Review rest across the ATCO duty pattern

A shift is part of a sequence. Review the duties before and after it to understand the rest available and the effect of a later change.

Rostering software supports that work by checking defined scheduling rules. It does not measure an individual’s health, determine fitness for duty or replace operational fatigue-management procedures.

See the full duty pattern

Look across consecutive days, rest, night work, breaks and total hours. Meeting the duration limit for one shift does not resolve a conflict with a neighbouring duty.

Include overtime and other changes to actual worked hours. The published roster is a starting point; later decisions should use the relevant attendance information as well.

Set the rules that apply

Document which limits apply to each unit and staff group, how they are approved and who maintains them. The limits should reflect the organisation’s applicable requirements and agreements.

General fatigue scales, sleep advice or examples from another organisation do not establish a local duty threshold. Any fatigue-assessment method needs to sit within an appropriately reviewed operational process.

Know what a score tells you

Staff and supervisors need a defined way to report concerns and take action under the organisation’s procedures. A roster score reports the configured checks. Fitness for duty is assessed through the organisation’s operational process.

Training and reporting procedures should explain that distinction and identify the people authorised to respond.

Make defined checks easier

SkyRoster’s engine evaluates assignments against configured constraints. Planners can examine violations, compare alternative patterns and review changes before publication.

Preferences, leave and shift-swap workflows can help capture scheduling requests. Their approval still requires review of coverage, qualifications and the surrounding duties.

Review the pattern as it changes

Changes in demand, staffing, operating hours or agreement terms can affect the suitability of the current pattern. Review configuration and operational procedures together, and communicate approved changes to staff.

See rostering requirements and guidance and the supported scheduling rules.

Updated September 2026: unsupported medical advice, universal fatigue thresholds and generalised night-duty limits have been removed. The article now focuses on roster review within the organisation’s approved process.