Disagree.
People doing safety critical jobs may well think they’re best placed to assess their fatigue levels. The sheer volume of railway incidents where fatigue is a contributory factor suggests otherwise.
Fatigue is an issue of course, but overall lifestyle can balance the workload. After a turn I ensure I get at least 7hrs sleep, have a good meal and keep my hydration levels up throughout my next turn of duty.
Overall signaller incidents is something I’ve been thanking about of late, why does it appear from internal comms that they appear to be on the raise?
Maybe it’s fatigue, lack of experience, lack of interest, workload, lack of knowledge?
I think lack of interest or greater understanding of the bigger picture can play a key part in signaller incidents.
Boredom can also play a part, which leads into lack of interest, ARS enables both. It allows the disengaged signaller to “switch off” allow the computer to play trains.
Then when the signaller is required to do something they aren’t switched on enough and make mistakes.
Workload is possibly another factor, increased workload across our function with manning and grade assessments undertaken years ago when the workload wasn’t as high, over reliance on ARS to assist the signaller as well.
Yes, fatigue can play a part in a overall unhealthy balanced lifestyle, but it’s not going to figure out the other issues which wont be helped by a max hours week.
We’re expected to work in professional manner, and rightly so.
Treat us like professionals who can be trusted to manage our work life balance safely.