proportional increase in manning or changes to improve efficiency. Any increase in mental and physical workload will predispose individuals to the effects of fatigue and stress. Understanding the process, effects, and consequences of increasing workload and workload-related activities is a key element in identifying areas of risk and developing effective measures to control and manage those areas.
Fatigue has been a neglected area of concern in industrial workplaces, and the navigation and marine industry has not been an exception, especially in developing nations. Indian Navy studies have revealed that the percentage of accidents possibly attributable to human errors has been steadily on the rise on board naval ships (Navy study: 85-95). Port operations are generally characterized by awkward timing of shift rosters, long working hours, heavy physical and mental work demands, all of which can result in fatigue and a consequent decrease in alertness and performance. Studies have shown that at sea, the relative risk of being involved in a fatality is between 1.9 and 3.6 times higher than that of land-based occupations. The extent of work-related fatigue, its impact on safety and performance, and efficiency in tasks, and the interaction of fatigue with workload and work hours are important issues to understand, more so in complex and critical environments such as port operations and shipping, in order to identify and implement measures to maximize safety and working performance.
1.3 Objectives of the Research Paper
The above leads to the following objectives of this research paper:
1. Assessment of the impact of all the possible fatigue and workload elements affecting VTS operators, marine pilots, ship’s masters, harbour and marine pilots, on the efficiency and safety of the port.
2. Identifying critical fatigue and workload issues in the Indian port operations and making recommendations, based on good current practice, and research in other transport domains, for possible improvements.
3. Providing general measures of fatigue and workload countermeasures and identifying specific strategies to decrease fatigue and enhance the safety of the port operations.
4. To add to the body of knowledge on fatigue and workload in transport operators and provide new insights to the fatigue and safety science community to enhance the safety and efficiency of port operations.
5. Presentation and prioritisation of these findings in such a way that they can be easily understood and used by those responsible for the safety and efficiency of port operations in India.
2. Understanding Fatigue and Workload
Understanding fatigue and workload. Fatigue is a complex phenomenon that is particularly difficult to define because it is a subjective feeling. It is a lack of energy, tiredness, and drowsiness, which can be described as mental, physical, or both. Fatigue is also a state that is integrated into a person’s way of thinking, which includes a lack of motivation and can be accompanied by negative emotions such as weariness and irritability. Mental fatigue can also slow thinking and make it hard to stay awake, making it very dangerous during certain working conditions. Fatigue can be acute or chronic. Acute fatigue results from short-term sleep loss or from short periods of heavy physical or mental work. Relief from acute fatigue can be obtained from sleep and recovery on days off. Chronic fatigue is a long-term fatigue that is built up over time and can be the result of not enough recovery from work and other factors in a person’s life. Fatigue is an inevitable and traditional part of work and life, and at some points, people have to work when they are fatigued. This can be for numerous reasons such as busy periods at work, tight deadlines, emergencies, or shift work, which will be further discussed later on. When people work in safety-critical environments, it is important that they have a sufficient level of alertness to be able to maintain a certain level of work performance and to be able to respond quickly and appropriately in all situations. Fatigue and a lack of energy can reduce work performance and cause more errors and mistakes to occur. It can also lead to reduced vigilance, attention, and slower reaction times, which can compromise safety. High levels of fatigue can increase the risk of accidents and injuries occurring. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes, consequences, and implications of fatigue on safety in order to be able to manage and prevent it and to promote safe working practices.
2.1 Definition and Causes of Fatigue
Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is another common cause of fatigue in occupations that require working outside regular daytime hours. This is a chronic condition which affects individuals who attempt to sleep during the day, resulting in excessive sleepiness at night and insomnia. This leads to an insufficiency of sleep, as the reduced quantity and quality of daytime sleep is often less than the sleep lost from the preceding extended wakefulness or the sleep that is displaced from the night shift. Problems also occur when the work schedule is frequently rotated, as in an effort to move from a less compatible to a more compatible shift, or permanent in the case of most night shift workers. The repeated phase shifts disrupt circadian rhythms and the internal body clock, often leading to a permanent state of desynchronosis between the biological and social clocks. This can cause fatigue, as the night person is never fully alert during the day, and the day person is never fully alert during the night.
