Fatigue and 'just culture' in a Harfwit world -
From that 'happy little chappy' in Tassie, via the Weekend Oz:
Spot the disconnections?
"..ATSB confirmed it had received confidential reports about controller fatigue. Airservices said it had no reports of controllers falling asleep but “a small number” had complained about single-operator nightshifts..."
"...reviewed at length by Airservices, with our rosters built on a sound understanding of fatigue and the science of sleep. We encourage staff to report any fatigue-related issues..."
A quick flick through the ATSB aviation REPCON pages - see HERE - does not show up any of the confidential reports received. However I believe the reporter(s) have to agree for these reports to be published.
There are also some questions inside of the ASA statement of 'no reports' because the REPCON normally entails a response from both the operator (ASA) and the regulator CASA. Could this indicate that these REPCONs were handled in a different way?
So why are the ATCOs reluctant to report through the ASA SMS reporting system? Does this not signify a fundamental systemic breakdown of 'just culture' principles within the ASA SMS?
Perhaps the ATSB should be considering a topdown review/investigation into the ASA SMS? After all if it is good enough for VARA (now Virgin regional) - see AI-2017-100 - or Rebel Ag - see AO-2016-157-SI - then surely it is good enough for the air traffic control service provider overseeing the safe control of aircraft inside the Aussie FIR?
Hmm...hang on sec - I guess that would be another perceived conflict of interest for the HVH?
MTF...P2
From that 'happy little chappy' in Tassie, via the Weekend Oz:
Quote:Air traffic staffers ‘asleep on job’
MATTHEW DENHOLM
Air traffic controllers working solo nightshifts are falling asleep, creating concern for public safety.
Air traffic controllers working solo nightshifts, responsible for large expanses of the country’s skies, are falling asleep, creating concern for public safety.
Controllers told The Weekend Australian the situation was an issue in 10 air sectors for which only one controller —— based either in a major radar centre or local tower — was rostered on the nightshift.
Civil Air, the controllers’ union, said those sectors covered skies over most regional areas, as well as towers at Perth and Adelaide, and in Sydney during night curfew.
The union confirmed controllers working the single-person nightshifts had at times reported falling asleep, and that it was pushing for two-person shifts or at least greater back-up for those working solo.
“There have been several reports (of controllers falling asleep) made to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, mainly because of the confidentiality the ATSB provides,” said Civil Air president and controller Tom McRobert.
“They have put in a confidential report saying ‘I fell asleep’ or ‘I saw someone fall asleep’. It’s not a common occurrence but … it is definitely a concern, the more and more they push fatiguing rosters.”
ATSB confirmed it had received confidential reports about controller fatigue. Airservices said it had no reports of controllers falling asleep but “a small number” had complained about single-operator nightshifts.
“Single-person nightshifts are currently in place for approximately 20 positions across Australia where traffic volume and complexity is low,” a spokeswoman said.
“The practice has been reviewed at length by Airservices, with our rosters built on a sound understanding of fatigue and the science of sleep. We encourage staff to report any fatigue-related issues … This can be done de-identified.”
However, Mr McRobert, a controller based in Melbourne, said controllers were unwilling to make such reports to Airservices for fear of “repercussions”.
He and most controllers believed two people should be rostered on all nightshifts because of the safety benefits.
There were also practical reasons controllers who found themselves dozing on nightshifts were reluctant to report it.
“There’s a lack of willingness for an individual if they are feeling tired and dozing off to put their hand up and say ‘Get me out’,” he said.
“Because that requires a closing of airspace, or reclassification of the airspace as uncontrolled, and a very high-level investigation. And Airservices will start pointing fingers.”
While traffic volumes may be low, nightshift controllers are responsible for the full range of duties, including include monitoring radar and communicating with pilots to ensure sufficient separation between aircraft, keeping them on the right flights paths and dealing with emergencies. Airservices said solo nightshifts mostly occurred in operations centres where other staff were working on other sectors at the same time. “They have the opportunity to take short breaks throughout the shift, and there is a supervisor,” the spokeswoman said.
Solo nightshifts operate for much of Australia’s airspace. “Basically everywhere with very low traffic, so anything into Sydney from either Melbourne or Brisbane areas, because Sydney has a curfew at night (applying to many but not all aircraft),” Mr McRobert said.
Spot the disconnections?
"..ATSB confirmed it had received confidential reports about controller fatigue. Airservices said it had no reports of controllers falling asleep but “a small number” had complained about single-operator nightshifts..."
"...reviewed at length by Airservices, with our rosters built on a sound understanding of fatigue and the science of sleep. We encourage staff to report any fatigue-related issues..."
A quick flick through the ATSB aviation REPCON pages - see HERE - does not show up any of the confidential reports received. However I believe the reporter(s) have to agree for these reports to be published.
There are also some questions inside of the ASA statement of 'no reports' because the REPCON normally entails a response from both the operator (ASA) and the regulator CASA. Could this indicate that these REPCONs were handled in a different way?
So why are the ATCOs reluctant to report through the ASA SMS reporting system? Does this not signify a fundamental systemic breakdown of 'just culture' principles within the ASA SMS?
Perhaps the ATSB should be considering a topdown review/investigation into the ASA SMS? After all if it is good enough for VARA (now Virgin regional) - see AI-2017-100 - or Rebel Ag - see AO-2016-157-SI - then surely it is good enough for the air traffic control service provider overseeing the safe control of aircraft inside the Aussie FIR?
Hmm...hang on sec - I guess that would be another perceived conflict of interest for the HVH?
MTF...P2