Railway-controller-perceived mental work load, cognitive failure and risky commuting

This questionnaire study tests cognitive failures as a mediator of the potential influence of mental work demands and conscientiousness on risky commuting. Participants were 104 railway-controllers (19% female). Failure of memory, attention regulation and action execution were assessed with the Workplace Cognitive Failure (WCF) scale. Mental work demands were measured by the Instrument for Stress-Oriented Task Analysis (ISTA). A structural equation model testing WCF as the mediator of (1) the relationship between mental work demands and risky commuting (p < 0.05) and (2) the link between conscientiousness and risky commuting (p < 0.05) fitted well with empirical data. In railway-controllers frequent interruptions, time pressure, and high concentration demands are likely to increase cognitive load and thereby boost WCF during work and also during commuting, thereby reducing commuting safety. The results underline the need for work redesign to improve commuting safety.

Commuting accidents occur frequently and at high cost. This study shows that mental work demands of railway staff are related to cognitive failure and risky commuting behaviour such as failing to give way and overlooking stop signs. Primary prevention of commuting accidents should include reduction of mental workload.