Eyes wide shut
by Bernard McGrath, Inspection Validation Centre

What is the point of this column? Have you ever wondered? What do you want from it? Does it give you what you want? Would you let me know if it didn’t? The note at the end of the column describes it as my “personal ramblings for the purpose of encouraging discussion within the NDT Newspaper”. Good job I am not measured on this KPI as it has encouraged very little discussion within this newspaper. But, as you can see, this hasn’t stopped me tapping on my keys. However, on the occasions when I do leave my computer and go out into the fresh air, I do consider whether I am writing about appropriate issues.

The first article was based on the PANI project: the project reports contain a lot of information which is of benefit to people wanting to improve the reliability of NDT. This got me thinking about other research reports or data that may have been published which could provide important information for NDT practitioners but do not do so because they are not publicised in an appropriate manner.

One such topic which recently came to the fore was shift work. On 15 August 2011, the BBC reported the results of an RAIB investigation into why a freight train, which had 13 wagons and weighed 715 tonnes, rolled backwards for two miles at more than 50 mph at Shap, along a stretch of the West Coast Main Line in Cumbria. The RAIB report concluded: “The investigation found that DB Schenker’s train driver, who was working the first of a series of night shifts, was probably fatigued and not sufficiently alert at the time of the incident.” It also goes on to conclude that the mathematical model adopted by most of the rail industry is likely to under-predict the probability that high levels of fatigue will be experienced by people working a first night shift.

NDT is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week industry. Do we have mathematical models for fatigue? Or guidance for shift work? HSE contract research report 254/1999 provides a review of human factor aspects of shift work. It identified that the main problem is night-time hours, when alertness is naturally low. It highlights that poor performance at night has been associated with an increased risk of accidents. Other studies have shown that the effects of fatigue have a similar performance impairment effect as alcohol. This may result in: reduced and variable levels of alertness/concentration; slower response times; impaired hand-eye coordination; reduced cognitive function and critical decision-making; loss of situational awareness; higher error rates, reduced margins for error; a tendency to sacrifice accuracy for speed; and failure to recognise the existence of a problem. Performance impairment is more likely where work is repetitive, mundane and/or requires sustained vigilance. It is not hard to see how this would affect the application of NDT.

As an operator you may think that this is not your problem; it is up to NDT companies and their clients to take the necessary measures to avoid the effects of fatigue. Well, think again! A report by the US Department of Health and Human Services in April 2004 summarised recent scientific findings concerning the relationship between overtime and extended work shifts on worker health and safety. The report states that in 16 of 22 studies addressing general health effects, overtime was associated with poorer perceived general health, increased injury rates, more illnesses or increased mortality. Overtime was associated with unhealthy weight gain in two studies, increased alcohol use in two of three studies, increased smoking in one of two studies and poorer neuropsychological test performance in one study. The US report does balance this with the fact that some studies did not support this trend, finding no relationship between long working hours and leisure-time physical activity (two of three studies) and no relationship with drug abuse (one study). Back in March 2009, the BBC website reported that the Danish government had begun paying compensation to women who have developed breast cancer after long spells working nights. A specialist interviewed about the issue stated that: “The evidence has been good over a long period of time about cardiovascular disease and night work, gastro-intestinal problems and nights.”

So, what can we do and what should we be doing in response to this information? A 2008 Finnish report into the factors contributing to fatigue in ship bridge work recommended: unprejudiced consideration of working time arrangements; attending to adequate rest periods; development of job descriptions of lookouts; detection and reporting of symptoms of fatigue; quality of the nourishment of watch personnel; and air quality on the bridge. Again, it is relatively easy to see how most of these recommendations could be applied in NDT.

Recommended countermeasures for fatigue in the medical industry identified that there is no substitute for sleep and there is benefit to be gained from having naps. However, the biggest issue is education! Should BINDT be providing this education to both companies and operators? Sleep on it and let me know.

Please note that the views expressed in this column are the author’s own personal ramblings for the purpose of encouraging discussion within the NDT Newspaper. They do not represent the views of the IVC, Serco Assurance or the HSE who funded the PANI projects.

Letters can be mailed to The Editor, NDT News, Newton Building, St George’s Avenue, Northampton NN2 6JB. Fax: 01604 89 3861; Email: ndtnews@bindt.org or email Bernard McGrath direct at Bernard.McGrath@sercoassurance.com