Fatigue risk management for cabin crew: the importance of company support andsufficient rest for work-life balance—a qualitative study

摘要

Knowledge about cabin crew fatigue associated with ultra-long range (ULR) flights isstill limited. Current ULR scheduling for cabin crew is therefore predominantly based onflight crew data. Cabin crews’ views on fatigue, and their strategies for mitigating it,have seldom been sought. To better understand the causes and consequences of cabin crewfatigue, semi-structured focus group discussions were held. Thematic analysis wasundertaken with data from 25 cabin crew. Participants indicated that the consequences offatigue are twofold, affecting 1) cabin crew health and wellbeing and 2) safety (cabin,passenger and personal) and cabin service. While the primary causes of fatigue were sleeploss and circadian disruption, participants also identified other key factors including:insufficient rest, high workload, the work environment, a lack of company support, andinsufficient fatigue management training. They highlighted the importance of sufficientrest, not only for obtaining adequate recovery sleep but also for achieving a work-lifebalance. They also highlighted the need for company support, effective communication, andmanagement’s engagement with cabin crew in general. We recommend that priority is given tofatigue management training for cabin crew, which may also enhance perceived companysupport and assist with achieving a better work-life balance.