Management of Fatigue, Safety Challenges Encountered by Technicians and Engineers and enhancing their performance at Offshore Wind Farms.

将技术人员运送和转移到距离海岸不同距离的海上风力发电场，并将他们送回基地，会产生不同的人为因素挑战。由于目前的知识非常有限，海上O&M技术人员在具有挑战性的环境和工作条件下所经历的疲劳是最重要的课题之一，需要进一步研究。G+全球海上风电健康与安全组织在其2019年海上风电事故数据报告中指出，随着全球装机容量的增加和全球劳动力的增长，海上风电场工人面临的潜在风险一直在增加。同一份报告还强调了海上风电工人的“总可记录伤害率”（TRIR）和“失时伤害频率”（ltf）的显著增加。这是非常令人担忧的，因为海上风电行业的LTIRF为2.77，而整个海上工业（包括石油和天然气）的LTIRF为0.52。同样，海上风电行业的TRIR为2.77，而整个海上工业（包括石油和天然气）的TRIR为1.69。被运送到海上风电场进行安装和运维活动的技术人员和工程师面临着不同的危险，例如：起重作业-进入/出口-手动处理-日常维护-手动工具/电动工具（与之一起工作）-高空作业-船舶操作（包括自升式和驳船）-操作设备和机械-船员转运船。研究强调，疲劳和认知功能下降之间存在既定的联系，比如反应速度变慢、处理信息的能力下降、记忆力减退、健忘和注意力不集中。这可能导致诸如事故和伤害等不良后果，并对健康产生影响。此外，这也可能显著影响生产力。报告还强调，目前，与其他行业（如航空、铁路等）不同，离岸行业没有建立衡量、记录或评估认知或身体疲劳的指导方针。在同一个研讨会上，支持这些政策的知识差距被确定为：-疲劳和心理健康-轮班前和轮班后的影响-轮班模式-海上住宿-转移模式-工作类型在海上风电领域，知识差距甚至更大，因为该行业最近才开始经历真正的运营挑战，这些挑战将危及工人的安全，同时阻碍海上涡轮机的发电。这项博士研究的主要目的是通过考虑整个操作阶段，为海上风电场工人制定综合安全、疲劳和性能管理策略。具体目标-确定包括潜在原因的海上风电场技术人员是否会感到疲劳，以及疲劳是否会影响他们的工作表现以及他们的健康和福祉。-调查恶劣的环境条件对技术人员在海上风电场运输过程中的影响；执行他们的任务；下班后到岸上或岸上基地的运输，以及这些不利条件对其安全、健康和福利的影响。-确定工作班次的开始时间，长度和加班时间对技术人员绩效的影响，包括工程师的决策过程。-整理技术员所经历的任何工伤、未遂事故或事故的数据。-通过考虑不同的环境、任务、运输和住宿因素，为海上风电场工人开发综合疲劳、安全和绩效管理模型，通过考虑工人的安全、疲劳健康和绩效，确定最优的运维策略。

Transporting and transferring the technicians to offshore wind farms, which are located in varying distances from shore, and returning them to the base, create different human factors challenges. Fatigue, experienced by the offshore O&M technicians, who are exposed to challenging environmental and working conditions, is one of the most important topics which requires further studies because the current knowledge is very limited.G+ Global Offshore Wind Health & Safety Organisation indicated in their 2019 Offshore Wind Accident data report that as installed capacity increases around the world, and the global workforce grows, the potential exposure of the offshore wind farmworkers to the risk has been increasing. The same report highlighted a significant increase in 'Total recordable injury rate (TRIR)' and 'Lost time injury frequency (LTIF)' among the offshore wind workers. This is significantly worrying as LTIRF in Offshore Wind Industry is 2.77 compared to 0.52 in the whole offshore industry (including oil and gas). Similarly, TRIR for Offshore Wind industry is 2.77 compared to 1.69 in whole offshore industry (incl. oil & gas). Technicians and engineers who have been transported to the offshore wind farms to perform installation and O&M activities are exposed to different hazards, such as:-Lifting operations-Access/egress-Manual handling-Routine maintenance-Hand tools/power-tools (working with)-Working at heights-Vessel operation (including jackups and barges)-Operating plant and machinery-Transit by Crew Transfer VesselsIn a recent workshop organised by UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was highlighted that there is an established link between fatigue and reduced cognitive functions such as slower reactions, ability to process information, memory lapses, absent-minded slips and lack of attention. This can result in adverse consequences such as accidents and injuries as well as having an impact on health. Furthermore, this may also significantly influence productivity.It also highlighted that currently, the offshore sector does not have established guidelines, unlike other sectors (e.g. aviation, rail etc) to measure, record or assess cognitive or physical fatigue. In the same workshop, the knowledge gaps to support the policies were identified as:-Fatigue & mental health-Pre and post-shift influences-Shift patterns-Accommodation offshore-Mode of transfer-Type of workIn the offshore wind sector, the knowledge gap is even wider as the industry has only recently started experiencing real operational challenges that will risk worker's safety while preventing electricity production from offshore turbines.The main aim of this PhD study is to develop an integrated safety, fatigue and performance management strategy for offshore wind farm workers by taking into account the whole stages of the operations.Specific objectives-To determine including the underlying reasons whether offshore wind farm technicians experience fatigue and whether it affects their performance as well as their health and wellbeing.-To investigate how adverse environmental conditions affect technicians during transportation to the offshore wind farms; performing their tasks; post-work transportation to the shore or onshore base, and in addition the effect of these adverse conditions on their safety, health and wellbeing.-To determine the effect of work shifts in terms of starting time, length and overtime on technicians' performance, including the decision making process for engineers.-To collate data about any work-related injuries, near misses or accidents the technicians experienced.-To develop integrated fatigue, safety and performance management model for offshore wind farm workers by taking varying environmental, task and transport and accommodation factors to identify the most optimum O&M strategies by taking into account, safety, fatigue wellbeing of workers and performance.