What is it about?

Train drivers play a critical role in keeping railway operations safe and reliable. However, many train drivers work rotating shifts, including night shifts and long working hours. These schedules can disrupt sleep patterns, increase fatigue, and affect overall well-being. This study examined whether shift work affects the performance of train drivers at PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), and whether burnout acts as the link between shift schedules and job performance. Burnout refers to a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can make employees feel drained, less motivated, and less effective at work.

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Why is it important?

Railway safety depends heavily on train drivers remaining alert, focused, and capable of making accurate decisions. When burnout increases, performance can decline, potentially affecting operational safety. The study highlights that managing fatigue is not only an employee well-being issue but also a safety issue. The research also compares practices in Japan, where railway operators use a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) to proactively manage fatigue through better scheduling, rest periods, and fatigue monitoring. The findings suggest that PT KAI could strengthen its shift management policies by adopting similar preventive approaches.

Perspectives

I believe this study is particularly valuable because it moves the discussion beyond the simple assumption that shift work alone causes performance problems. Instead, it demonstrates that burnout is the critical mechanism through which shift schedules affect train driver performance. This insight provides a clearer direction for railway organizations: improving performance is not only about changing work schedules but also about actively supporting employee well-being and recovery. The study contributes practical evidence that investing in fatigue and burnout prevention can simultaneously improve workforce health, operational performance, and railway safety.

Associate Professor Septiana Dwiputrianti
STIA LAN Bandung

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: BURNOUT AS A MEDIATOR OF TRAIN DRIVERS’ PERFORMANCE IN WORK SHIFTS STUDY AT PT KERETA API INDONESIA (PERSERO), Irpia Jurnal Ilmiah Riset dan Pengembangan, March 2026, Institut Riset dan Pengembangan Indonesia,
DOI: 10.71040/jirp.v11i1.311.
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