Railroad Dispatcher Communications Training Materials;Final rept

摘要

Readback/hearback errors by railroad dispatchers and train crews or other track users can potentially result in accidents and derailments. The training materials developed under this project are designed to improve dispatcher communication skills with the goal of reducing the occurrence of readback/hearback errors. The course is based on a similar one developed and offered to air traffic controllers by the Federal Aviation Administration. The basic structure of the FAA course was adapted to be applicable to railroad dispatchers. The course has nine topics including Barriers to Communication, Listening Skills and Memory Skills. The course materials include a course pretest to assess initial skills, a formative assessment to assess progress after the first day of training and a summative test to evaluate the instructor's guide and all written training materials. An accompanying videotape contains the complementary auditory exercises.