CEMS

Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) is an implementation system that holistically addresses endurance in a continuous-improvement process.

In CEMS Crew Endurance is defined as “the ability to maintain performance within safety limits while enduring job-related physical, psychological, and environmental challenges.”  Crew Endurance Management is defined as “the system for managing the risk factors that can lead to human error and performance degradation in maritime work environments.”

Realistically some of these physical, psychological, and environmental challenges identified as risk factors may not be able to be reduced or eliminated.  But through the CEMS process individuals and organizations are given the education and tools to:

• identify the risk factors that may be affecting endurance and safety;
• address how to eliminate or reduce these risk factors;
• work safely while enduring the risk factors that can’t be reduced or eliminated.

CEMS Services Available (not all inclusive):

The following presentations and training services related to CEMS can be performed on-site at your office or a location of your choice for your organization.

If a presentation or training class is listed as an “Open Class” it is open to all companies and will be held at the designated location.

INTRODUCTION TO CEMS

Presentations are designed for specific audiences (i.e. – Senior or Middle Management, Vessel Captains and other Vessel Crewmembers, Shoreside Shiftworkers, Union Groups, etc.) and can be modified to fit into whatever time frame is available for your group(s).

The following is a sample outline of an Introduction to CEMS presentation:

• How fatigue can affect your type of operation
• Risk factors that can cause fatigue
• Why CEMS
• How CEMS addresses these risk factors
• How CEMS can fit into your operation

CEMS AWARENESS

Awareness training is designed for specific audiences (i.e. – Middle Management, Vessel Crewmembers, Spouses of Vessel Crewmembers, Shoreside Shiftworkers, Vessel Cooks, etc.) and can be modified to fit into whatever time frame is available for your group(s).

Awareness sessions have been used by companies to introduce their employees to CEMS prior to implementing CEMS Coaches training and a CEMS plan for the organization and individual vessels.   These sessions have taken place during vessel management meetings for wheelmen as well as meetings for engineers, tankerman, mates, cooks and deckhands.

Awareness meetings have also been given to the spouses of vessel employees individually or included in the above referenced meetings so they can have a better understanding of the CEMS program that the company is implementing to reduce fatigue and increase health and endurance for their spouses as well as how CEMS fits into their spouse’s time at home.

The following is a sample outline of a CEMS Awareness session:

• How fatigue can affect your type of operation
• Risk factors that can cause fatigue
• How CEMS addresses these risk factors
• Outline of the CEMS process
• Individual choices for addressing individual risk factors
• Basics of starting a CEMS program

CEMS COACHES TRAINING

A CEMS Coach is the most important step in the CEMS process.  This 2 day training session is a United States Coast Guard approved class which, upon completion of the class and a passing grade on the test, certifies the individual as a USCG CEMS Coach.  The Coach then has the tools to begin CEMS within the organization.

The following is a basic outline of a CEMS Coaches training agenda:

• System Concepts / Mental Models
• 5 Essential Steps (The importance of each step and how they are used to address risk factors and fatigue)
• Risk Factors (How to identify risk factors)
• Designing a Crew Endurance Plan (CEP)

CEMS IMPLEMENTATION AND CEMS RELATED SERVICES

• Oversee the initial meeting of the Management Working Group or Vessel Working Group.
• Onboard evaluations for implementation of a CEMS program.
• Audit your CEMS program.