Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 14.5
Confusion; Distraction; Fatigue; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Weather; Staffing; Airspace Structure
Working three combined sectors. Weather on west and east side of the sector with multiple departure traffic deviating into sector. Sectors handling metropolitan area traffic were in holding and deviating into the airspace. Other sectors very busy also coordinating point outs; departures; arrival traffic all deviating for squall line running throughout the sector. I was extremely and excessively busy; using multiple frequencies; aircraft were blocking transmissions and read backs. The landline and override calls were too much workload to manage and continue to perceive; assess; and plan control actions. I asked for a Radar Assist Side than in an attempt to regain control of the sector. This assistance came after separation loss with Aircraft X and Aircraft Y.Sectors should not be combined when such workloads and weather conditions exist; traffic safety was significantly compromised. Controllers coming on shift should get weather and game plan briefings. Staffing levels should exceed the potential traffic problems verses the way; the FAA normally staffs sectors and commits controllers to working beyond human ability that would ensure safer conditions for the users of the N.A.S. (National Airspace System).
A Controller working three sectors combined had less than required separation between two aircraft during a period of weather deviations and higher than normal workload.