Pilots and doctors are just two examples of professionals who operate in careers that demand not only high levels of expertise, but also peak physical and cognitive performance, often during periods of prolonged wakefulness. One consequence of this is fatigue; a persistent, subjective feeling of tiredness, weakness or lack of energy. It is both a mental and physical state which can be linked to impaired alertness, reaction times and cognitive processes. These effects can lead to reduced efficiency, increased error rates and accidents. The cause of these feelings and performance impairments is a homeostatic response resulting from the extended wakefulness or from a disruption of the circadian cycle. Sleep loss from an inadequate opportunity to sleep is a common cause of fatigue. This can be acute, resulting from a single extended period of wakefulness, or the accumulation of sleep debt from cycles of partial sleep restriction.
2.2 Factors Influencing Workload in Port Operations
Organization and management and work environment factors will be discussed together, as the latter are often dependent upon decisions and constraints made at the management level. Progress within the international competitiveness of port operations has led many to engage in cost-cutting exercises and reorganization. Changes to shift work schemes and effort-reward balances have been shown to have adverse effects on health among workers and influence safety behavior (Fulop and Lunt, 1999). In some cases, workers may not be receiving the rest hours they are entitled to by law. At the cargo interface with transportation, there exists a trade-off between technological advances that aim to reduce manpower and the increased demands for speed and flexibility. These advances are ultimately aimed at increasing revenue, but studies have shown increased temporal and mental work demands with adverse effects on safety and health (Smith and Carayon, 1996).
Factors influencing workload can be classified into three broad categories: task demands, organization and management, and work environment (Rutenfranz and Pundt, 1993). Task demands, which include what needs to be done, when, and how, have direct effects on the mental and physical requirements to perform the task. In modern port operations, tasks are extremely varied, with area specialists (e.g. slingers) and generalists working alongside each other. Cargo handling is a continuous process involving ships, cranes, vehicles, and storage areas. Discharging or loading a ship may take several days and involve different cargo types and handling methods. The net result is complex, with work being fragmented and unpredictable. Decisions between tasks may depend on which is likely to be completed within an hour or a break point for a rest. A simulation of a system at Port Klang in Malaysia revealed the complexity of task allocation and the fact that stevedores tended to set a slow, steady pace for fear of later transport delays making heavy cargo too difficult to handle in a single shift.
2.3 Interconnection between Fatigue and Workload
Now it is clear that in the simple model described above, fatigue impairs the ability of the operator to do production work by reducing the operator’s capacity to move the controlled system towards its goal. But fatigue will also increase the amount of production work required since the goal can often be achieved only by compensating for deterioration in system performance due to fatigue with increased effort.
At the theoretical level, the relationship between fatigue and workload is quite complex. There are many different theories of work and many different theories of fatigue, and it is beyond the scope of this paper to consider all possible permutations of the fatigue/workload relationship. Nevertheless, it is useful to consider a simplified model of the work process and to see where fatigue fits into this model. One widely accepted model of work is based on the “control theory” approach, which proposes that human operators are, in fact, a system of “control and feedback” and that the aim of any work process is to manipulate the parameters of the system being controlled to achieve a desired goal. So, for example, a crane driver working in a container terminal might want to move as many containers as possible from point A to point B in the time available. This driver would be thought of as the “controller” who manipulates the position of the containers (the “system”) by operating the crane to achieve the goal of the maximum number of containers moved in the time allotted. This work process can be differentiated into what has been called “production work” and “maintenance work”. Production work is that work which moves the control system towards its goal, and maintenance work is the effort put into sustaining the control system in such a state that production work is possible.
Fatigue and workload, for the most part, are two separate constructs, but they are also related. Fatigue is often considered to be a cause of increased workload, and it seems intuitively obvious that if a person is tired, this person will need to exert more effort to maintain a given level of performance. The empirical evidence on the causal relationship between fatigue and workload is somewhat equivocal, inasmuch as there are data to suggest that increased fatigue leads to increased workload, and at the same time, there are data to suggest that increased workload leads to increased fatigue.
2.4 Implications of Fatigue and Workload on Safety
The nature of port operations means that it is not always possible to stop work when fatigue levels are high or workload is excessive. Furthermore, increased fatigue and workload may not be immediately evident, and the onset of decreased safety may be gradual. This can be particularly dangerous, as the consequences of errors in the port industry are often severe and may be irreversible. This makes the identification of safety-critical tasks and the management of fatigue and workload an important issue in maintaining a safe level of operation in port environments. High workload has been found to impair cognitive function and psychomotor performance. As workload increases, operators tend to respond to the increased demands without considering the increased risks involved. Thus, the individual attempts to work harder to meet the increased demands, resulting in increased fatigue and decreased safety. This is of particular concern in the port industry, where time pressures result in a compromise of safety for productivity.
