ZLC controller described fatigue incident citing shift rotations and long work weeks as contributory...

Attributes
ACN	761293
Time
Date	200711
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zlc.artcc
State Reference	UT
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 5 controller radar : 19 controller time certified in position1 : 19
ASRS Report	761293
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was working entire area; combined on 1 radar scope. No traffic. Fell asleep around XA00; and was awakened by another center calling for handoff. 2 controllers were in the area. I had worked a 3 swing; 1 day; 1 mid rotation. I believe the 2 quick turns in succession were a leading factor in my fatigue. My age is another factor. Midnight shifts used to be a lot easer to deal with. Another factor is the large amount of 6 day work weeks I have been working recently. Recommendations: double quick turns should not be scheduled. Controllers should be allowed and urged to sleep for a short period during midnight shifts. 6 day work weeks should be kept to a minimum.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLC CTLR DESCRIBED FATIGUE INCIDENT CITING SHIFT ROTATIONS AND LONG WORK WEEKS AS CONTRIBUTORY.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING ENTIRE AREA; COMBINED ON 1 RADAR SCOPE. NO TFC. FELL ASLEEP AROUND XA00; AND WAS AWAKENED BY ANOTHER CTR CALLING FOR HDOF. 2 CTLRS WERE IN THE AREA. I HAD WORKED A 3 SWING; 1 DAY; 1 MID ROTATION. I BELIEVE THE 2 QUICK TURNS IN SUCCESSION WERE A LEADING FACTOR IN MY FATIGUE. MY AGE IS ANOTHER FACTOR. MIDNIGHT SHIFTS USED TO BE A LOT EASER TO DEAL WITH. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE LARGE AMOUNT OF 6 DAY WORK WKS I HAVE BEEN WORKING RECENTLY. RECOMMENDATIONS: DOUBLE QUICK TURNS SHOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED. CTLRS SHOULD BE ALLOWED AND URGED TO SLEEP FOR A SHORT PERIOD DURING MIDNIGHT SHIFTS. 6 DAY WORK WKS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.