Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How to achieve an effective behavioral-based safety plan: the analysis of an attitude questionnaire for the maritime industry

  • Article
  • Published:
WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Behavioral-based safety (BBS) is an evolving process that uses positive reinforcement to change unsafe individual behavior and improve safety performance, as part of a positive safety culture. As this research indicates, BBS strongly affects the safety on maritime operations. Utilizing attitude questionnaires, this paper presents the research effort in asserting the attitudes of Greek maritime officers and their opinions in order to introduce the BBS process in the maritime domain. This paper’s scope is to present the current results of our statistical analysis on a sample of 905 Greek officers. Such a large sample provides an understanding of the behavior of respondents. The application of numerous statistical tests (Krause et al., Safety Sci 32:1–18, 1999) and factor analysis in this population showed that fatigue perception, communication climate, stress recognition, teamwork climate, perception of management, safety culture, and human limitations are the nontechnical aspects that influence the performance of maritime officers. The findings of NTUA’s research highlight the importance of specific nontechnical skills such as fatigue or communication that seem to contribute to the effective implementation of BBS in the maritime industry. Indicatively, it is surprising that although officers recognize fatigue as the main cause of human error in the maritime environment, they do not suggest rest as a potential solution to overcome it. Nontechnical skills proved to have a significant, strong relationship with age, officers’ rank, and the type of vessels; in effect, employing these results may lead to the development of an efficient BBS framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnett M, Gatfield D, Pekcan C (2006) Non-technical skills: the vital ingredient in world maritime technology? Proceedings of the International Conference on World Maritime Technology, London: Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology

  • Bartholomew DJ, Steele F, Galbraith J, Moustaki I (2008) Analysis of multivariate social science data, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall/CRC, New York, Statistics in the social and behavioral sciences series. ISBN 1584889608

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton R, Tardif P (2002) Implementing successful incentive programs within transport fleets. Proceedings of the international truck & bus safety & policy symposium, Center for Transportation Research, University of Tennessee, and National Safety Council, Knoxville, 3–5 April 2002, pp 45–55

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (2002) National census of fatal injuries in 2001. Report USDL 02-541. US Department of Labor. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

  • Child D (1990) The essentials of factor analysis, 2nd edn. Cassel Educational Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Child D (2006) The essentials of factor analysis, 3rd edn. Continuum International, New York. ISBN 978-0-8264-8000-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Crichton M (2005) Attitudes to teamwork, leadership, and stress in oil industry drilling teams. Original Research Article Safety Science 43(9):679–696

    Google Scholar 

  • DePasquale J, Geller S (2009) Critical success factors for behavior-based safety: a study of twenty industry-wide applications. J Saf Res 30(4):237–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devriendt E, Van den Heede K, Coussement J, Dejaeger E, Surmont K, Heylen D, Schwendimann R, Sexton B, Wellens N, Boonen S, Milisen K (2012) Content validity and internal consistency of the Dutch translation of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire: an observational study. Int J Nurs Stud 49:327–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flin R, O’Connor P, Crichton M (2008) Safety at the sharp end: a guide to non-technical skills. Ashgate, Hampshire

    Google Scholar 

  • Geller ES (2001) Behavior-based safety in industry: realizing the large-scale potential of psychology to promote human welfare. Original Research Article Applied and Preventive Psychology 10(2):87–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Geller ES, Williams J (2000) Behavior-based intervention for occupational safety: critical impact of social comparison feedback. J Saf Res 31(3):135–142, Autumn 2000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guastello S (2006) Human factors engineering and ergonomics: a systems approach. CRC, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Hantula DA, DeNicolis Bragger J, Rajala A (2001) Slips and falls in stores and malls: implications for community-based prevention. J Prev Interv Community 22:67–80

  • Hartland G (1998) Behavioural safety in the marine sector. http://www.he-alert.org/filemanager/root/site_assets/standalone_pdfs_0355-/HE00445.pdf. Accessed 2014

  • Harvey NS (1991) The development and descriptive use of the Lithium Attitudes Questionnaire. Original Research Article Journal of Affective Disorders 22(4):211–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher L (1994) A step by step approach to using the SAS system for factor analysis and structural equation modeling. SAS Institute Inc., Cary

    Google Scholar 

  • Havold JI (2010) Safety culture and safety management aboard tankers. Reliab Eng Syst Safe 95(5):511–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helmreich RL, Foushee HC (1993) Why crew resource management? Empirical and theoretical bases of human factors training in aviation. In: Wiener E, Kanki B, Helmreich R (eds) Cockpit Resource Management. Academic, San Diego, pp 3–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Helmreich RL, Wilhelm JA, Klinect JR, Merritt AC (1999) Culture, error and crew resource management. In: Salas E, Bowers CA, Edens E (eds) Applying resource management in organizations: a guide for professionals. Erlbaum, Hillsdale

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington C, Flin R, Mearns K (2006) Safety in shipping: the human element. J Saf Res 37:401–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickman J, Geller S (2003) A safety self-management intervention for mining operations. J Saf Res 34:299–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickman J, Knipling R, Hanowski R, Douglas W, Inderbitzen R, Bergoffen G (2007) Impact of behavior based safety techniques on commercial motor vehicle drivers. Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C. pp 24–33

