1. ASTM F1166: Standard Practice for Human Engineering Design for Marine Systems, Equipment and Facilities
Presentation to the
2008 DoD Standardization Program Conference
6 March 2008
Dr. Daniel Wallace, NAVSEA 05H
NAVSEA Dahlgren

2. Quick Document Summary
DoD was moving from MIL-STD’s to “Commercial” specifications in the late 1980’s
Navy sought commercial replacements for MIL-STD’s including MIL-STD-1472
Navy wanted sponsorship or endorsement of new specifications by respected standards organizations
ASTM F was published in 1988
Why away from MIL-STDS?
Longevity shows utility, but was ready for updates/corrections
Original typos can still be found in the current version

3. Commercial Standard Necessity
HFE standards must evolve with technology
MIL-STD 1472 was difficult/cumbersome to revise
MIL-STD 1472 did not address maritime-specific issues adequately
New HFE research became available
ASTM is cited in virtually every Navy ship spec as THE design standard for HFE
Since Gerry wrote original 18 years ago, he has since gained more experience as the state of HFE in shipbuilding has changes. More often than not, the technical criteria have become more stringent.
One major goal was to make the document itself in appearance, more usable. How can we preach usability with a document that is difficult to use?

4. Document Revisions Revisions in 1995, 2000 and 2006
Major revision began in the fall of 2005
Feedback from ASTM F1166 users
Personal experience of authors using ASTM F1166
Conducting incident and accident investigations
Consulting to shipyards, naval architects, shipping and offshore companies

5. ASTM F1166 Use Navy Ships and systems beginning in the early 1990’s
Offshore Rigs, Platforms and Supply Boats beginning in May of 1990

6. Revision Needs
Need to improve the ease of finding a specific design criteria based upon improved organization and formatting
Need to place tables and figures closer to referencing text
Need to set minimum font size for text and visual aids
Need for emphasis on design for international populations
Need to include most recent maritime HFE research
ASTM is cited in virtually every Navy ship spec as THE design standard for HFE
Since Gerry wrote original 18 years ago, he has since gained more experience as the state of HFE in shipbuilding has changes. More often than not, the technical criteria have become more stringent.
One major goal was to make the document itself in appearance, more usable. How can we preach usability with a document that is difficult to use?

7. Revision Needs
Need to be more compliant with other current HFE design standards
Need to address new U.S. Navy modes of operation
Need for inclusion of a design checklist tied to ASTM
Need for prioritization of design requirements, e.g. those that “shall”, “should” or “may” be followed
Need for input and review of standard by HFE professionals with experience in both commercial and military sectors
ASTM is cited in virtually every Navy ship spec as THE design standard for HFE
Since Gerry wrote original 18 years ago, he has since gained more experience as the state of HFE in shipbuilding has changes. More often than not, the technical criteria have become more stringent.
One major goal was to make the document itself in appearance, more usable. How can we preach usability with a document that is difficult to use?

8. Revision Goals
Update the format to make the document more usable in terms of format and presentation of information
Update and prioritize the technical content to meet the technical demands of current marine systems
Make the revised document more compatible with other current HFE design standards
ASTM is cited in virtually every Navy ship spec as THE design standard for HFE
Since Gerry wrote original 18 years ago, he has since gained more experience as the state of HFE in shipbuilding has changes. More often than not, the technical criteria have become more stringent.
One major goal was to make the document itself in appearance, more usable. How can we preach usability with a document that is difficult to use?

9. How it looks today…

10. New Organization and Format
“Information Mapping™” Format
Improved readability, search and navigation
Individual chapters
Each with its own table of contents and index
Each can be utilized as a stand-alone document
1. By breaking text into chunks. Information mapping uses formatting to help locate and read content. Line breaks and spacing are also used. Each new topic starts on a new page. Lines are not present where subjects or figures run over to the next page.
2. Each chapter as stand-alone document for ship designers that may just have a need for one subject, i.e. ladders. Which is why we have a copy in a binder to show how individual; chapters can be removed for use.

11. Organization and Format
Master Table of Contents
Greater cross-referencing of chapters
Minimal duplication of information
Emphasis on placing figures and tables immediately following references in text
The document opens with a Master TOC that covers the entire document. First thing in document.
Based on feedback on the earlier revisions, care was taken to keep the artwork and tables adjacent to the subject text.
Although there is some duplication for significant issues, ie. barriers in hazards and safety as well in workplace design, care was taken to minimize multiple instances of the same information. Rather, the applicable chapters were referenced.

12. Organization and Format
HFE Design Checklist
Critical design development and verification tool
The document opens with a Master TOC that covers the entire document. First thing in document.
Based on feedback on the earlier revisions, care was taken to keep the artwork and tables adjacent to the subject text.
Although there is some duplication for significant issues, ie. barriers in hazards and safety as well in workplace design, care was taken to minimize multiple instances of the same information. Rather, the applicable chapters were referenced.

