One of the biggest safety concerns for railway professionals throughout the world is fatigue and repetitive stress disorders caused by daily job responsibilities. There are a number of causes for fatigue among railway professionals, the least of which is the rigorous round-the-clock operation of railways which require long hours for rail workers. The length of shifts for railway professionals are often quite long, which contributes greatly to a lack of sleep and an inability to relax away from the workplace. Professionals who are unaccustomed to working at night, early morning, or weekends can often develop serious fatigue problems that can pose a danger to coworkers. Finally, an inability to balance periods of concentration and stimulation can cause workers to experience sleepiness, physical exhaustion, and fatigue.



There are a number of ways in which railway managers and employees alike can manage employee fatigue. Both management and railway personnel can work together to develop shift rosters which play to the strengths and preferences of individual workers. While shift rosters are an imperfect science, there is usually a way to accommodate most workers to avoid fatigue. As well, regular roster changes can help avoid the aforementioned imbalance between concentration and stimulation. Managers can also do a service to their employees and customers by monitoring individual workers and their fatigue levels, especially when roster changes force workers to adapt to a new shift. Finally, everyone in the railway industry can participate in government provided education programs that provides hints and tips on how to better deal with the ups and downs of shift work.

Of course, workers who are concerned about fatigue should learn more about British labor laws dealing with rail work conditions. The Working Time Directive developed in conjunction with Network Rail offers a number of provisions to protect workers from excessive work hours. The directive requires an upward limit of 48 hours worked per week. There is a limit of eight hours worked in one evening, avoiding excessive overnight shifts. All work and no play is a sure fire way for fatigue to set in and the directive allows workers to take four weeks of paid leave per year. As well, required work breaks during the day and week mean that workers can get their eyes and hands away from the work place to avoid repetitive stress. Finally, an annual health assessment is required by the directive in order to assess the medical and psychological impact of rail work on professionals.