Keeping them awake at the switch: Health risk assessment, health promotion, and alertness programs in the railroad industry

Rail transportation provides a vital link in our nation's transportation network and economy, and over 100,000 workers are employed in the railroad industry in a very wide distribution of locations throughout the United States. Since trains are operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, rail employees work a variety of shifts that often span more than a 40-hour workweek. Although the majority of rail employees work in one location, many work in remote areas of the country, and a substantial number of them have job positions that require them to be mobile – often over long distances. In addition to risk factors related to diet and weight, many of these workers are at increased risk related to the nature of their jobs, including sleep, alertness, and fatigue problems, which can result in serious public safety issues. In this presentation, the challenges faced in conducting health risk assessments and providing risk reduction interventions for this unique worker population will be discussed, using case studies of two major railway companies. Common risk factors found among railroad employees, well as examples of effective intervention programs used in these two companies, will also be discussed. Recommendations for future studies of health-related issues in the rail industry will be provided.