Anjum Naweed

Train driving is considered a high‐risk occupation for stress and work‐related mental health disorders. Sources of stress exposure during routine operations can impact a drivers' capacity for safe train operation. From a systems thinking perspective, safety is a responsibility shared by stakeholders across the rail transport system, with risk management relying upon those at the higher levels understanding the system state and the extent to which existing controls are achieving safe system functioning. In relation to driver stress, this requires that rail system stakeholders understand both the stressful events that train drivers are exposed to, and the impacts of this stress on driver performance. This research applied Rasmussen's Risk Management Framework to investigate and compare rail safety stakeholder perceptions on the impacts of acute stress on train driver performance. 119 rail stakeholders (drivers, guards, management, and regulators) were presented with three stressful event scenarios and asked to describe and rate impacts on driver performance. Qualitative analysis provided evidence of alignment of perceptions amongst drivers and other stakeholders, with themes indicating some agreement across rail system levels (e.g., across drivers, guards, supervisors, and management). Results revealed the most frequently reported stress impact related to cognition. Practical implications and future research directions to prevent and manage stressful event exposure are discussed.

The use of trash talk is widely debated in conventional sports and gaming literature. However, in an esports setting, the underlying motivations for engaging in trash talk are often neglected when assessing acceptable or unacceptable player conduct. This study aimed to better understand the motivational dynamics of trash talk in esports through an organismic integration theory perspective. A qualitative research design, distributing surveys across esports social media platforms, was employed. Five hundred ninety-one responses were collected, including 521 from spectators, 15 from industry professionals, and 55 from players. Adaptive theory analysis identified five core motivations for trash talk: to gain a mental advantage, to aid one’s teammates, to promote hype, for self-support, and for amusement. These motivations were also aligned with six extrinsic and intrinsic motivation regulations within organismic integration theory. The outcomes of this study contribute to a greater understanding of player communication and social dynamics in competitive settings.

Modern train cabs have multiple technological systems aiming to minimise the risk of an incident. This qualitative study of train driver instructors investigated: what in-cab systems and warnings are perceived to be the most helpful for train drivers? And, what themes best describe the relationship between train driving and in-cab technology?. Five online focus groups with train driver instructors (n = 19) involved participants undertaking a two-part prioritisation exercise considering the current technologies and safety features in the train cab and ranking the three they considered to be most helpful and most unhelpful. Open discussion about the importance of the technologies in supporting safety, the driver instructors’ opinions about using the technologies, and any safety gaps followed. The safety systems considered most helpful were the AWS (Automatic Warning System), Vigilance, DRA (Driver Reminder Appliance), and TPWS (Train Protection Warning System). Three key themes were identified. “The patchwork cab”, highlights the participants’ experience of using the numerous and sometimes overlapping in function in-cab technologies; “eyes, ears, and staying aware in the cab”, highlights challenges around distraction; and “balancing alerts and silence” highlights workload dynamics and task engagement. Additions of new safety features while retaining legacy systems has resulted in a patchwork like cab design that may not effectively support the driver in their work and decision making. The management of acknowledged distractions has become normalised and is accepted rather than designed out of the cab. In-cab technology has an important role to play in safe vehicle operations as humans and machines become essential team-mates. However, saturation point has been reached for this patchwork approach to in-cab technology, and it will be a challenge to the industry to change this method and redesign systems rather than adding to them.

1. Authority gradients are widely acknowledged in human factors theory as relational structures that shape communication, coordination, and decision-making in socio-technical systems, yet they rema...

As kerbside waste and recycling management practices evolve, integrating technology, community engagement, and policy enforcement are essential for achieving the transition from linear disposal to circular resource economies. Yet, where councils are the focus, research tends to determine what they should do rather than what they can do, arguably contributing to policy development that shifts waste and recycling management expectations onto local councils rather than producers, consumers and processors. In this study, responses to a poll of Australian council-based waste services staff ( n = 82) are analysed, providing a snapshot of current contamination management processes to assess the efficacy and trends in kerbside collections. Focusing on New South Wales – an Australian state currently transitioning its waste and recycling management practice – the poll revealed trends in contamination strategies, policy responses, and community engagement processes. It also showed an increase in the use of in-truck technology as a tool for identifying contamination events. Results indicated that contamination remains a persistent, increasing, and pernicious issue, with recycling bins exhibiting the highest contamination rates, exceeding 11% in many cases, and 60% of participants noting an increase over the past decade, despite public education efforts. Garden Organics and Garden/Food Organics bins generally have contamination levels below 5%. This study seeks to encourage discussion between policymakers, councils, and researchers on how to optimise kerbside waste and recycling collection systems and promote circular economy principles, thereby narrowing the gap between theory and effective practice.

Poor sleep and fatigue are common among paramedics, with negative implications for the safety and well-being of paramedics and the community. Targeted educ