Narrative:

During a busy traffic period at a complex high altitude sector with numerous aircraft deviating around areas of moderate to extreme precipitation as well as moderate turbulence; I worked for 2 hours 25 mins. There was insufficient staffing to allow timely breaks and the xfer of responsibility from exhausted controllers to fresh minded ones. I feel that these situations are extremely hazardous and can very easily lead to substandard performances and ultimately unsafe situations. It is extremely difficult to maintain the keen mind and judgement necessary to safely perform the job for this extended period of time -- particularly when WX deviations take away any kind of normal traffic flow within the sector.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR DESCRIBED EXTENDED TIME ON POSITION EVENT; ALLEGING STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE THE CAUSAL FACTOR AND CREATING SAFETY CONCERNS.

Narrative: DURING A BUSY TFC PERIOD AT A COMPLEX HIGH ALT SECTOR WITH NUMEROUS ACFT DEVIATING AROUND AREAS OF MODERATE TO EXTREME PRECIP AS WELL AS MODERATE TURB; I WORKED FOR 2 HRS 25 MINS. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT STAFFING TO ALLOW TIMELY BREAKS AND THE XFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM EXHAUSTED CTLRS TO FRESH MINDED ONES. I FEEL THAT THESE SITUATIONS ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND CAN VERY EASILY LEAD TO SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCES AND ULTIMATELY UNSAFE SITUATIONS. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE KEEN MIND AND JUDGEMENT NECESSARY TO SAFELY PERFORM THE JOB FOR THIS EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME -- PARTICULARLY WHEN WX DEVS TAKE AWAY ANY KIND OF NORMAL TFC FLOW WITHIN THE SECTOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.