Job-related fatigue impairs an individual’s alertness, cognitive function, and ability to make rapid, informed decisions. Fatigue also increases the likelihood of errors that may impact the safety of the individual, their co-workers, and others. High workload has been found to impair cognitive function and psychomotor performance. As workload increases, operators tend to respond to the increased demands without considering the increased risks involved. Thus, the individual attempts to work harder to meet the increased demands, resulting in increased fatigue and decreased safety. This is of particular concern in the port industry, where time pressures result in a compromise of safety for productivity.
3. Assessing Fatigue and Workload in Indian Port Operations
This section in Indian ports: 2.1, cargo handling is the most labour-intensive of all port related activities and involves highly complex and diverse patterns of work. They have an inherent risky nature of occurrence of accidents, fatality, injury, and damage to health which is due to the working conditions of various operational activities. The human element has long been recognized as the most important factor in the overall efficiency and safety of the system. The work environment and the nature of work have a vital impact on the physical and mental well-being of employees and consequent effect on safety and job performance. High fatigue and workload affect job performance vis-à-vis port productivity; it also increases the risk of accidents, injuries, ill health, and in the worst-case scenario, it may result in damage to valuable port assets, resources, and loss of life. These issues are more significant in the Indian context where a large section of workers is semi-literate, working in organized as well as unorganized sectors, working in shift systems, and difficult working conditions. Due to the globalization of the Indian economy triggered through LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization), there is increasing competition in the port industry. This has created pressure on the workforce to improve productivity, reduce cost, and time taken for delivering services.
Research in the domain of human factors focused on assessing the physical and mental load on system operators and the effect of shift work and work-related stress on performance and safety. Fatigue and workload assessment analysis are usually complex, highly specific, focused on a particular task or group, and there is seldom a quick fix solution. There is no single accurate measurement to assess a person’s fatigue level and it depends on the type, intensity, and duration of fatigue. At a theoretical level, fatigue is defined as a decrease in capacity for physical and/or mental activity that results from overloading or underloading.
3.1 Methods and Tools for Measuring Fatigue
Task analysis may be used to identify mental and physical tasks and the times at which they are most likely to be executed. This could provide a surrogate measure for fatigue and workload through observation of tasks at certain times. It may also serve as a tool to evaluate the effects of changes aimed to reduce fatigue and improve safety. Various subjective rating scales have been developed to evaluate current fatigue states as well as the mental and physical demands of tasks. These can either be general or specific to particular tasks. Static questionnaires have also been developed to identify factors related to fatigue such as sleep patterns and work hours. Dynamic questionnaires aim to detect changes in fatigue states over time and may be administered at regular intervals during work shifts. Performance-based assessments offer a more objective evaluation of fatigue effects. These can range from simple dual task activities or vigilance tests to complex simulations of specific work tasks. Fatigue prediction technologies aim to correlate data from physiological and performance tests to predict future states of fatigue and identify times of high risk.
A formal or informal approach may be adopted when measuring aspects of fatigue dependent upon goals and intentions. Formal methods involve structured and often predetermined tools to quantify or qualify fatigue. Informal techniques often involve observation or judgment of more overt signs or symptoms of fatigue. Whereas formal methods may offer more objectivity and quantifiable data, informal methods may still be valid for comparative or explorative work and offer a greater understanding of the context in which fatigue occurs. It is assumed that most tools used to measure fatigue in port environments have been developed in other transport industries such as aviation or road. This is to the advantage of port operations in being able to adapt and adopt these tools from existing knowledge. These tools and methods may include various questionnaires, fatigue prediction technologies, and performance-based assessments.
3.2 Evaluating Workload Levels in Port Operations
About 90% of the world’s trade is carried by the international shipping industry, hence the efficient operation of ports is crucial to world trade. In today’s competitive environment, all modes of industry are compelled to increase productivity and thereby gain competitive advantage. Port operations are no exception to this trend and often changes to working practices are made with little consideration to their impact on the workforce. Any change to working practices which increases employee workload can result in decreased productivity, and increased error and accident rates. Therefore, it is essential for port operations to be able to identify changes in workload and their effect on performance.
