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Exploring maritime ergonomics from a bottom line perspective

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Abstract

The present paper reports a study composed of three research activities exploring the economics of ergonomics in a shipping context. First, a literature study aimed to review previous studies on the economics of ergonomics in general and within the maritime domain in particular; and moreover, to ascertain the key ergonomic factors addressed in contemporary maritime ergonomic research. Second, the concept of ergonomics was probed from a stakeholder perspective through nine semi-structured qualitative interviews. Third, structured interviews were held with representatives of ten Swedish shipping companies to investigate if the shipowners are aware of and calculate the economic effects of ergonomics.

The results show that severalmodels andmethods have been developed to estimate costs and benefits of ergonomics in other industries, but no studies were found from the shipping industry.Whether thesemethods can be readily adapted to the shipping industry has to be investigated further. While contemporary maritime ergonomic literature showed a focus on physical ergonomic and health and safety issues, the results of the stakeholder interviews indicated a focus on organizational ergonomics. The Swedish shipowners calculate the costs of sick-leave, but do not estimate the economic effects of ergonomics on a regular basis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Product and Production Development, Design & Human Factors, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden

    Cecilia Österman & Anna-Lisa Osvalder

  2. School of Technology and Health, Department of Ergonomics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Alfred Nobels Allé 10, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden

    Linda Rose

Authors
  1. Cecilia Österman
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  2. Linda Rose
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  3. Anna-Lisa Osvalder
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Correspondence to Cecilia Österman.

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Österman, C., Rose, L. & Osvalder, AL. Exploring maritime ergonomics from a bottom line perspective. WMU J Marit Affairs 9, 153–168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03195172

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