RSSB_1942 Preparing rail industry guidance on bio-mathematical fatigue models (T1083)

Many rail companies use fatigue assessment tools, based on mathematical models, as one part of their assessments of likely staff fatigue. Whilst guidance is available on the role and generic limitations of bio mathematical fatigue models, it does not compare how well each predicts fatigue, and omits the most commonly used tool in GB rail - Health and Safety Executive’s Fatigue and Risk Index.

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has recently published the ‘Bio mathematical Fatigue Models Guidance Document.’ With some adaptation and further work, this could form the basis of useful guidance for the GB rail industry on the relative merits and limitations of available fatigue models and their role in fatigue risk management. Some work is needed to adapt CASA's guidance so that it reflects the information needs of the rail industry in GB. In addition, the CASA guidance does not comment on the level of risk predicted by the various tools, which could be addressed by a sensitivity analysis to compare the outputs of the tools against one another.

The aim of this project is to adapt CASA’s guidance document to meet the information needs of the GB rail industry and supplement it with the results of a sensitivity analysis. This will enable industry to reduce the risk of designing rosters that induce fatigue.