The right framework for evaluating any element of human performance, as a precursor to direct measures designed to assess workload and which can be related to an… This is particularly relevant in dynamic work environments where there are…
3.3 Challenges and Limitations of Assessment Techniques
Workload and fatigue are complex, dynamic, and multidimensional phenomena that impact individuals and groups in different ways. A variety of different methods and tools exist to assess fatigue and workload, but each has its own limitations and challenges. These issues can refer to a particular tool, method used across a range of tools, or the more general difficulties that face research into fatigue and workload. Recorded objective performance measures are typically the most reliable and objective indicators of workload. Unfortunately, these measures may interfere with the task being measured and may not be sensitive to all aspects of workload. Secondary task and subjective measures are generally more practical and can be taken to the work-site; however, they are less reliable and objective. The complexity of measuring workload lies in the fact that the term itself is somewhat nebulous, relating to the exertion of effort, the capability of the performer, and the task demands. It has been difficult to reconcile the plethora of terms and concepts used by different researchers in different areas. This has led to a fragmented research community with diverse methodology and little consensus on the best way to measure workload.
Assessment of mental fatigue is inherently difficult as it is a largely internal state that is only partially dependent on the external environment or task. Fatigue is not uniquely identifiable with any single physiological or psychological process, and as such, there is no gold standard for a fatigue indicator. The complexity of workload is compounded by the fact that it is a subjective and multidimensional concept, with no single best way of measuring it. Any tool or method of fatigue and workload assessment must also be valid and reliable across different cultures and groups. This is particularly relevant to Indian port operations as many foreign tools may not be culturally valid. Finally, any fatigue and workload assessment technique ought to be quick, uncomplicated, and easy to administer. This is to ensure that it has minimal interference with normal work routines.
4. Mitigating Fatigue and Workload for Improved Safety
The following essay provides a description and analysis of the complex sociotechnical system of Indian port operations, against a framework of work-related fatigue and unsafety. This is based upon existing literature on fatigue and safety-critical work, and an interview-based study at Mumbai port. The study used the Interview Schedule for the Aetiology of Work-Related Fatigue (ISAW), with an occupational fatigue questionnaire based on this working from the study by Hockey, Maule, Clow, and Baulk. These questionnaires and the interview-based method were chosen due to a need for best reliability and validity, high situational specificity, the necessity to capture the views of both top-down and bottom-up management, and a preference for qualitative data. A total of 12 respondents took part in the research. The interview study forms an analysis of fatigue within Mumbai port operations, and this was used to understand how these complex systems interact with work-related fatigue and safety in a way that goes beyond subjective and linear cause-effect assumptions. This phase of research takes a wider view of the port system, considering the effects of larger global economic and technological trends, and changes in the labor process and their effects on system functioning, work roles, and fatigue-generating mechanisms, at the same time considering the complex notions of working conditions, safety, and safety climate.
4.1 Effective Fatigue Management Strategies
Napping has been shown to be an effective strategy for fatigue countermeasure in the short term. It has been shown to improve alertness and performance while reducing overall sleepiness. A study on the alerting effects of a 2-hour prophylactic nap on a night shift found that the nap was effective in facilitating nighttime performance and reducing fatigue. In another study, a short nap was found to be effective for improving alertness and cognitive performance for up to 12 hours post-nap. This suggests that strategic napping during shifts may help to mitigate the effects of fatigue at a minimal cost to the company in terms of lost productivity. However, Kaprielian and Wickens argue that the provision of nap breaks in the work schedule presents many problems. Difficulty falling asleep and sleep inertia may impair performance on waking, thus increasing the potential for human error and/or negatively impacting subsequent shifts. Additionally, it might meet with resistance from employees and create negative perceptions regarding the employee who uses nap breaks, feeling that they may be perceived as lazy or incompetent. This highlights the need for a change in safety culture and education concerning the importance of adequate sleep and the effectiveness of napping as a fatigue countermeasure.
Shift work requires a unique approach to fatigue management due to the inversion of the normal day/night sleep-wake cycle. The broad aim of fatigue risk management is to minimise the likelihood of incidents occurring as a result of operator fatigue. It is important to acknowledge that complete prevention of fatigue is impossible, and the emphasis should be on risk reduction. This can be achieved through various strategies such as napping and the consumption of caffeine, which have both been shown to be effective short-term measures.
