Preliminary Examination of Railroad Dispatcher Workload, Stress, and Fatigue.

摘要

Railroad dispatchers are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of trains and other track users over a railroad. In two Federal Railroad Administration safety audits conducted in the 1990s that covered 125 dispatching offices and over 1000 dispatchers, the FRA Office of Safety found evidence of high dispatcher stress and workload. The FRA recognizes the significant role that the dispatcher plays in the safety of railroad operations, and is aware of the significant impact that dispatcher workload, stress and fatigue can have on employee health and well-being which in turn may create safety risks. Consequently, the FRA initiated this research to understand today's dispatching environment and its associated levels of workload, occupational stress and resulting fatigue. The goals of this research were to: (1) identify the sources and magnitude of workload, stress and fatigue associated with the dispatcher's job and working life, (2) determine any related health or performance effects, and (3) refine procedures for measuring workload, stress and fatigue in the dispatcher's workplace.