Re: Driver Fatigue

Tezza (tezza@atinet.com.au)
Wed, 29 Apr 1998 14:04:19 +1000

Bob wrote in message <3545FC12.F311187A@fastlink.com.au>...
>The now famous phrase "driver fatigue" that is so well known with the
>roads has now spread to our railways. I caught a few words of the report
>into the Berresfield accident today as it was read out in parliment and
>one of the causes was driver fatigue. One can't help but wonder what
>will come from this? Maybe we will have trackside driver reviver stops
>with free coffee and KitKats! Better still, just stop your train every
>two hours and have a rest! I can't wait to hear the recommendations on
>how to avoid this happening again. Rule No. 412: at the intervall of
>every two hours every train will come to a complete standstill and the
>driver will consume at least 500ml of the highest grade of coffee and at
>least one Kitkat. All drivers found not following the above rule will be
>stood down untill they get a proper nights sleep.
>Bob

I'm very surprised at your attitude on this Bob.

FreightCorp released a newsletter yesterday. "The investigation took a 'no
blame' focus, a focus which has worked well in the aviation industry." This
would certainly be a novel approach for FreightCorp.

"The investigators did not find that any mechanical or signalling factor
contributed to the accident. The report found that human error was the
significant contributing factor responsible for the collision. Specifically
the report stated that 'reduced driver alertness, associated with work
related fatigue, was found to be a significant factor in the events leading
up to the collision....' "

The newsletter then went into waffle mode about how FreightCorp has been
addressing fatigue problems so if are fatigued it's your own fault.

"The management of fatigue is a two-way process. An effective rostering
system and fatigue management program needs to be balanced by an employee's
lifestyle and activities outside of work. That is why the current training
being implemented is for employees and their families, so that together, all
parties are aware of the impacts of shiftwork and how activities outside
work can be managed to ensure employees can perform their jobs effectively."

So now not only do they want to control a Driver's life off the job but that
of his family as well.

"As the primary cause of the Beresfield accident was human error, I would
encourage all employees to seriously look at your work and lifestyle
activities so that a healthy balance can be achieved for each."

All this bullshit is so that FreightCorp can say to the coroner that they've
done something - without actually addressing the problems.

At Delec when Drivers started to complain about the Blayney job - starting
work in the morning after a night in bed, booking off in Lithgow, then
starting work again 7 or 8 hours later just when they are ready for sleep -
they were told anyone reporting fatigue would be relieved of safeworking
duties until certified OK by the FC doctor. This of course cured the
fatigue - as far as FC was concerned.