What is a key function of the PQS program regarding watchstanding?

The PQS (Personal Qualification Standards) program plays a crucial role in defining operational standards and duties for watchstanding personnel. This program sets clear expectations for the knowledge and skills required for specific roles, ensuring that individuals understand their responsibilities during watchstanding. It outlines the competencies that must be mastered for effective performance, which contributes to the overall safety and efficiency of operations aboard a vessel or in a facility. By having a structured framework of qualifications, the PQS program helps maintain high standards of performance and accountability within watchstanding teams, fostering a culture of preparedness and proficiency.

The other options, while important in their own right, do not encapsulate the primary focus of the PQS program. Emergency procedures, personal information, and communication protocols are all necessary aspects of watchstanding, but the defining of operational standards and duties is what the PQS program specifically aims to address.