Getting Off “Most Wanted” List: Relief for PHMSA

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it had removed an item from its “Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements” list. For a number of years, “Reduce Pipeline Accidents Caused by Human Fatigue” had been on the list. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has been working with the pipeline industry to develop regulations that would address maximum hours of service and related issues for pipeline controllers. I think this work began in the 1990s.

A final rule was issued by PHMSA in 2009 that addressed enough of the NTSB’s concerns that the Board voted to remove the pipeline transportation mode from its “Most Wanted” list. The aviation and marine transportation modes still need to address accidents caused by human fatigue.

While I do not think the final rule will address all the initial concerns of the NTSB, it is a good step. And I suspect the final rule will be amended in the future. My suspicion is based on general statements in the rule, the revised accident or incident report form, and the future development of inspection criteria. The main reason for my thought is that most pipeline companies will not develop a rigorous and thorough fatigue risk management system.

Posted February 24th, 2010 in Human Factors, In the News, Managing Fatigue

“Active Desk” – Its Time Is Now

The March-April 2010 issue of The Futurist has a brief article “Overcoming the ‘Desk Potato’ Syndrome.”   This product would be good for people like me, who  spend most of the day sitting at a desk and whose waist shows the signs of that sitting.  Yes, I know sitting at a desk is not the only cause of a big waist.

The ‘Active Desk’ is elevated so that one can work while walking on a treadmill.  This could work well in pipeline control centers.   I’ve been in a few control centers that have desks which elevate so the controller can stand.  Some control centers have treadmills in another room, but controllers don’t like to leave their workstations to use the treadmill.

Exercise is one method for alleviating stress and fatigue.   The ‘Active Desk’ was developed by the University of California, San Diego.  More information about the ‘Active Desk’ is available at http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/general/11-09ActiveDesk.asp.

Posted February 8th, 2010 in In the News, Managing Fatigue

Sleep Apnea – Article in Wall St. Journal 02/02/10

Do you snore loudly and often? Are you sleepy during the day? Are you fat or obese, with a big neck? Do you sweat excessively? It might be time to have a sleep study, to determine if you have sleep apnea. It’s been about eight years since I had a sleep study that revealed my breathing was stopping hundreds of times during the night when I was trying to sleep.

I began using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pathway) machine that keeps the airway in my throat open. The difference in my energy level was AMAZING when I started sleeping all night, instead of thinking I was sleeping. There are risks to your health from sleep apnea. What might happen if one stops breathing hundreds of time? The worse case scenario is death.

People on shift work already know the effects of fatigue. If you are a shift worker, who answered yes to the questions above, see your doctor soon. Here’s the link to the article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204575039101390202576.html

Posted February 2nd, 2010 in In the News, Managing Fatigue