| This quantitative study focused on assessing stress responses of members (N = 236) of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 269 (BLE 269) which is affiliated with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in New York. There is international consensus that locomotive engineers experience acute stress responses following an incident in which there is human injury or death caused by the train the engineer was Operating (person-under-train or PUT incident). Goals of the study were: (1) to assess the frequency of occurrence, the nature, and effects of PUT incidents among a sample of BLE 269 engineers, including formal and informal resources used in response to such incidents; and (2) to identify risk factors and mediating factors that are related to self-reported stress symptoms among engineers who report experiencing a PUT incident. The mailed survey consisted of (1) a questionnaire designed for this study, (2) General Health Questionnaire-12, (3) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, (4) Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire, and (5) Stressful Life Experiences Screening. Data analyses included the use of descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple regression techniques. Correlation was found between the experience of a PUT and development of Acute Stress Disorder by locomotive engineers. Social support, specifically talking with someone after the PUT, decreased stress levels. Implications for BLE-269, LIRR management, and clinical social work are discussed. |
