ABSTRACT
This paper presents current research to develop understanding of on-call systems of work and explore the relationships on-call work has with fatigue, well-being and performance. In particular the system of work is place for UK rail maintenance staff working for Network Rail (the Great Britain rail infrastructure owner and operator). Initially 71 semi-structured interviews were conducted at five separate maintenance depots across the UK. From the key themes identified in the analysis an on-call questionnaire for managerial staff was developed and data from across the country was collected generated 479 individual responses. Results from both studies indicate that when discussing on-call there are three separate on-call situations; being on-call, receiving calls, and responding to calls; which influence the study variables differently. Working on-call is perceived as a leading cause of stress, and anxiety in particular, poor quality of sleep and fatigue. This is due to the inherent unpredictability of on-call work, which the authors feel is the key differencing factor between on-call work and other types of working-hours systems. Receiving and responding to calls are perceived as detrimental to general well-being both to workers and their families, fatigue, performance. In the next stage of work a diary based study will be conducted to further detail how the timing and amount of call-outs impact on the life, health, and work performance of on-call managers.
