Interaction Effect of Workload and Circadian Rhythm in Air Traffic Controllers’ Fatigue

Chen, Zhenling; Zhang, Jianping; Zou, Guoliang; Ding, Pengxin; Li, Shunqing; Gu, Yanzhong; Chen, Yiyou

doi:10.1007/978-981-15-6978-4_29

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Hence, the task demand at the TCU increased an ATCO's fatigue very significantly. The results were consistent with those of another study using a subjective scale to assess the fatigue of ATCOs at one terminal unit in China [14]. Similarly, we also found a very significant influence of the task demand at the ACU on an ATCO's fatigue.…”

Section: Influence Of Task Demand On Atcos' Fatigue By Work Typesupporting

confidence: 91%

“…No significant difference was observed between shifts I and II (p = 0.546) or between shifts III and IV (p = 0.516). These results were similar to those of another study on ATCOs' fatigue at one terminal unit in China, which used the Stanford Sleepiness Scale [14]. We also investigated the influence of circadian rhythm of ATCOs on fatigue at the ACU using the same analytical steps as that for TCU (Figure 8).…”

Section: Influence Of Circadian Rhythm On Atcos' Fatigue By Work Typesupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Therefore, it is generally accepted that ATCOs experience a typical form of mental fatigue [6,10,11], given that their tasks are mentally demanding. Mental fatigue affects alertness, reactive ability, and decision-making power, reduces ATCOs' performance, and can even threaten traffic safety [12][13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Field Study of Work Type Influence on Air Traffic Controllers’ Fatigue Based on Data-Driven PERCLOS Detection

Zhang

Chen

Liu

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The fatigue of air traffic controllers (ATCOs) on duty seriously threatens air traffic safety and needs to be managed. ATCOs perform several different types of work, with each type of work having different characteristics. Nonetheless, the influence of work type on an ATCO’s fatigue has yet to be demonstrated. Here, we present a field study in which the fatigue of ATCOs working in two types of work was compared based on an optimized data-driven method that was employed to detect the percentage of eyelid closure over the pupil over time (PERCLOS). Sixty-seven ATCOs working within two typical jobs (i.e., from the terminal control unit (TCU) and area control unit (ACU)) were recruited, and their fatigue was detected immediately before and after shift work using PERCLOS. Using a Spearman correlation test analysis, the results showed that the influence of work type on an ATCO’s fatigue had interesting trends. Specifically, the ATCOs at the TCU who handle departures and arrivals, which include converging with and maneuvering around conflicts, retain normal circadian rhythms. Their fatigue was significantly influenced by the various demands from tasks focusing on sequencing and conflict resolution and by the time phase of a normal circadian rhythm. At the ACU, ATCOs manage flights that are mainly on route, causing monotonous monitoring and routine reporting tasks, and the ATCOs generally have frequent night shifts to handle overflights. Their fatigue was significantly influenced by the demand characteristics from tasks, but changes in fatigue rule were not consistent with a normal circadian rhythm, revealing that the ATCOs’ circadian rhythms may have already been slightly disturbed. Furthermore, the interactions between task demand and circadian rhythm with an ATCO’s fatigue were significantly observed in ATCOs working in the TCU but not in those in the ACU. This study provides first evidence that an ATCO’s work type influences his or her fatigue. This discovery may incite stakeholders to consider work type in the management of employee fatigue, not only in the civil aviation industry but also in other transport industries.

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Section: Influence Of Task Demand On Atcos' Fatigue By Work Typesupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Influence Of Circadian Rhythm On Atcos' Fatigue By Work Typesupporting

confidence: 80%