Work Scheduling

This chapter discuss the history, implementation, limitations, and proper use of biomathematical models of fatigue (BMMFs) for fatigue risk management in transportation. BMMFs estimate fatigue and alertness based on sleep need, time of day, sleep inertia, work history, and sleep history. BMMFs can be used prospectively to evaluate upcoming schedules or retrospectively to evaluate fatigue risk in previously collected data. BMMFs predict performance or alertness outcomes based on population averages, but cannot be used to assess the performance or accident risk for a specific individual. BMMFs are a technological tool to be used as part of a successful fatigue risk management system (FRMS).