Fatigue Research Improves Regulatory Effectiveness

Many railroad employees work split shifts. In split shifts, individuals work during peak hours and have a long (at least four hours) off-duty break between periods. In response to Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 stipulations regarding hours of service in rail passenger transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) studied the fatigue impacts of split shifts. Findings indicate that split-shift workers worked slightly fewer hours on average than non-split shift employees. The majority of split-shift workers used the interim release for napping and were less fatigued than other train employees. Consequently, FRA’s regulation has allowed split shifts and interim release to continue in passenger rail service.

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/169265.aspx
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
• Authors:
  • Raslear, Thomas G
  • Brennan, Colleen A
• Publication Date: 2013-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p 37
• Serial:
  • TR News
  • Issue Number: 286
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fatigue (Physiological condition); Hours of labor; Passenger trains; Railroad safety; Regulations; Rest periods; Train crews
• Identifier Terms: Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008; U.S. Federal Railroad Administration
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01489838
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 15 2013 9:43AM