Analysis of changing rail traffic control work: disturbance handling as a shared task of a network
The traditional Finnish Railway Company (VR Limited) has encountered several ownership and organizational changes, including being transformed from a state agency to a state-owned company and further to a public company. The still ongoing organizational change is aimed at clarifying the division of tasks and responsibilities in the functioning of the railways. Along with the technological developments, the tasks and roles of traffic controllers have changed radically during the last decade. Disturbance handling forms a central part of traffic control work, and, as it requires close collaboration with each unit of the railway network, it can thus be named a shared task and objective of the network. Using the activity theoretical approach, we analysed a typical disturbance situation to illustrate both the change in work and the new kind of collaboration needs and tools of the network. The analysis revealed many interfaces and interaction needs within the network, concerning both technical devices and communication requirements. To enhance the collaboration in the entire network would not only promote the aims of traffic control for safe, efficient, and on schedule traffic, but also reduce the disturbance load and enhance the work-related well-being of all the actors in the network.
Arja Ala-Laurinaho Kirsti Launis P(a)ivi Piispanen Tapio Raaska Simo Sauni
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Finnish Rail Administration
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-8
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）