4.2 Enhancing Workload Management Practices
Workload management practices usually affect an individual at any point with work, weariness or any form of stress. It can be recognized as the point of opportunity given to an individual and the demand of the task on hand. If the demand surpasses the person’s capabilities, then the likelihood of fatigue and/or stress is apparent. There are several different strategies that can be implemented to help an individual manage their workload. Flexible work arrangements give employees some level of input and control over when and where they carry out work-related tasks. This may involve part-time work, job sharing, telecommuting, and changes in work hours. This method has been proven to be very effective in avoiding stress and fatigue from work. If an individual perceives they have control over a situation, or at least have the power to make things more manageable, they can reduce the negative effects of stress and avoid excessive stress and fatigue. This, in turn, will make a safer environment for all workers. Assistance from others is a simple yet cost-effective solution in reducing workload and fatigue. If a task has become overly difficult and tiresome, having another person to assist can greatly reduce the workload and time taken to complete the task. This can have effects such as reduced time pressure and more time for a person to recover. Finally, management of resources and demands is critical in ensuring workload does not surpass an individual’s capabilities. This requires estimation of the amount of work that can be taken on at any one time, and matching the work to the person where possible. If it is found that the work is exceeding the person, it may be necessary to reduce demands to prevent fatigue and stress from occurring.
4.3 Implementing Technological Solutions
Extensive research suggests that implementing appropriate, effective, and strategic technological interventions in work systems and environment provides significant contribute to enhancing safety and productivity by reducing occurrence of errors and failures. Technology has the potential to reduce works demands on individual workers, automate routine and mundane tasks, and monitor and provide feedback on worker performance. Such may be the impact of a well designed and human centred technological system, that the potential to reduce human error and associated failures means work safety can be improved as productivity increases. Studies of human reliability analysis in safety critical systems have been motivated by major accidents such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl disaster. Although these accidents involved complex technology, it is well established that a large proportion of accidents and incidents in industry are the result of human error. In the complex and inherently dangerous working environment of ports, the reliance on human performance extends to a myriad of tasks from the most routine, to those critical situations in which correct decision making is essential for safety. Simulation and monitoring tools can be employed to assess the safety and efficiency of port procedures and task performance. This can involve anything from simple task analysis of work practices, to complex computer based simulations of human interactions with technology, to monitoring the physiological and cognitive state of an individual worker. An Australian study investigating the use of simulation for human factors and safety analysis in stevedoring, identified and recommended various simulation and monitoring tools as viable means to improve safety and job satisfaction. This study identified worker fatigue as significant safety issue in the stevedoring industry, stating that fatigue and recovery from fatigue can be simulated to predict its effects on task performance, and monitor the effects of safety interventions. A comprehensive simulation of work practices and tasks may involve altering work schedules and conditions to identify high risk situations, and evaluate possible safety interventions in terms of their cost and effectiveness. This type of work is highly relevant to HRI in port operations, and provides a means to assess and predict the impact of both technology and any subsequent changes to work practices on safety and ergonomics. High reliability organisations such as the aviation or nuclear power industries, may also benefit from the use of reliability and risk analysis techniques to assess whether the introduction of automation or new technology will compromise or enhance safety in terms of its effects on human performance.
4.4 Training and Education for Personnel
The report uncovered situations at ports where workers were performing tasks that they had no experience or training in doing, often resulting in injury to themselves or damage to goods. Training programs and courses were in some cases noted as being a front to gain official government approval, with no practical effect on the education of the workforce. This approach has to change to a more systematic and thorough method of educating employees. Steps can be taken through training needs analysis to assess the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that workers currently possess against those that are required to meet the organizational objectives. This can then be used to identify what training is necessary, to teach who, and what it should enable the employees to do.
Ahmed (2006) is of the opinion that formal educational qualifications are linked to safety, with managers stating that educated employees are more safety-conscious and show more awareness in their tasks around the port. Thus, increasing the educational level of the workforce should, in theory, enable employees to identify hazards and assess risks more effectively. Training is essentially preparing for a job, and a recent report by the People’s Tribunal highlighted a general lack of training being given to dockworkers in India. Training and education require some financial input, and the port industry in India has a history of employers avoiding spending money on their workers, feeling that it is an unnecessary cost. However, this approach fails to recognize the benefits that investing in human resources can bring about, and in the long run, it has been identified that there is potential for reducing costs related to accidents and damage through investing in effective training programs (Datta, 2004).