Work tasks drive the physical behaviors of passenger train drivers

Passenger rail drivers' physical behaviors contribute to individual, organizational, and community risks. As work tasks are theorized to determine physical behaviors performed during work hours, there is a need to clarify how work tasks determine passenger rail drivers' physical behaviors to inform improved work design. The aim of this study was to describe the physical behaviors of passenger train drivers across their work tasks and breaks, and explore what potential influences create variations in physical behaviors within tasks.

An exploratory observational field study was conducted with passenger train drivers in South Australia. Across a shift drivers were observed directly, and a hierarchical task analysis was conducted to identify their main work tasks and sub-tasks, with simultaneous accelerometry to quantify the physical behaviors.

Ten male passenger train drivers, median age of 53 years, were observed. The hierarchical task analysis identified seven main tasks: Pre-Service, Set-Up, Driving, Switching Ends, Pack-Up, Waiting Time, and Breaks. Driving was almost all sitting (99%), whereas Set-Up and Switching Ends involved considerable moderate/vigorous physical activity (24% and 21%, respectively). Physical behaviors varied within tasks due to worker characteristics (eg, individual motivation), uncontrolled work elements (eg, weather), and structural work elements (eg, timetables).

Passenger train drivers' physical behaviors at work were largely determined by their work tasks, but varied with worker characteristics, as well as uncontrolled and structural work elements. These findings may be used to inform future job redesigns to promote passenger train drivers' health through their physical behaviors at work.