Combating controller fatigue
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Staff assigned to control and oversee operations of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines should be in a constant state of vigilance. Long working hours and other conditions in control rooms can sometimes cause controller fatigue.
Controller fatigue is believed to have contributed in the 1990s to an accidental release of nearly one million gallons of fuel oil that contaminated a river and surrounding areas.
In response to this, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the United States have issued an advisory recommending industry guidelines to ensure that controllers are not assigned to shift duties while fatigued, to advise pipeline operators on conditions that could impair mental alertness or decision-making ability and to encourage management practices that promote safety.
The advisory makes recommendations in three areas:
• Schedules should be limited to not more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, except in extraordinary or emergency situations. A minimum 10-hour break should be scheduled between work periods. Overtime should be scheduled on an individual basis, not for an entire shift of controllers and controller supervisors.
• Control room environments should be designed for both day and night shifts.
• Operators should be educated on factors that impact human alertness and cause fatigue. Supervisors should be trained to recognize signs of stress and fatigue.
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