Narrative:

I was working a radar associate position at a high altitude sector at ZBW (RA46). Traffic was light; no complexity. The radar controller accepted a handoff on a C130 approximately 45 mi prior to our airspace at FL240. Prior to the incident; the radar controller idented a track; an E135 landing bos; approximately 20 mi west of the C130. The E145 was at FL280 with the data block showing a clearance to 11000 ft. The C130 and E145 were on converging courses. Neither aircraft were in our delegated airspace. The sectors in that area are FL230 and below (sector 36) and FL240 and above (sector 38). Prior to the incident; sector 38 called me to turn the C130 30 degrees to the left. The E145 was still FL260 descending; being worked by sector 36. I passed the information to my radar controller. My radar controller then turned the C130 immediately 40 degrees as it appeared separation was in question. I observed the E145 turning hard left at about the same time. Separation was lost; 4.97 mi and 300 ft. Human factors: the radar controller and I were nearing the end of our day. In recent months; we are routinely assigned operating position that have little meaningful work. Boredom and stress of enduring long periods on a position with little to do. Mentally getting through a shift has become a true challenge. In this incident; 6 controllers were removed from position to conduct an investigation. My sector was not responsible for separating these 2 aircraft. I took no interest in interceding. No one did until it was too late; despite it being known by several controllers. Mentally surviving a shift has become a priority. Unnecessary stress and boredom have left me disengaged from the operation more each day.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW RADAR ASSOC CTLR WITNESSED OPERROR AT FL240 WHEN INSTRUCTIONS TO CONVERGING TFC WERE LATE; CITING STRESS/BOREDOM AS HUMAN FACTORS.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING A RADAR ASSOCIATE POS AT A HIGH ALT SECTOR AT ZBW (RA46). TFC WAS LIGHT; NO COMPLEXITY. THE RADAR CTLR ACCEPTED A HDOF ON A C130 APPROX 45 MI PRIOR TO OUR AIRSPACE AT FL240. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT; THE RADAR CTLR IDENTED A TRACK; AN E135 LNDG BOS; APPROX 20 MI W OF THE C130. THE E145 WAS AT FL280 WITH THE DATA BLOCK SHOWING A CLRNC TO 11000 FT. THE C130 AND E145 WERE ON CONVERGING COURSES. NEITHER ACFT WERE IN OUR DELEGATED AIRSPACE. THE SECTORS IN THAT AREA ARE FL230 AND BELOW (SECTOR 36) AND FL240 AND ABOVE (SECTOR 38). PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT; SECTOR 38 CALLED ME TO TURN THE C130 30 DEGS TO THE L. THE E145 WAS STILL FL260 DSNDING; BEING WORKED BY SECTOR 36. I PASSED THE INFO TO MY RADAR CTLR. MY RADAR CTLR THEN TURNED THE C130 IMMEDIATELY 40 DEGS AS IT APPEARED SEPARATION WAS IN QUESTION. I OBSERVED THE E145 TURNING HARD L AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. SEPARATION WAS LOST; 4.97 MI AND 300 FT. HUMAN FACTORS: THE RADAR CTLR AND I WERE NEARING THE END OF OUR DAY. IN RECENT MONTHS; WE ARE ROUTINELY ASSIGNED OPERATING POS THAT HAVE LITTLE MEANINGFUL WORK. BOREDOM AND STRESS OF ENDURING LONG PERIODS ON A POS WITH LITTLE TO DO. MENTALLY GETTING THROUGH A SHIFT HAS BECOME A TRUE CHALLENGE. IN THIS INCIDENT; 6 CTLRS WERE REMOVED FROM POS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. MY SECTOR WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SEPARATING THESE 2 ACFT. I TOOK NO INTEREST IN INTERCEDING. NO ONE DID UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE; DESPITE IT BEING KNOWN BY SEVERAL CTLRS. MENTALLY SURVIVING A SHIFT HAS BECOME A PRIORITY. UNNECESSARY STRESS AND BOREDOM HAVE LEFT ME DISENGAGED FROM THE OP MORE EACH DAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.