Train operators in Canada's growing freight rail industry have been reported sleeping while operating the controls. They freight train operators were also reported coming to work exhausted at a frighteningly high rate. One engineer of a Canadian freight train admitted that he had instances where he just woke up and for a few seconds did not know where he was. He also said that at that moment the train reached a stop signal so if he had woken up maybe 3 seconds later someones life could have been lost. In total 75 percent of workers admit to falling asleep on the job. The workers are saying that the core of the problem is more than just the long shifts is also the fact that they have to sleep in makeshift beds far away from their home, or the fact that they are on call 24/7 so they don't really have a set schedule. Investigators say that they think the root of the problem is travel fatigue.
I believe that solution to problem would be the head of Canada's freight industry hiring more workers so that the workers they already have aren't always on call. That way they could get a better sleep and then be able to properly operate their freight train. Although there has not yet been any fatalities I still believe that this plan of action would reduce all chances of there even being an accident. They should also be mindful that they don't hire too many people, because the wages will continue to drop due to availability of staff.
Do you think that increases in staffing will lead to lower salaries and the workers will be willing to deal with these at the expense that they aren't always on call/
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