A practical case study of the relationship between work risk prevention and Fatigue at work in Spanish merchant ships

In this article, the onboard working conditions of four Spanish merchant ships are analyzed in accordance with the national and international standards across 2 years. Subsequently, it has been related with the principal accidents on board and each type of activity and working place. Results show that there is no relationship between working hours and accidents, but there is a clear influence of the working ambience. Therefore, there is a need for the actual regulations that reconsider the real compatibility among rest, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and firefighting exercises. Furthermore, another proposed correction is the coefficient that considers the indoor ambience where every different chore is performed, which must be used to correct the maximum working hours on board. A more substantial examination of different shift patterns is required; there are already clear indications of a need to reappraise traditional watch regimes on board. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.