Narrative:

I was working R40 during a push. The word came down that sector 42 was to be opened; which increases my workload immensely due to point outs now needing to be made. I reported that I needed a d-side. Everyone on position in the control room was needed where they were. The controller in charge was then relieved by the flm and told to open R42. I saw him sit down; and repeated that I needed a d-side to the flm and OM who were now chatting at the front desk. I continued to do work and heard the briefing starting next to me to open R42. I then loudly exclaimed that I needed a d-side in hopes of breaking through the chit-chat barrier up front. When a d-side did come; it was at the initiative of a fellow controller who left a sector that also needed a d-side; just not as imminently. A d-side was never assigned to help me; despite the exuberant call I made. Just to clarify: sector 42 was allowed to continue to open as safety was compromised on sector 40; thus also putting sector 30/31 at risk because of the given-up d-side. We had the staffing; management simply decided to misuse it. First of all; I'm sure all 3 aircraft in the confines of sector 42 needed special handling and their own r-side. Opening sector 42 in area D has become the habitual staple of all supervisors. Opening this sector increases workload for sector 40. Opening this sector during a slc departure push is shortsighted; unsafe; and completely unnecessary. Supervisors need to have a handle on their area. Why else are they there? Three calls for a d-side is ludicrous. Ignoring a call for a d-side is unsafe; and I can't cite a rule off the top of my head; but it seems like it should be written somewhere. The OM's decision (baseless and without any experience; I will add) was held above the safety of the NAS. I forget rule number one of air traffic control; and apparently so has everyone else forced to wear a tie to work here. Sectors 42 and 43 both have increased workloads with a split. Sectors 41; 45; and 47 all have increased workload with this split. Oakland center has an increased workload with this split. Seattle center has increased workload with this split. Unless the split is needed for traffic; really needed; not just for a seat to fill the roster; it should not be opened. It is a overall increase in workload which is fine if it makes the airspace safer; but unacceptable for any other reason.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLC Controller described an unsafe condition concerning sector splits and failure to open D-Sides; noting that even attempts to 'split' sectors can sometimes increase workloads significantly due to coordination requirements.

Narrative: I was working R40 during a push. The word came down that Sector 42 was to be opened; which increases my workload immensely due to point outs now needing to be made. I reported that I needed a D-Side. Everyone on position in the control room was needed where they were. The CIC was then relieved by the FLM and told to open R42. I saw him sit down; and repeated that I needed a D-Side to the FLM and OM who were now chatting at the front desk. I continued to do work and heard the briefing starting next to me to open R42. I then loudly exclaimed that I needed a D-Side in hopes of breaking through the chit-chat barrier up front. When a D-Side did come; it was at the initiative of a fellow controller who left a sector that also needed a D-Side; just not as imminently. A D-Side was never assigned to help me; despite the exuberant call I made. Just to clarify: Sector 42 was allowed to continue to open as safety was compromised on Sector 40; thus also putting Sector 30/31 at risk because of the given-up D-Side. We had the staffing; Management simply decided to misuse it. First of all; I'm sure all 3 aircraft in the confines of Sector 42 needed special handling and their own R-Side. Opening Sector 42 in Area D has become the habitual staple of all supervisors. Opening this sector increases workload for Sector 40. Opening this sector during a SLC departure push is shortsighted; unsafe; and completely unnecessary. Supervisors need to have a handle on their area. Why else are they there? Three calls for a D-Side is ludicrous. Ignoring a call for a D-Side is unsafe; and I can't cite a rule off the top of my head; but it seems like it should be written somewhere. The OM's decision (baseless and without any experience; I will add) was held above the safety of the NAS. I forget rule number one of Air Traffic Control; and apparently so has everyone else forced to wear a tie to work here. Sectors 42 and 43 both have increased workloads with a split. Sectors 41; 45; and 47 all have increased workload with this split. Oakland Center has an increased workload with this split. Seattle Center has increased workload with this split. Unless the split is needed for traffic; really needed; not just for a seat to fill the roster; it should not be opened. It is a overall increase in workload which is fine if it makes the airspace safer; but unacceptable for any other reason.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.