  • Horizon Project (2012) Horizon Project—a wake-up call. Research Report. http://www.project-horizon.eu. Accessed 2013

  • ΙΜΟ (2001) Guidance in fatigue mitigation and management. IMO Document MSC/Circ.1014 Dated July 12, 2001. London: IMO

  • ΙΜΟ (2010) Adoption of the final act and any instruments, resolutions and recommendations resulting from the work of the conference. IMO Document STCW/CONF.2/32 Dated July 1, 2010. London: IMO

  • Krause TR, Seymour KJ, Sloat K (1999) Long-term evaluation of a behavior-based method for improving safety performance: a meta-analysis of 73 interrupted time-series replications. Safety Sci 32(1):1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauber JK (1984) Resource management in the cockpit. Air Line Pilot, September, Vol 54, No 9.

  • Likert R (1932) A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology 140:1–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Lützhöft MH, Dekker SWA (2002) On your watch: automation on the bridge. J Navig 55(1):83–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maersk (2005) The behavioral process can help you. www.seaskill.com. Accessed 2013

  • Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) (2004) Bridge watchkeeping safety study.

  • Martinez de Oses X, Ventikos NP (2003) A critical assessment of human element regarding maritime safety: issues of planning, policy and practice. http://upcommons.upc.edu/e-prints/bitstream/2117/530/1/Marine%20SafetyHuman%20Factor%20paper%20.pdf. Accessed 2013

  • Melton D, Carver C (2012) Managing commercial auto risk by managing driver behavior. White paper

  • Miller TR (1997) Estimating the costs of injury to US employers. J Saf Res 28(1):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally JC (1978) Psychometric theory, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien G, Barnard L, Pearson J, Rippon L (2002) Behavioural phenotypes of genetic syndromes: summaries including notes on management and therapy. In: O’Brien G (ed) Behavioural phenotypes in clinical practice. Mac Keith, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagge J (2007) A simulation approach on Cronbach’s alpha statistical significance. Original Research Article Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 73(5):336–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson D, Huang D, Fairbanks R, Wang H (2010) The emergency medical services safety attitudes questionnaire. Am J Med Qual 25:109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rigaud E, Lutzhoft M, Kircher A, Schröder-Hinrichs JU, Baldauf M, Jenvald J, Porathe T (2012) Impact: more than maritime risk assessment. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences 48s, pp 1848–1854, doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.1159

  • Schröder-Hinrichs JU (2010) Human factors in the maritime world: are we keeping up to speed? WMU J Marit Aff 9:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schröder-Hinrichs JU, Baldauf M, Ghirxi K (2011) Accident investigation reporting deficiencies related to organizational factors in machinery space fires and explosions. Journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention 43:1187–1196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schröder-Hinrichs JU, Hollnagel E, Baldauf M (2012) From Titanic to Costa Concordia—a century of lessons not learned. WMU J Marit Aff 11:151–167. doi:10.1007/s13437-012-0032-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schröder-Hinrichs JU, Hollnagel E, Baldauf M, Hofmann S, Kataria A (2013) Maritime human factors and IMO policy. Marit Policy Manag 40(3):243–260. doi:10.1080/03088839.2013.782974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuman H, Presser S (1979) The open and closed question. Am Sociol Rev 44(5):692–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith A, Allen P, Wadsworth E (2006) Seafarer fatigue: the Cardiff research programme. http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/research_report_464.pdf. Accessed 2013

  • Sulzer-Azaroff B, Austin J (2000) Does BBS work? Behavior-based safety and injury reduction: a survey of the evidence. Prof Saf 45(7):19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Transportation (2007) Behavior-based safety at Amtrak Chicago associated with reduced injuries and costs

  • Ventikos NP, Lyridis DV, Lykos GV, Logothetis T (2010) Identifying and assessing non-technical skills on Greek maritime officers: the story under the spotlight. In Proceedings of the Human Performance at Sea (HPAS 2010) Glasgow, pp.433-442

  • Wilde GS, Saccomanno F, Shortreed J (1996) Improving trucking safety and profitability through safety incentive schemes. Truck safety: perceptions and reality. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Institute for Risk Research, University of Waterloo, pp 21–252

  • Wilpert B (1994) Industrial/organizational psychology and ergonomics toward more comprehensive work sciences. In Proceedings of the 12th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, vol. 1: pp 37–40

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work reported in this paper has been actively supported by the personnel and acting students of the Center of Education for Mercantile Marine Deck and Engine Officers; they all willingly dedicated their valuable time and experience in the presented research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., Zografou, Athens, 15773, Greece

    Nikolaos P. Ventikos & Ioanna I. Padouva

  2. School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 52 Neoptolemou St., Vyronas, 16232, Greece

    Georgios V. Lykos

Authors
  1. Nikolaos P. Ventikos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georgios V. Lykos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ioanna I. Padouva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgios V. Lykos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ventikos, N.P., Lykos, G.V. & Padouva, I.I. How to achieve an effective behavioral-based safety plan: the analysis of an attitude questionnaire for the maritime industry. WMU J Marit Affairs 13, 207–230 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-014-0061-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-014-0061-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation