Introduction

Transport Canada’s mandate to establish the hours of work and rest periods for railway operating employees exists because the establishment of hours of work rules is integrally linked with the department’s mandate to regulate the safety of Canada's railways. For reasons of efficiency, it has been agreed that all facets of railway safety be regulated by a single department.

Transport Canada recognizes that fatigue is one of the most critical safety issues facing the railway industry today. There is no doubt that fatigue has a detrimental impact on human performance and safety. While solutions to fatigue exist, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, which will easily solve all fatigue-related problems. One counter measure alone is not enough, nor is the sole reliance on legislated maximum hours of work.

A tremendous amount of research has been done on fatigue and fatigue management over the last decade, and we now know enough to implement some effective solutions. We are confident that implementing the guidelines that follow will not only improve railway safety, but offer a better life style to those who are involved in a 24/7 work environment.

It is not the intention of this document to prescribe solutions. These guidelines, which reflect the recommendations of contemporary fatigue professionals for the mitigation of fatigue in the workplace, present practices you may find useful in developing your Fatigue Management Plans (FMP).