Statistical approaches to seafarers' fatigue

In a variety of contexts, one may use the term "fatigue" to refer to a variety of different kinds of aches and pains. On the other hand, there is no one technical definition of weariness that is acknowledged by everyone. In most cases, it is brought on by an extended period of mental or physical labor, an extended period of worry, exposure to hostile conditions, or lack of sleep. It is a state that may be defined as the sense of being weary or drowsy. In most cases, weariness is brought on by a disruption in the equilibrium that exists between the amount of physical and mental effort expended during waking activities and the amount of recuperation that the body and brain undergo following such exertion. Fatigue, in the context of the working population as a whole, has been linked to incidences of accidents and injuries. The consequences of weariness at sea are especially hazardous because of the unique characteristics of the shipping industry, which needs its workers to maintain a high level of alertness and acute focus at all times. In addition, it is distinguished from other fields by a number of other peculiar characteristics, including extended absences from family and friends, restricted interaction with coworkers, and a continually heavy workload. It is possible that weariness and poor performance will have an adverse effect on the health of sailors who operate in such circumstances. This may even shorten their lifetime. For these reasons, it is well known that seafarers' fatigue has various types of risks in maritime. It can cause serious accidents and injuries. It should be especially emphasized that seafarers' fatigue is very important in maritime life. It depends on many parameters as poor quality of rest, insufficient sleep, stress and excessive workload. In addition, the seafarers' health is affected by adverse conditions such as inability to stay awake, clumsiness, headaches, giddiness, loss of appetite, insomnia, moodiness, needless worrying, poor judgement of distance, slow responses and difficulty concentrating. It has been determined that one out of four seafarers fell asleep while on the job, half of seafarer's report working more than 85 hours per week and working hours presented a danger to their personal safety and it is estimated that 25 percent of accidents are due to fatigue. Considering these and other identified factors, it is possible to reduce fatigue with statistical methods. By means of questionnaire, interview and observation, the factors can be determined, and interferences can be made on different experimental groups with appropriate statistical method. In this section, important studies in the literature on the effects of fatigue on maritime life are presented, and it is aimed to produce ideas about reducing the effects of fatigue on marine life.