Article: Queensland Rail to trial naps for train drivers

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

Queensland Rail to trial naps for train drivers

Queensland Rail to trial naps for train drivers
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Steven Wardill

September 15, 2008 12:00am

QUEENSLAND Rail has developed an innovative way of tackling widespread safety issues and staff fatigue - sanctioning nanna naps for its drivers.
A leaked document obtained by The Courier-Mail reveals the troubled State Government corporation will trial an official sleeping-on-the-job policy.

Hundreds of drivers who operate QR's coal trains will get travel pillows and locomotive cabs will be fitted with reading lights and blinds to help them doze off.

The policy does not dictate a set length for the siestas but suggests drivers be woken from their slumber when loading work is finished on all but five wagons.

According to the QRNational document, other international railways have snooze schemes and a policy would validate the napping that occurs "unofficially".

QR group general manager Marcus McAuliffe yesterday confirmed the policy was being trialled with the introduction of "rest cottages" for some coal crew.

"It would not under any circumstances be applied to passenger or other freight operations, as it would contravene stringent operating practices designed to ensure compliance with QR's world-class safety standards," he said.

But Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson questioned whether QR could properly police nap times given recent reports had exposed serious safety procedure flaws.

"If this new napping system is put in place QR management must ensure checks and balances are actioned to make sure the safety requirements are met," Ms Simpson said.

The Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen could not be contacted but it is understood drivers are angry that napping is QR's response to their fatigue.

The nap plan comes after The Courier-Mail revealed another leaked report last week showing train drivers were running red lights at a rate 9 per cent above the national average.

While QR frequently quotes its "safety is our number one priority" slogan, the report revealed fatigue was widespread; a "macho culture" prevented the reporting of near-misses and accident investigations were minimal.

The napping plan is part of a push within QR to extend train crew rosters from 11 to 12-hour shifts.

The risk management document warned  of a danger of red light running from drivers with "sleep inertia" after napping.

But Mr McAuliffe insisted there was limited danger in having one of the two drivers asleep as loading took up to four hours and the train moved at less than 1km/h.

"Due to the extremely low speeds and extended duration of the coal-loading process, there is no need for both drivers to be operating the train during coal loading," he said.

To ensure drivers stay awake after napping, the document proposed the trial of "optic alert goggles" or "NoNap ear pieces", a device that fits behind the ear and alerts the driver when their head nods beyond a certain angle.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail blog on the above article:

For the benefit of CMail readers, below are details given to the paper's reporter yesterday. Readers have a right to hear both sides of this story and make up their own mind. Safety is QR's number one priority and as part of our commitment to implementing world-class safety standards, we are investigating ways to better manage and reduce driver fatigue. QR is investigating the possibility of allowing one driver in a two-driver coal team to rest while their trains are loaded at certain coal mines. This is a practice adopted by other transport industries and rail operators around the world and aims to improve crew shift alertness levels and overall operational safety. While QR already enforces strict working hours and mandatory breaks of at least 12 hours between shifts for coal train drivers, we are always looking for ways to improve our safety and fatigue management is an important factor. Loading trains with coal is a process which takes up to four hours, with the train moving at less than 1km/hour as the coal is loaded. Due to the extremely low speeds and extended duration of the coal-loading process, there is no need for both drivers to be operating the train during coal loading. This possibility is being investigated for coal loading only. Further consultation and consideration are required before final conclusions can be reached on this initiative. It would not under any circumstances be applied to passenger or other freight operations, as it would contravene stringent operating practices designed to ensure compliance with QR's world-class safety standards."

Mark Hairsine Manager Corporate Affairs, QR

Here is my early blog comment:

It is to QR's credit that they are looking at various options. It is just a discussion and may well be never implemented. There are far more important issues like the lack of resourcing for passenger rail, and the mediocre go card and ripoff fares.

[O_128]

the freight really needs to be privately owned the goverment should not have its finger in antthing profit oriented.Does anyone know where the new freight line that branches offat murrarie is going to. QR has money for freight expansion but not passengera nd we pay huge amounsts for fares

[mufreight]

THEY HAVE TO BE KIDDING
It would seem that there has been a lot of comment by people with limited knowledge of this subject, that being cumulative fatigue.
Train crews are in a situation that few people have any real understanding of as the blog relating to this subject by Tugga quite clearly points out in todays on line Courier Mail.  Tugga is obviously a currently working locomotive driver and as a retired driver myself I have to concur with his opinion which is based on experience.
Unfortunately it would seem that the shortsighted beancounters and advisers of QR and the current Government sitting in their air conditioned offices where they may appear from 9 to 5 in between strolls to other offices out to business lunches or meetings and then have a weekend off with family have no conception of the limits to which humans can work effectively in high stress occupations such as working trains.  It may be news to them but they are not limitless.
In the 70's the heavy haul rail operators in the Pilbira worked to a sysyem that as far as practicable ensured that train crew did not become overly fatigued.  Crews were rostered to a maximum shift of 8 hours but in the event of delays could work for 10 hours.  Local crews were rostered to load out and unload trains to ensure that line haul crews were adequately rested.
On the completion of a shift away from crews home depot there was a minimum break of 10 hours and on return to their home depot crews then had a minimum rest period of 12 hours withthe maximum allowable number of consecutive shifts being set at 10 after which crews were given a rostered day off which meant that they had to finish their shift before 9pm and could not resume duties before 8 am having had two nights at home.
This was accepted as the minimum safe rest periods for crews and in the light of QR's current proposals one must question what has changed in the industry since that time that makes the working of 12 hour shifts safe.
Yes labour costs have risen but then even a relatively minor fatigue related failure can cost a quite considerable amount, both in actual damage and due to the costs incurred by the resulting delays, while a major incident can easily cost life and injury, millions of dollars in equipment damage and more in the costs resulting from the disruption to services while lines are cleared and repaired to enable the resumption of services.
So much for the QR and Government beancounters and alleged efficency experts and their commitment to cutting costs at any cost regardless of the human price paid by train crews, after all they work? / appear possibly 9 - 5 five days a week and it is not their lives or family lifestyles or money placeed at risk by their pennypinching decisions.
If they want to save money on train crews they could automate the loading and unloading processes, it is done elsewhere and if there are insufficent crews available they should pay wages that will attract train crew for training and retain experienced crews rather than burn them out then complain when they run short of traincrew.
How about that Mr Minister Mickel.