| Title | Training and Certification of Work Schedule Managers May Improve Shift Scheduling Practices |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 36123 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Coplen, Michael K.; Morrow, Stephanie |
| Source | Research results; 4p. in various pagings |
| Corporate Creator | John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration |
| Publisher | United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration |
| Publication Date | 20110200 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Human Factors Research and Development (R&D) Program sponsored the implementation of a strategic job analysis to investigate the job of work schedule managers (WSMs) across a diverse range of industries that employ shiftworkers at around-the-clock operations. Currently, no such position exists in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles or Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A WSM is broadly defined as a person responsible for managing, maintaining, and monitoring the work schedules of shiftworkers across multiple shifts in an organization. The management of shiftwork schedules can vary in complexity across industries and even between divisions in a single organization, depending on the design of the schedule, the number of employees, and the daily schedule maintenance requirements to meet operational needs. The current investigation sought to identify a common set of knowledge and skills needed by WSMs to ensure effective practices in schedule design and maintenance. Interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) suggest that as WSMs develop and manage work schedules, more emphasis should be placed on mitigating the health and safety risks associated with shiftwork. In addition, most job incumbents (JIs) interviewed did not have the breadth of knowledge needed to fully understand the health and safety effects of poorly designed work schedules. Some JIs expressed a desire to receive more training to better equip their employees with tools and information to manage shiftwork lifestyles. Although most JIs agreed about the importance and significance of their duties and responsibilities as a WSM, it was often an ancillary job. The primary form of training available to WSMs was on-the-job, with scheduling skills most commonly learned through trial and error. Results of this study suggest that disseminating shiftwork research findings and scheduling experiences via formalized training programs can improve JIs' knowledge of effective practices for schedule design and maintenance, thereby minimizing the health and safety risks of shiftwork. This will enhance JIs' skills in assessing the need for and the implementation of schedule changes to better balance productivity and safety without sacrificing the needs of the employees. |
| Rosap ID | dot:9097 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9097 |
| TRT Terms | Scheduling; Certification; Training; Railroad transportation; Human factors |
| General Subjects | Gap analysis; Needs assessment; Job analysis; Rail; Shiftwork; Fatigue; Human factors; Training; Certification; Credentialing; Work scheduling; Knowledge; Skills; Abilities; Job tasks; Fitness for duty; Personnel; Staffing; Work time |
| Classification | NTL - PLANNING AND POLICY - PLANNING AND POLICY; NTL - PLANNING AND POLICY - Rail Planning and Policy; NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION; NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Planning and Policy; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| Report Number | RR11-03 |
| Availability | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center |
| Resource type | Brief |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/36000/36100/36123/FRA_Research_Results_Gap_Analysis_RR11-03.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |