Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Train drivers and fatal accidents on the rail: Psychological aspects and safety

Briem, Valdimar LU ; de Lima, Sonia and Siotis, Camilla (2007)
Abstract
Psychological disability caused by stress is likely to affect cognitive and emotional functions, such as memory, attention, concentration, and decision making. These functions are essential in a train driver’s work, who is responsible for his or her own and others’ safety, and for this purpose requires optimal work capacity. Eighteen train drivers, 40 – 56 years old, most of them with long work experience, participated in the present study, which included psychological tests and interviews concerning fatal railway accidents the driver had experienced while at the controls of the train. The results indicate that a train driver who has witnessed a person being killed under his or her train frequently suffers long-lasting psychological... (More)
Psychological disability caused by stress is likely to affect cognitive and emotional functions, such as memory, attention, concentration, and decision making. These functions are essential in a train driver’s work, who is responsible for his or her own and others’ safety, and for this purpose requires optimal work capacity. Eighteen train drivers, 40 – 56 years old, most of them with long work experience, participated in the present study, which included psychological tests and interviews concerning fatal railway accidents the driver had experienced while at the controls of the train. The results indicate that a train driver who has witnessed a person being killed under his or her train frequently suffers long-lasting psychological consequences of the accident. It is evident that careful measures, which include professional psychological help and support from the driver’s family, peers, and company management, are important components in the psychological healing process after such an accident. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
serious accidents, psychological factors, PTSD, suicides, train drivers
host publication
People and Rail Systems: Human Factors at the Heart of the Railway
editor
Wilson, John ; Norris, Beverley ; Clarke, Teresa and Mills, Ann
publisher
Ashgate
ISBN
0-7546-7184-4
978-0-7546-7184-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6e60dc12-f67b-4c92-81f8-faacc11535c5 (old id 775873)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:15:07
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:03:38
@inbook{6e60dc12-f67b-4c92-81f8-faacc11535c5,
  abstract     = {{Psychological disability caused by stress is likely to affect cognitive and emotional functions, such as memory, attention, concentration, and decision making. These functions are essential in a train driver’s work, who is responsible for his or her own and others’ safety, and for this purpose requires optimal work capacity. Eighteen train drivers, 40 – 56 years old, most of them with long work experience, participated in the present study, which included psychological tests and interviews concerning fatal railway accidents the driver had experienced while at the controls of the train. The results indicate that a train driver who has witnessed a person being killed under his or her train frequently suffers long-lasting psychological consequences of the accident. It is evident that careful measures, which include professional psychological help and support from the driver’s family, peers, and company management, are important components in the psychological healing process after such an accident.}},
  author       = {{Briem, Valdimar and de Lima, Sonia and Siotis, Camilla}},
  booktitle    = {{People and Rail Systems: Human Factors at the Heart of the Railway}},
  editor       = {{Wilson, John and Norris, Beverley and Clarke, Teresa and Mills, Ann}},
  isbn         = {{0-7546-7184-4}},
  keywords     = {{serious accidents; psychological factors; PTSD; suicides; train drivers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Ashgate}},
  title        = {{Train drivers and fatal accidents on the rail: Psychological aspects and safety}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}