APPENDIX 2
AREAS OF HUMAN FACTORS INQUIRY
The following questions are designed to aid the investigator while investigating for human factors. Skilful questioning can help the investigator eliminate irrelevant lines of inquiry and focus on areas of greater potential significance.
The order and manner in which the questions are asked will depend on who is being interviewed and on his or her willingness and ability to describe personal behaviour and personal impressions. It may be necessary to verify, cross-check or augment information received from one person by interviewing others on the same points.
These areas of inquiry can be used in planning interviews. The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive, or be used as a checklist, and some may not be relevant in the investigation of a particular accident. As new human factors issues emerge, new areas of inquiry will need to be explored by investigators.
SHIPBOARD ISSUES
1 Safety policy
.1 Does the company have a written safety policy?
.2 Is there a designated person to deal with shipboard safety matters in the company?
.3 When did a company representative last visit the ship, or when were you last in contact with the company?
.4 When were you last given safety training? What was the training and how was it provided?
.5 When was the last emergency drill (e. g., fire, abandon ship, man overboard, pollution response, etc) and what did you do during the drill?
.6 Was appropriate personal protective equipment provided and did you use it?
.7 Are you aware of any personal accidents which occurred on board in the period prior on the accident?
2 Activities prior to incident
.1 (If the ship was leaving port at the time of the accident) In general, how did you spend your time while the ship was in port?
.2 (If the ship was approaching port or at sea at the time of the accident) How long has the ship been on passage since its last port or terminal operation?
.3 What were you doing immediately prior to coming on watch or reporting for duty, and for how long? Recreational activity? Physical exercise? Sleeping? Reading? Watching television? Eating? Paperwork? Travelling to vessel?
.4 Specifically what were you doing approximately 4h., 1h., 30min., before the accident?
.5 What evolution was the ship involved in when the accident occurred? What was your role during that evolution?
.6 Immediately prior to the accident, what were you thinking about?
.7 At any time before the accident, did you have any indication that anyone was tired or unable to perform their duty?
