08.04.13
Fatigue management award nominations open
Companies and individuals working to reduce the risk of fatigue are invited to apply for IOSH Railway Group’s Fatigue Management Award 2013.
The awards aim to raise the profile of occupational health issues in the rail industry and to celebrate great practice of development and implementation of policy; design of shift rosters; risk assessments; monitoring levels of physical and mental tiredness; and educating on shift work.
IOSH Railway Group chair Martin Leeks said: “Fatigue can cause injuries and deaths to workers and passengers on our railways. It hampers mental alertness and affects performance, causing errors because of reduced concentration, perception, judgement and even memory. Ultimately, it can lead to drowsiness and involuntary sleeping, which may cause accidents.
“The issue of fatigue has been bubbling under the surface for a while, so it’s vital our rail industry deals with it now. We need another culture change, where long working hours are seen as a hazard to our employees, companies and passengers on the network. We absolutely shouldn’t be waiting until the situation is so bad that we risk another Clapham Junction disaster.
“By shouting about good examples of fatigue management, promoting good practice and helping companies to meet modern guidelines, we hope underperforming companies will put in place their own schemes.
“Regulations are there for a reason – we don’t just want rail companies to pay lip service to them. Any which are subjecting staff to too many working hours are not only breaking the law, but risking the health and safety of those employees, their passengers, as well as their bottom lines.”
Companies can apply here.
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