Fatigue
By tackling fatigue, we can improve the health and wellbeing of the workforce as well as everyone’s safety
Fatigue continues to be a key safety consideration; it increases the chance of other accidents occurring and is often listed as a causal factor in major accidents.
In August, RAIB published its investigation into the collision between two freight trains at Loversall Carr Junction on 05 July 2022. It found that this was because the driver had experienced a loss of awareness while driving. This was probably due to the effects of fatigue. RSSB are currently supporting the industry with the implementation of a trial for driver attention and alertness technology.
There is also a recognition in the industry that operational changes ‘on-the-day’, such as shift swapping, delays, or overtime work, can extend or change work hours unexpectedly when compared to rosters. In this way, actual work hours may differ from planned work hours. Increasing the potential for employees to experience unexpected fatigue risks. RSSB have undertaken a project to better understand current methods of recording hours and how this information is used across the rail industry.
RSSB have also undertaken an updated Rail Industry Fatigue and Alertness Survey. This follows a previous survey in 2018. The survey aims to improve understanding about the risks from fatigue in rail and support rail companies to manage it more proactively. It will also look to compare and contrast with the previous survey to understand changes since 2018. RSSB continue to facilitate four industry fatigue groups which progress projects and guidance work relevant to different parts of the rail sector.
In 2023/24 CIRAS received 21 concerns relating to fatigue (see figure), representing an increase compared to 2021/22 and 2022/23. Staff at train operating companies represented the largest share of reports, while staff at infrastructure managers had the biggest increase in reports from last year.
