Managing Fatigue in Transportation: Promoting Safety and Productivity
Tysons Corner, Virginia
November 1-2, 1995
Compiled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board
Transportation operations frequently require around-the-clock operations, sometimes globally, and fatigue is an increasingly recognized challenge facing the industry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found fatigue to be causal or contributory in accidents in every mode of transportation, and has issued almost 80 fatigue-related Safety Recommendations since 1972. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program has addressed fatigue in aviation through research and other activities since 1980. Based on expertise from 15 years of field research, the Program has developed a comprehensive approach to managing fatigue in aviation, which can be generalized to managing fatigue in all modes of transportation. Therefore, the NTSB and NASA have collaborated to create the multimodal symposium, "Managing Fatigue in Transportation: Promoting Safety and Productivity."
The demands of transportation operations and human physiology are both varied and complex. There can be no single solution to managing fatigue in transportation. Therefore, to successfully manage fatigue, a comprehensive approach is necessary that addresses various components of the industry to achieve the desired levels of safety and productivity. These components include: education and training, hours of service, scheduling practices, countermeasures, design and technology, and research. Making advances in each of these areas will promote optimal performance, alertness, safety, and productivity in transportation operations.
The Symposium
The NTSB/NASA symposium, "Managing Fatigue in Transportation: Promoting Safety
and Productivity," was held November 1-2, 1995, in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The
symposium gathered together transportation-industry participants from all modes
to achieve two goals:
1) to provide the latest information on managing
fatigue in transportation, and 2) to utilize their knowledge to determine the
current needs of the industry for managing fatigue in transportation, specific
actions for implementation, and future directions. This was the first time that
industry members met to address fatigue in a concerted effort across all modes.
Combining the knowledge and experience from each mode benefits the
transportation industry as a whole, as well as the public they serve.
The Directory
The purpose of this Fatigue Resource Directory (FReDi) is to provide transportation-industry members with current, accessible information on resources available to address fatigue in transportation. This Fatigue Resource Directory is separated into sections on:
As appropriate, each section may include basic background information, contact information (e., names and addresses), and publication lists. The index is intended to provide quick access to specific topics.
This directory does not attempt or claim to be an exhaustive list of all available activities and resources. It represents a first attempt to organize resources in one directory that can be used to address fatigue in transportation. It is not intended to be a static document, rather, attempts will be made to periodically update the information and to include new or not previously identified activities.
The Resource Referral form can be accessed to suggest activities for future inclusion or to provide any comments.
Other NTSB information and reports related to fatigue are available by writing:
Other NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program information can be obtained by writing:
This document is intended as a resource directory and was compiled from input provided by a wide range of sources. The information provided in this Directory has not been evaluated for its accuracy or effectiveness. Therefore, inclusion in this Directory does not imply endorsement by the NTSB or NASA.
Fatigue Resource Directory: Contents