Tried to find previous Threads, on this topic of Sleep and its effects on those individuals who are tasked with working crazy hours on irregular shifts/trips and link them here, but was defeated by the new protocols- So I found the following information in articles linked in Railway Gazette, (on-line).
There have been some pretty lively exchanges, and conversations on this topic on this Forum; So I’ll post the links here to those R G topics:
“Fatigue research informs safety reform” pub: 12 Jul 2012
According to what I have read about night shift sleep disorders, the above-linked FRA advice on how to deal with the problem will not prevent the problem in all cases. The problem poses a wide open vulnerability that has no reliable solution at this time.
Here are the two early threads that you mentioned. The second one was locked, I was told, due to comments about accusing someone of not knowing enough to claim to be a railroader. The comments were deleted by the moderator, and no public explanation was given.
The first thread was also locked due to personal insults. Obviously, this topic of sleep disorders generates extreme defensiveness.
le of months ago (UPRR). No matter how many rules are laid don by Companies and Governmental entities. It will be an issue that does not go aways, and the unfortunate results are good men and women gett
Thanks, Bucyrus!
I was not aware that both the mentioned links had been locked, and edited(?). I had enjoyed some of the commentary, I guess prior to the ‘locking’ events.[banghead]
I have had an interest in the sleep deprivation issue since the late 1990’s. It was critical in the Trucking side of the Transportation arena, and in the Railroad side as well.
I do recall at one point around the turn of the 20th Century the even BNSF( when it was Burlington Northern Santa Fe ) was interested enough to have ad a pretty thorough article on their website referencing the issue of their Train Crews getting rest while out on a road assignment; to the extent to have proposed that the railroad would authorize, and provide a bunk (?) so at least one Crew member at a time could get a rest while stopped enroute, and waiting a clearance to roll.
I think it was one of those ‘good’ ideas that went nowhere after it was proposed(?). It would be interesting to hear if it ever went beyoned the “Gee-Whiz” stage, and into implementation at some level(?)