Self-Assessment and Working time on Nut Size Distinction Skill of Marine Engineers

A rule of thumb for marine engineers is that if a marine engineer has much experience in maintaining machines, the marine engineer can distinguish the size of the tool (spanner or wrench) required for removing machine nuts or bolts by mere observation [1]. This study investigates whether this rule of thumb is related to self-assessment and working time for the distinction of nuts. The participants in this experiment were marine engineering students without practical experience. The experiment included visual and hand conditions. The experiment place was not only a ship engine room but a training room where noise, high temperature, and the smell of fuel oil in the marine engine plant were not experienced by the students. The results showed that the number of the nuts accurately distinguished was unaffected by working hours and self-assessment of the participants who had a boarding history of 12 months on the training ship. Safe operation on marine engine plants must rely on the skills of marine engineers, such as a nut size distinction skill.