25 Jun 2025

Reducing fatigue, reducing risk

RISSB has developed a new Monitoring Fatigue Risk Management Programs Guideline which provides a practical roadmap to safer operations, healthier workers, and fewer fatigue-related incidents on our rail networks. 

The Guideline is designed to support RTOs in meeting their obligations under the Rail Safety National Law, which requires the implementation of effective Fatigue Risk Management Programs (FRMPs). 

We use outcomes of major incident investigations such as those for Jumperkine (December 2019) and Port Hedland (March 2024), as well as key safety risks from RISSB’s Australian Rail Risks Model (ARRM), national interests and regulatory priorities, to identify products that are critical for industry. 

While many operators already collect valuable data through their FRMPs, the new RISSB Guideline addresses a key gap – how this information is interpreted and used to inform decisions. In some cases, fatigue risks are identified in the data but are not fully recognised or acted upon by the RTO. 

RISSB’s Guideline seeks to change that. By focusing on work scheduling and rostering, it helps operators identify and monitor key fatigue-related metrics, use this data to make better decisions, and ultimately redesign rosters and processes to reduce risk. 

Importantly, the guideline cautions against over-reliance on biomathematical modelling tools. While such tools are useful in identifying potential fatigue windows, they should not be the sole source of insight. Other sources, such as self-reported fatigue, shift length data, and incident reports, are just as vital in painting a complete picture. 

By improving the way rail transport operators use the data they already collect, this Guideline offers a powerful opportunity to take fatigue risk management to the next level.