What is the human element, why does IMO focus on it, and what does the HTW sub-committee do?
Short answer
| SHELL interface | Typical error source |
|---|---|
| Liveware and Software | a badly designed alarm, display or procedure |
| Liveware and Hardware | poor ergonomics of controls |
| Liveware and Environment | heat, noise, motion, lighting, fatigue |
| Liveware and Liveware | poor communication and teamwork |
| Human error types | slips, lapses, mistakes, violations; active failures and latent conditions |
- Human element: the human contribution to safety: human error (slips, lapses, mistakes, violations; active failures, latent conditions), the SHELL model (liveware against software, hardware, environment, other liveware), fatigue, resource management, leadership, culture.
- Why IMO focuses on it: safer ships left casualties dominated by human error; hardware alone cannot fix that, so IMO addresses competence, workload, fatigue, communication, procedures and culture.
- Through: STCW (training, watchkeeping, rest hours A-VIII/1, the 2010 Manila resource-management competences), the ISM Code (§6 resources and personnel, the learning loop), the human-element principles, human-centred design.
- HTW (Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping, under the MSC, formerly STW): maintains the STCW Convention and Code, the human-element work (fatigue, safety culture), watchkeeping standards, model courses, seafarer competence and fitness.
- Just culture: not no-blame: honest error handled without sanction, culpable behaviour accountable.
- As Chief Engineer: lead the team, manage fatigue, build a speak-up culture, apply resource management, fix the SHELL interfaces that shape error.
Full answer
The full answer explains each point step by step, with the regulations and figures behind it and the discussion from other candidates. It is in the MEO Class I section of the Marine One forum, open to members enrolled for the MEO Class I exam.