Exploring Maritime Ergonomics from a Bottom Line Perspective

• The present paper reports a study composed of three research activities exploring theeconomics of ergonomics in a shipping context. First, a literature study aimed to reviewprevious studies on the economics of ergonomics in general and within the maritimedomain in particular; and moreover, to ascertain the key ergonomic factors addressedin contemporary maritime ergonomic research. Second, the concept of ergonomics wasprobed from a stakeholder perspective through nine semi-structured qualitative interviews.Third, structured interviews were held with representatives of ten Swedish shippingcompanies to investigate if the shipowners are aware of and calculate the economiceffects of ergonomics.The results show that severalmodels and methods have been developed to estimate costsand benefits of ergonomics in other industries, but no studies were found from the shippingindustry.Whether these methods can be readily adapted to the shipping industry hasto be investigated further. While contemporary maritime ergonomic literature showed afocus on physical ergonomic and health and safety issues, the results of the stakeholderinterviews indicated a focus on organizational ergonomics. The Swedish shipownerscalculate the costs of sick-leave, but do not estimate the economic effects of ergonomicson a regular basis.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Maritime Ergonomics

Human Factors

Work Environment

Economics

Shipping Industry

Sjöfartsvetenskap

Maritime Science

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)