Crew Endurance Management System – A Solution To Overcome Fatigue
Crew Endurance Management System, generally called as CEMS is an outcome of a research on sleep. The research was conducted by the U.S. Army and Coast Guard for a period of 25 years. This system is considered as a worthy technique to manage the risk factors that contribute to fatigue. The prime find of the research is that when a crew member’s endurance is high, the safety and productivity of the crew member is equivalently better.
The most important risk factors figured in CEMS which are prone to influence and affect the crew endurance and contribute to the fatigue are:
- Environmental (vessel movement, noise, harsh weather conditions)
- Operational (work schedules, irregular work hours, heavy workloads)
- Physiological (sleep, proper nutrition, lack of exercise)
- Psychological (emotional state, stress levels, separation from family and close friends)
To overcome these challenges, CEMS helps the crew members by giving adequate awareness and educational training programs. These programs mainly focus on healthier choices. For instance, one aspect of the program focussed on the knowing the facts about having caffeinated beverages. The crew members were advised not to consume medications consisting of caffeine four hours before the bedtime as it may not support their sleep.
Other related healthy tips that come handy in improving the energy levels are:
- Avoiding heavy meals within four hours of sleep, since heavier meals will keep you awake.
- Drink water on a regular basis to stay adequately hydrated.
- Knowing and eating the best types of foods for your body and work environment.
- Doing Exercise on a regular basis to increase cognitive thinking, alertness and manage stress.
- Wearing appropriate clothing for the working environment to reduce stress on the body.
- Avoiding noisy tasks when crew members are trying to sleep.
- Reducing stress by taking advantage of company stress management programs.
- Maintaining good communication and rapport with others.
The objective of CEMS was to systematically factor in known risks and find out possible solutions to overcome fatigue and also to provide flexibility to a company to design a plan according to the company’s unique operation. To explore more about CEMS and to download helpful tools, visit the U.S. Coast Guard website here.
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Source: The Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) Awareness Workbook
