Fatigue does not lead to specific types of incident. This has led to fatigue data not being systematically or consistently collected at industry level. But it is often a significant underlying cause in many incidents, and this lack of data has been identified as a strategic challenge in LHSBR, to be addressed in CP6.

What the rail industry is doing

Fatigue working groups are collaborating, across all sectors, to address the challenges set out in LHSBR and have developed a roadmap of activities. That roadmap will help the industry to work towards its vision: Work practices that manage fatigue and reduce the associated health and safety risk are embedded in the industry. All aspects of work, including travel, are designed so that fatigue risk is minimised, and everyone understands their role in managing fatigue.

Strategic challenges—what industry wants to do

Our roadmap highlights that we will need to collaborate to develop and promote best-in-class practices to:

  • proactively minimise occupational fatigue risk through the design of working patterns
  • effectively control excessive working hours
  • transform fitness for duty decisions and fatigue reporting processes, as critical components for managing fatigue risk
  • embed a thorough understanding of fatigue as a catalyst for a cultural shift, so that everyone actively participates in managing the risk
  • create a step-change in the management of fatigue through data-driven mechanisms for continual improvement.

At RSSB we are providing the workspaces for collaboration across the industry so rail can access the right data and insights, and so make good decisions about how to monitor and improve safety, health and wellbeing.

How to get involved

There are many opportunities for you to contribute to leading health and safety on Britain’s railway.

  • Industry is particularly encouraged to work with, or join, the Rail Wellbeing Alliance, which oversees the delivery of this chapter of the strategy.
  • The Fatigue Coordination Group brings together the activities of the Train Operating Companies’ Fatigue Working Group, the ISLG Fatigue Working Group, and the NFSG Fatigue Subgroup.

Training

RSSB offers Human Factors Awareness Training to help operators better understand why people make mistakes. This explores factors that can influence human performance such as health and wellbeing, workload, and organisational culture.

RSSB also offers a fair culture workshop to help you better understand fair culture and plan how your organisation can foster a fairer culture, to improve understanding and management of fatigue. Email: training@rssb.co.uk for more information.

 

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