13. Technical Content Omission of unnecessary criteria:
Technical data requirements included in the original standard found to be of no, or limited, value in the design of marine equipment
Explanatory or justification information simply supporting a particular design requirement.
The goal is to ensure that the ASTM F1166 appear more like a design standard than a text book on HFE design.
For example, there is a new requirement for extended handrails heights when ladders are placed 6 feet from the edge of the deck. This is based on SMEs experience where three individuals died due to a situation that could have been prevented with this design.
For example, stairs and ladders are a growing problem identified by safety center data so increased attention to design criteria. Additionally HCI is an ever-growing area of visibility for modern ships and maritime structures and the criteria received due updates.
Also based on the hands-on experience of HFE SMEs, there are departures from past acceptable practices that will better suit the safety of personnel.
- Up to 50 degrees is acceptable, but over that is not recommended unlike most incline ladders on Navy ships- Ladder stringers should be round pipe only. - Hazard labels have been reduced from 3 to two, danger and caution. Study showed that sailors do not know the difference between caution and warning. Labels have the same rules for identification labels whether on console or mimic of console. Different rules for windows and HCI applications.

14. Technical Content
New design criteria based on ship and offshore HFE design and research experience
Some requirements originate directly from the experiences of the authors, HFE reviewers and SMEs
Emphasis on new design data to prevent known ship accidents and/or to provide for areas of importance in coming new ship/structure designs
New design criteria for access aids throughout vessel or structure
Maximum stair angle
Fall protection on vertical ladders
Number of levels of hazard warnings (two rather than three)
Improved HCI design criteria
For example, there is a new requirement for extended handrails heights when ladders are placed 6 feet from the edge of the deck. This is based on SMEs experience where three individuals died due to a situation that could have been prevented with this design.
For example, stairs and ladders are a growing problem identified by safety center data so increased attention to design criteria. Additionally HCI is an ever-growing area of visibility for modern ships and maritime structures and the criteria received due updates.
Also based on the hands-on experience of HFE SMEs, there are departures from past acceptable practices that will better suit the safety of personnel.
- Up to 50 degrees is acceptable, but over that is not recommended unlike most incline ladders on Navy ships- Ladder stringers should be round pipe only. - Hazard labels have been reduced from 3 to two, danger and caution. Study showed that sailors do not know the difference between caution and warning. Labels have the same rules for identification labels whether on console or mimic of console. Different rules for windows and HCI applications.

15. Technical Content Significant effort to quantify the requirements
Minimal use of terms “as much as possible” or “minimize” or “as appropriate”
Broader range of reference documents (ILO, ABS, other ASTM)
Greater use of ABS influence from the commercial sector
Minimal Habitability data
Focus on ambient environment criteria (noise, vibration, lighting and climate)
The previous version went to lengths to explain why the criteria were what they were.
Leaving criteria open to interpretation only leads to potential for poor design. Again, more stringent, tighter requirements.
Multiple interdisciplinary and international references provided a comprehensive base for the revision.

16. Technical Content
Greater emphasis on international users with international anthropometry data
In “Anthropometry” chapter as well as “Access Aids”, “Workstation Design” and “Valve” chapters
Greater appreciation to international design community
Great care was taken in creating the new tables that include considerations for international populations, sometimes days to make sure all figures for international populations were reasonable.
Not just in Anthropometry, but other chapters reflect the ability to address international populations.

17. Technical Content Increased quality and use of visual aids
Tables larger, new figures generated for unique issues
Goal is to prevent what happened with past 1166 when ASTM reformatted making some tables and figures unreadable.
There are many new figures made specifically to illustrate new requirements. For instance, the extended handrails for ladders with safety cages within 6 feet of the deck edge
All include metric/std units

18. Results Vastly improved readability and usability
Incorporates many years of HFE lessons learned onboard ships
More robust and relevant design criteria for modern maritime industry
Incorporates international requirements
Better meets needs of both military and commercial industries including tie-ins with ABS Guides
Inclusion of checklist makes application easier for users
Overall, a far superior HFE Standard for the Maritime industry in terms of completeness, relevance and usability
e.g., Shell Oil intends to adopt this revision as their HFE standard.

19. Credits Original Sponsor: Mr. Bob Bost, NAVSEA (Ret.)
Original Primary Author:
Gerry Miller, G.E. Miller and Associates
Co-Authors:
Christopher Parker, BMT Designers and Planners, Inc.
Larry Avery, BMT Designers and Planners, Inc.
Contributing Organization:
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)

20. Questions?