in June a train derailed right outside Paddington Station, causing disruption for many for several days. A preliminary report was issued at the end of last week:-
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/paddington-safety-digest/derailment-at-paddington-16-june-2016
the immediate causes appear to be tied up with train driver route learning stuff, and complying with local instruction. but over the weekend, the press (including the BBC, surprisingly)made much of the driver fasting for Ramadan.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37128426
in a year when the Ramadan fast was at its longest (16h37mn), it would be easy to conclude being without food or water for nearly 15 hours might have had an effect. RAIB’s view is that there’s not enough evidence, but that the effects of fasting are understood.
would it be the right thing to do, for safety critical undertakings to vary shift patterns or work content to take account of religious obligations of their staff, such as fasting? and would so doing be fair on the rest of the staff who would need to accommodate this?