Date: 201703
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZHU.ARTCC, TX
Light: Night
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
ATC / advisory: Center ZHU
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Workload; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Staffing; Procedure
Primary problem: Staffing

Narrative: Working 4 positions combined (8 if you count D-sides since I didn't have one) because no additional personnel was called in earlier in the evening. Sector was overloaded with traffic in excess of 45 aircraft in the Aircraft List (ACL). Supervisor left approximately 20-25 minutes prior; which was ample warning to know the sectors would be overloaded if combined. DLF approach was open running traffic that normally doesn't happen in the evening. Bad rides at pretty much every altitude; which created lots of excessive radio transmissions because no one is ever aware of ride conditions prior to departure. I had a trainee (not certified on even one position) monitor the position to ensure handoffs were taken; initiated; and to look for conflicting traffic. Supervisor who came in for mid shift was clueless as to what was going on in the whole facility because the specialty across the way (CRP) was encountering the exact same scenario. All she was worried about was telling us about switching radar channels in the mix of everything. Lack of staffing; lack of leadership from immediate supervisor (outgoing and incoming) put me in a situation that was very unsafe and could have led to a potential disaster. Supervisor was in a rush to go home and never looked to see what the upcoming traffic load was.1) Have supervisors work their assigned shifts. They're there for a reason. Cover times when controllers are working busier periods. It's no surprise that there's a departure rush from the Houston area. No need to leave [before that] and have a control room working the way it was. They're shifts are assigned to overlap but they don't work that way; instead we are left with fewer usable bodies. 2) Assign overtime when there are numerous people gone for extra events; and sick leave. One person out for union event; one sick leave; one denied annual that took sick leave (two from the same crew). It's all too common that we 'make it work'; rather than call in reinforcements. An extra body for 45 minutes would have made all the difference. Even outgoing supervisor could have helped.3) Have oncoming supervisors check up on specialties to see what the traffic load is and help if need be. The supervisors that cover the mid shifts I work always check to make sure we have proper staffing to cover workload; long before the night shift crews go home. 4) If aware of situation; have the Traffic Management Unit put in trail spacing to busier sectors to avoid saturation. 5) Don't combine positions that shouldn't be combined based on workload. The amount of traffic tonight would have been split into numerous positions. Because the supervisor was in a hurry to leave; he neglected to look at the traffic count and hold someone for overtime.




Synopsis: ZHU Controller reported working 4 positions combined with heavy traffic and no help.