Metrolink peer review report - Ventura County Star

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METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL SAFETY PEER REVIEW PANEL Final Report – January 5, 2009 placement in a covered position and at least every three years, with more frequent evaluation in specific circumstances. Issue Papers Regarding psychological evaluations, evidence of the efficacy and feasibility and a thorough understanding of the implementation considerations of psychological evaluations are needed before further action is taken. Even if the legal and human rights complications of implementing psychological evaluations could be overcome, the Panel did not find any evidence that psychological 7 evaluations for train crews would reduce exposure to risk for Metrolink; there is a paucity of research on the subject. 7 Ibid. 60
METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL SAFETY PEER REVIEW PANEL Final Report – January 5, 2009 f. Railroad Industry Hour of Service/Split Shift Issue Issue Papers Observations Following the Panel presentation to the SCRRA Board on December 12, 2008, the issue came up regarding the impact of Split Shifts on Metrolink train service. The Panel did not study this issue in detail but has presented below some observations and recommendations. The current statutory provisions that govern the hours of service of railroad train and engine crews, dispatchers, and signal maintainers were first enacted in 1907. The FRA has proposed to revise and update these hours of service laws based on scientific information addressing fatigue-induced performance. As part of this FRA review, the current practice of split shift assignments used by many commuter railroads would be addressed. The Panel observed that SCRRA has not done an Hours of Service or Split Shift study. Some of the difficulties of SCRRA conducting this type of study are that SCRRA does not have direct control of the contractors’ employees, since they are employed by SCRRA’s contractors and those employees’ rates of pay, rules and working conditions are governed through collective bargaining agreements. Additional difficulties are that SCRRA does not currently have supervisors in the field where the work is being done and SCRRA staff has not developed statistical measures for this type of review. The Panel believes that these difficulties can be overcome by conducting an independent study in cooperation with SCRRA’s contractors. For example, regarding a survey of the contractors’ employees, the independent study consultant could provide the survey instrument and the survey could be conducted by the contractors themselves. The analysis of that survey plus any additional analysis of Metrolink’s schedules and other data sources would be done by the independent consultant. Recommendation a. Since SCRRA’s Transportation contractor uses split shift assignments in its train and engine crew schedules, it is the Panel’s recommendation that SCRRA participate actively on the Hours of Service issue as part of the FRA Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) process. b. The Panel also recommends that SCRRA, in cooperation with its operating contractor, conduct a review of its contractor’s Hours of Service Split Shift schedules for their train and engine crews and determine if fatigue is a factor in the use of Split Shifts. In addition, SCRRA should evaluate whether any relevant rules and their particular application require any short term measures pending the results of the FRA RSAC process regarding Hours of Service. Background Human factors, in particular, fatigue, are the subjects of increasing study and rulemaking in much of the regulated transportation sector. One operating practice, split shifts, falls under the study’s purview since it can lengthen a workday beyond the traditional ”straight eight” However, the practice of split shift assignments in the commuter rail industry is both common and cost effective because of the service patterns necessary to support the peak markets of commuter operations. Generally there is a high frequency of train service between 5:00 AM and 9:00 AM to service the demand into major business centers in the morning and between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM to return customers to their homes in the evening. The split shift assignments allow commuter agencies to establish crew assignments to cover both peak periods of service thereby maximizing their utilization. In the interim period between the morning and evening assignments, crews are placed on rest for a minimum of four (4) hours. It is the most efficient way to cover the service pattern 61
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Metrolink peer review report - Ventura County Star

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