Narrative:

The initial problem all started when we only had 5 people that night to staff a 6 sector area. The supervisor; due to staffing; combined several sectors just so we could operate with 1 person on break. Each person had to do 2 hours 30 mins (at least) each rotation. One of my co-workers; who was on the sector for close to 3 hours; needed to use the bathroom. I was instructed to leave the radar assistant position on another sector to relieve him so he could go to the bathroom. Just prior to him giving me a very short relief briefing; he issued a descent clearance to an aircraft. Neither of us noticed that the clearance he just issued put him in conflict with another aircraft. 1 min 12 seconds later; after I signed on the position; the conflict alert went off and I took immediate action to solve the conflict. It was too late and there was a loss of separation; so after I just had the operational error; due to staffing; I could not be relieved of position -- I had to continue to work traffic for another 1 1/2 hours before getting a break. Management is supposed to get the individual off position after you are involved. It was very difficult to concentrate after just moving 2 airplanes get too close to one another. And being forced to continue to work traffic for such a long time after the occurrence didn't help the stress or anxiety.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL360; FAILING TO NOTE CONFLICTING TFC IMMEDIATELY AFTER HURRIED RELIEF BRIEFING DUE TO STAFFING LIMITATIONS.

Narrative: THE INITIAL PROB ALL STARTED WHEN WE ONLY HAD 5 PEOPLE THAT NIGHT TO STAFF A 6 SECTOR AREA. THE SUPVR; DUE TO STAFFING; COMBINED SEVERAL SECTORS JUST SO WE COULD OPERATE WITH 1 PERSON ON BREAK. EACH PERSON HAD TO DO 2 HRS 30 MINS (AT LEAST) EACH ROTATION. ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS; WHO WAS ON THE SECTOR FOR CLOSE TO 3 HRS; NEEDED TO USE THE BATHROOM. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE RADAR ASSISTANT POS ON ANOTHER SECTOR TO RELIEVE HIM SO HE COULD GO TO THE BATHROOM. JUST PRIOR TO HIM GIVING ME A VERY SHORT RELIEF BRIEFING; HE ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC TO AN ACFT. NEITHER OF US NOTICED THAT THE CLRNC HE JUST ISSUED PUT HIM IN CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT. 1 MIN 12 SECONDS LATER; AFTER I SIGNED ON THE POS; THE CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF AND I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO SOLVE THE CONFLICT. IT WAS TOO LATE AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF SEPARATION; SO AFTER I JUST HAD THE OPERROR; DUE TO STAFFING; I COULD NOT BE RELIEVED OF POS -- I HAD TO CONTINUE TO WORK TFC FOR ANOTHER 1 1/2 HRS BEFORE GETTING A BREAK. MGMNT IS SUPPOSED TO GET THE INDIVIDUAL OFF POS AFTER YOU ARE INVOLVED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE AFTER JUST MOVING 2 AIRPLANES GET TOO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. AND BEING FORCED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TFC FOR SUCH A LONG TIME AFTER THE OCCURRENCE DIDN'T HELP THE STRESS OR ANXIETY.

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.