Course Overview
Crew Resource Management (CRM) is a safety-critical discipline that addresses the human factors dimension of railwayoperations. This course provides railway workers with the knowledge, tools, and behavioural strategies to optimizeindividual and crew performance, manage error effectively, and build a strong safety culture on the railway. Grounded in accident investigation evidence and human factors science, learners examine how cognitive limitations,stress, fatigue, communication breakdowns, and team dynamics contribute to railway incidents — and what they cando about it. Each module combines evidence-based theory with realistic railway scenarios drawn from TransportationSafety Board of Canada (TSB) findings and Canadian operational contexts. This course is directly applicable to all operating roles including locomotive engineer, conductor, rail traffic controller,and yard foreman. Learners who complete this course will be better equipped to recognize hazardous conditions,communicate effectively under pressure, challenge unsafe decisions, and contribute to a high-reliability crew culture.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
0.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Define Crew Resource Management and explain its historical development from aviation into Canadian railwaysafety operations.
- Identify Rasmussen's three behaviour modes and Reason's four error types, and apply error classification to realrailway scenarios.
- Describe the physiological and cognitive effects of acute and chronic stress on operational performance anderror risk.
- Explain the mechanisms of fatigue and sleep science, including circadian rhythms and sleep debt, as they applyto shift workers in railway operations.
- Apply Endsley's three-level Situational Awareness model (Perception, Comprehension, Projection) to railwayoperating scenarios.
- Recognize threats to shared situational awareness in crew environments and apply decision-making frameworksunder uncertainty.
- Demonstrate effective communication techniques including closed-loop communication (read-back/hear-back),standard briefings, and radio discipline.
- Apply the PACE escalation model (Probe, Alert, Challenge, Emergency) to challenge unsafe decisions assertivelyand professionally.
- Describe the characteristics of effective high-reliability crews and explain how shared mental models, cross-checking, and backup behaviours reduce error.
- Analyze railway incident case studies using CRM principles and develop a personal CRM action plan forapplication in their specific operating role.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2026
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.