5.1
Relevant factors - Relevant factors
are descriptors of a safety issue. In the case of these guidelines,
the relevant factors describe engine-room safety in terms of the human
element aspects that are affected by layout, design and arrangement.
5.2
Engine room - For the purposes
of these guidelines, the engine-room is considered to be a space or
spaces containing propelling machinery, boilers, oil fuel units, generators,
and major electrical machinery, and includes auxiliary machinery spaces,
store rooms, workshops, machine shops, the shaft alley, and the steering
gear room.
5.3
Familiarity - This relevant factor
addresses the relationship between engine-room safety and efficiency
and crew member familiarity with layout, equipment, systems, procedures,
alarms, signs and symbols. Maximizing crew member familiarity will
result in fewer accidents due to errors in reading instruments and
mix-identifying equipment.
5.4
Occupational health - This relevant
factor addresses the effect of engine-room environment on crew member
health and performance. Enhancing workplace comfort will result in
fewer accidents caused by psychological and physiological stresses.
5.5
Ergonomics - This relevant factor
addresses the sensory connections between crew members and engine-room
equipment, controls, instruments and alarms and the typical needs
of personnel working in the engine-room. Considering personnel needs
and designing human-machine interfaces that recognize human capabilities
will minimize accidents due to human limitations and tendencies.
5.6
Survivability - This relevant
factor addresses the crew's capability to survive an emergency in
the engine-room. Giving rational consideration to possible emergency
conditions, the placement of emergency equipment, and the routine
duty stations of and typical routes taken by crew members, will maximize
the chances of crew survival.
5.7
Minimizing risk through design, layout
and arrangement - This relevant factor addresses the affects
of physical configuration on engine-room safety. Creating an engine-room
configuration through a detailed, systems perspective will remove
impediments to efficient engine room operations and minimize the chance
that an accident involving one piece of equipment will affect the
operability or performance of another piece of equipment.