2001-2002 OTRC Project: HUMAN FACTORS WORKSHOP
OBJECTIVE:
Represent and support the MMS’s interests and sponsorship for the OTRC in the 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations being conducted by RRS Engineering (April 2002). The objectives of the Workshop include:
- Establish human factor awareness
- Promote use of human factors to personnel and organizations
- Identify tools for accident prevention
- Provide an international forum for human factor discussions and learnings
APPROACH:
Work with RRS Engineering and others on the organizing committee to plan and execute the Workshop and participate in the Workshop.
DEPLOYMENT OF RESULTS:
Disseminate information before the workshop so that interested sponsors has the opportunity to attend and participate. Disseminate an executive summary to sponsors after the workshop.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT DURATION: 1 year
PROJECT PLAN FOR YEAR 1 (2001-2002):
Scope of Work: Participate in organizational meetings, organize and chair sessions, recruit workshop participants, participate in the workshop, disseminate information to sponsors.
Anticipated Results: A successful workshop that represents OTRC and MMS well and that engages the industrial sponsors.SPONSORSHIP: MMS
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S) & OTHERS INVOLVED IN PROJECT:
Robert B. Gilbert
Date: December 2002
Project Name: Support 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations
Project Number: 32558-5888N Task Order: 18172
Principal Investigators: Robert Gilbert
Completion Date: August 2002
Project Description:
Support and participate in the 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations on behalf of OTRC and the MMS.
Progress:The organizing committee was supported in its planning and preparing for the workshop by (1) reviewing the white papers for the workshop sessions; (2) arranging for student volunteers to help with registration and A/V needs and to serve as scribes in workshop sessions; (3) providing input on logistical issues such as facilities and costs; and (4) providing shuttle buses from the university to help defer costs. The Human Factors workshop was successfully held in April 2002. The PI and two graduate students from The University of Texas at Austin and one graduate student from Texas A&M University attended. At present, the PI is helping review the final workshop proceedings, which should be published on a CD in the next several months.
Major learnings from participation in the workshop include:
· The availability of systematic techniques to both understand and reduce the impact of human factors on engineering performance is impressive and exciting. [The importance of human factors had become evident from our earlier MMS project (Comparative Risks of Deepwater Production Systems) in which the oil spill and human safety risks for different deepwater production systems in the Gulf of Mexico were assessed and compared. In reviewing historical data, the majority of causes for oil spills and human fatalities were related to human factors.]
· An exposure to the discipline of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) and how to integrate HFE into design and operation. It was an eye-opening event for the students because very little if any of their engineering education in undergraduate or graduate school touches on the importance of human factors. All commented on how much they learned and how they would like to learn more about human factors in their education and would like to make use of this information in practice after graduation.Participation in this workshop led to the following initiatives:
1. A list of Human Factors-related courses that are available at Texas A&M and UT for undergraduate and graduate students is being compiled. Through OTRC, this list will be made available to the faculty and students so that they will have the opportunity to include one or two courses in their curriculum to give them some background knowledge on Human Factors Engineering.
2. A one-day short course on Human Factors Engineering for practitioners and graduate students has been developed. Three members of the workshop organizing committee will lecture in this course: Gerry Miller, an independent consultant in HFE; Johan Hendrikse with Paragon; and Denise McCafferty with ABS. The course will be offered in Houston this spring.
3. The PI co-chaired a working group on floating production systems at the subsequent MMS workshop on Fire and Blast Considerations for the Design of Offshore Structures. As a result of the Human Factors workshop, the importance of human factors in engineering performance was highlighted in the working group discussions and the white paper referenced below.
4. Gerry Miller has been invited to give an OTRC-sponsored seminar at UT this spring on Human Factors in offshore engineering.
Reports & Publications (Related):
Aggarwal, R., Gilbert, R., Nesje, J. D., Dahlsveen, J. and Tveit, O. (2002), “Floating Production and Storage Systems – Fire & Blast Considerations for Future Design of Offshore Platforms,” Draft White Paper, MMS Fire and Blast Workshop, Houston, Texas.
OTRC PROJECT STATUS REPORTProject Name: Support 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations
Task Order: 18172 Project Number: 5888N1
Principal Investigators: Bob Gilbert
Estimated Completion Date: August, 2002
Project Description:
Represent OTRC and MMS in 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations.
Progress:
1. Participated in two organizing committee meetings.
2. Arranged for shuttle bus service at conference (using University vehicles to reduce costs).
3. Arranged for student volunteers to help with A/V, registration, etc.
4. Attempted to sponsor a short course on Human Factors following the conference – enrollment was low and will try again with more advanced marketing in the fall of 2002.
5. Co-chaired a working group at the related MMS workshop on Fire and Blast Design in June 2002.Reports & Publications (Related):
Aggarwal, R., Gilbert, R., Nesje, J. D., Dahlsveen, J. and Tveit, O. (2002), “Floating Production and Storage Systems – Fire & Blast Considerations for Future Design of Offshore Platforms,” Draft White Paper, MMS Fire and Blast Workshop, Houston, Texas.
OTRC PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Project Name: Support 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations
Task Order: 18172 Project Number: 5888N1
Principal Investigators: Bob Gilbert
Estimated Completion Date: August, 2002
Project Description:
Represent and support the MMS’s interests and sponsorship for the OTRC in the 2nd International Workshop on Human Factors in Offshore Operations being conducted by RRS Engineering (April 2002). The objectives of the Workshop include
· Establish human factor awareness
· Promote use of human factors to personnel and organizations
· Identify tools for accident prevention
· Provide an international forum for human factor discussions and learningsProgress:
1. Participated in two organizing committee meetings.
2. Arranged for shuttle bus service at conference (using University vehicles to reduce costs).
3. Arranging for student volunteers to help with A/V, registration, etc.
4. Promoting student participation in the event with the goal of getting at least 20 students.
5. Developing plans to sponsor a short course on Human Factors following the conference.Reports & Publications: Workshop proceedings to be published by the workshop organizer and contractor RRS Engineering