Underground Metro Drivers: Occupational Problems and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Abstract The performance of employees in a transport set is highly affected by their satisfaction and occupational problems. Underground metro drivers work in special conditions as compared with the drivers of suburban trains and urban tramways. Even though several studies have focused on the ergonomics of train drivers, there is a dearth of research on underground metro drivers. This study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting the underground metro drivers’ occupational problems such as depression and level of satisfaction. The study was carried out on underground metro drivers in Tehran, Iran. The required data were collected through interviews, self-report tests and a depression scale. The classification and regression tree (CART) model was used to measure the relationship among depression, different conditions and other demographic characteristics. By using hierarchical clustering, metro drivers were divided into two categories with desirable and undesirable levels of satisfaction with regard to varying levels of satisfaction in different fields. By labelling them and reusing the CART model, the most important parameters affecting the satisfaction of drivers were extracted. The results indicated that more than half of metro drivers were depressed. The most important factors in the incidence of depression were: resentment of some psychological factors such as dissatisfaction with loneliness in the cabin, stress and fear of an incident, fatigue, dissatisfaction with the resting place, work experience more than 3.5 years, dissatisfaction with rights and the need for a second job. Also, the most important factor affecting satisfaction was the quality of the resting place.

Keywords

• Underground metro driver
• Occupational problems
• Depression
• Job satisfaction