Assessing WBV Exposure and Implementing Improvements on Small Craft
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was established in 1824, and now operates 340 lifeboats from 236 locations with approximately 4800 volunteer crew. Operating in all weathers and sea conditions around the UK and Republic of Ireland, returning the crews and survivors safely back to port is paramount. In order to aid understanding and to better protect the crews, the RNLI began a series of studies including one into theoretical spinal injuries in 1999 that subsequently led to the development of a new suspension seat for the Tamar class lifeboat.
The most recent study began in 2008 looking at boat motions in order to establish the current levels of risk associated with shock and vibration for crews across the different classes in the RNLI fleet. This has grown into an organisation wide WBV project to encompass all aspects including technical, training and occupational health. The problems, challenges and lessons learned of achieving reliable data collection of sufficient quality in a difficult environment on a variety of lifeboat equipment is discussed. Trials on the fully enclosed, self-righting ‘All Weather’ lifeboats, inshore Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), fully inflatable inshore and surf rescue boats have been carried out with some unexpected results having been recorded. These have yet to be fully explained and further work will be undertaken.
The testing carried out and results obtained has facilitated the design and development of a new RIB seat. In addition, there are current tasks looking at improving existing seats on older classes and protection to vibration and shock whilst steering from a standing position on the larger classes. All the resulting solutions must be capable of being retrofitted to and around existing structures without impacting on the operational needs of the crew or vessel.
Pete Sheppard - Senior Naval Architect, RNLI
Pete joined the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 2006 with extensive knowledge and experience in composites and boat building. He has been responsible for structural design, resolving production and processing issues during the construction of lifeboats and specifying and overseeing structural repairs and upgrades of existing boats.
In addition, Pete has been running a program of measurement, research and development into Whole Body Vibration monitoring and its effects across the RNLI’s fleet. He has started to combine this learning with the particular human factors seen on Search and Rescue vessels. This has led to the design of a new non-suspension shock mitigating seating for Atlantic 85 RIBs that are now being fitted across the fleet.
Pete is providing technical input to the RNLI’s response to the EU whole body and hand arm vibration legislation. This has included setting up testing programs, data analysis, prototyping new seat designs and assessing ergonomics as well as a viability study into real-time posture analysis at sea.
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NEXT GEN Workshops PRESENTATION: Pete Sheppard
Assessing WBV Exposure and Implementing Improvements on Small Craft