Many industries have strict work hour limitations based on current or planned regulations to help mitigate the risks of fatigued labor resources. EmpCenter Fatigue Management proactively monitors employee work hours. EmpCenter then notifies HR and supervisors before work hour limits are exceeded to ensure the organization maintains compliance and employees are alert to perform their roles safely. Whether the employee is a minor employee working during the school year, an airline pilot, truck driver, train operator, or a worker at a nuclear power plant, EmpCenter Fatigue Management ensures workers are only on the clock if the employee satisfies all the rules governing their work hours.

Nuclear Plants
EmpCenter Fatigue Management complies with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Fitness for Duty (FFD) regulations (NRC 10 CFR Part 26). Fatigue Management tracks employee work, break, and non-work hours, so the plant does not violate FFD requirements. The system alerts managers of potential problems and prevents employees from going beyond the work-hour limits.

EmpCenter’s powerful rules engine is pre-configured with 10 CFR Part 26 requirements to streamline implementation and automate NRC reporting, so nuclear power reactor plants are compliant well before the October 2009 NRC deadline.

Solution Features:

• Tracks employee hours to verify work eligibility
• Tracks fatigue assessments and waivers
• Notifies supervisors of potential work hour limit violations
• Maintains and audit trail of employee work hours and break hours

Solution Benefits:

• Simplifies fatigue assessments
• Ensures alert employees are on the job by enabling self-declared fatigue
• Automates annual reporting requirements

Rail Transportation
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hours of Service regulations Part 228 governs the on-duty time of railroad engineers, conductors, dispatchers, and employees that maintain and manage signal systems. For example, this act requires that engineers and conductors get at least eight consecutive hours of off-duty time in a 24-hour period. In addition, when employees work 12 consecutive hours, they must have at least 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time.

EmpCenter Fatigue Management supports today’s regulations and accommodates changes to those regulations as they occur. This solution supports wireless devices that track work time at the source, so train crews can record time in the vehicle, regardless of where it is located.

Solution Benefits:

• Increases passenger safety
• Decreases fatigue-related accidents
• Improves morale

Long Haul Trucking
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations (49 CFR Part 395), the requirements “put limits in place for when and how long commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers may drive. These regulations are based on an exhaustive scientific review and are designed to ensure truck drivers get the necessary rest to perform safe operations.”

Most drivers must follow HOS regulations if they drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), including semi trucks and buses. Fatigue Management automates this widely-used, paper-based honor system for highway transportation. With a low-cost dial-in system, transportation firms can feel confident that work and break times are accurately tracked and ready for audits.

Solution Benefits:

• Decreases truck fatalities
• Increases operation efficiency
• Manages both state and federal regulations

Maritime Traffic
According the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, “The work-hour regulations for marine are specified in Title 46 United States Code (U.S.C.) 8104 and date back to the early part of the 20th century.” After that, “The Oil Pollution Act of 1990,” set limits for tanker crews at 15 hours per 24 hours and 36 hours per 72 hours work periods.

In 1997, the International Maritime Organization published the “Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping,” which requires a minimum 10-hour rest period during any 24-hour period.

Fatigue Management accommodates regulations for multiple jurisdictions at one time, and accommodates both shipboard and portside personnel.

Solution Benefits:

• Decreases maritime disasters
• Increases operation efficiency
• Manages U.S. and other government’s regulations

Healthcare
According to the American Nurses Association (AMA), fifteen states have restricted the practice of mandatory overtime, which many healthcare institutions adopt as part of their labor policies. Twelve states, including Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, West Virginia, California, Missouri, and Texas, have some degree of fatigue requirements in place. Other states are considering adopting standards.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) also imposes strict work hour limits for residents. Regardless of the complexity, Fatigue Management supports any policy chosen by healthcare institutions.

Solution Benefits:

• Increases patient care
• Decreased risk of malpractice due to fatigue
• Improves employee morale and satisfaction
• Manages regulations

Airlines
Airlines and their crews have always been strong advocates for safety, and the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 14 CFR Part 121, describes the work hour limitations for flight crews. Other National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) most-wanted recommendations include: asking the FAA to “revise the federal aviation regulations contained in 14 CFR Part 135 to require that pilot flight time accumulated in all company flying conducted after revenue operations, such as training and check flights, ferry flights, and repositioning flights, be included in the crewmember's total flight time accrued during revenue operations.”

Fatigue Management gives airline officials confidence in complying with the employee fatigue regulations. Even as these regulations evolve, Fatigue Management accommodates changes quickly and easily.

Solution Benefits:

• Increases flight safety
• Decreases fatigue management risk
• Increases safety-oriented perception for the entire air travel industry
• Manages regulations

Minor Employee / Child Safety Requirements
Each state has different rules governing the number of hours that minor employees may work. These rules often vary based on the day of the week and whether school is in session or out of session. Minors who are working are usually required to receive minimum rest and meal breaks throughout the day where the minor employee is fully relieved of all job responsibilities.

EmpCenter Fatigue Management monitors these work limits and proactively notifies the employee and/or their supervisor to ensure that the minor is in compliance with all work regulations.

Solution Benefits:

• Ensures minors are in compliance with state work regulations
• Enables HR to staff more minor employees to reduce operating costs
• Enables training and mentoring of minor employees for future work assignments