NSW Trains Fatigue Risk Management Plan

The RTBU met with NSW Trains last week to hear further details surrounding the implementation of the Fatigue Risk Management Plan. This has arisen from an ONSR audit of NSW Trains fatigue management processes from which they have fallen short of meeting their requirements.

NSW Trains propose to replace the current fatigue risk profile with the Fatigue Risk Management Plan which is based on 6 rostering principles which reflect the Act and associated regulations. Training will be provided in how the plan and principles were developed and employees will then be involved in the development of rosters. The 6 principles and their application to rosters will have a significant impact on how drivers are currently rostered:

1.       Shift Lengths – Shift lengths must not exceed 12 hours including overtime (stations)

2.       Rest Between Shifts – Maximum 12 hours between shifts-Minimum of 10 hours rest at a barracks location

3.       Rest Days – A minimum of 2 consecutive rest days (48hrs) must be rostered after completion of a sequence of consecutive shifts

4.       Consecutive shifts – the maximum number of consecutive shifts in any block before rest days shall be:

• Four consecutive shifts of 11hrs or greater
• Five consecutive shifts of 9hrs and up to 11hrs
• Six consecutive shifts of 9hrs

5.       Start Times and Forward Rotation – Shift start times that rotate should move in forward rotation i.e. morning –afternoon-night. Shift start times cannot rotate backwards greater than 2hrs

6.       Acclimatisation – Employees returning from leave (3 weeks or more) cannot be rostered for night work or early morning work

A trial of this process will be undertaken utilising station staff at Wyong with a possible implementation date after Easter. Following this, training of train crew will commence at Dubbo, possibly in March with a proposed implementation in May. Wollongong will undertake the same process in June with possible implementation in August.