EMB145 FLIGHT CREW NEGLECTS TO SET THE LOCAL ALTIMETER SETTING DESCENDING THROUGH FL180; RESULTING IN AN ALTITUDE DEVIATION.

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WE DSNDED OUT OF FL180 AND EXPERIENCED MODERATE TURB AND ICING. OUR ATTN WAS FOCUSED ON THE CURRENT SITUATION AND FAILED TO SET THE LOCAL ALTIMETER TO 29.48. AS WE LEVELED OFF AT THE REQUESTED ALT OF 12000 FT; APCH ASKED US OUR ALT AND REPEATED THE LOCAL ALTIMETER SETTING. MANY SITUATIONS TOOK PLACE THAT LED UP TO THIS SITUATION. BELOW; I WILL LIST THESE POTENTIAL CAUSES: 1) LAST ROUND TRIP; 14 1/2 HR DUTY DAY WITH A 2 1/2 HR TAXI IN JFK AND A 1 1/2 HR GND STOP BACK TO JFK. 2) 5-DAY TRIP WITH EXTENSIVE WX DELAYS; ICING; LOW VISIBILITY AND CEILINGS AT MOST DESTS. WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED? THERE HAVE GOT TO BE REGS SET IN PLACE TO LIMIT THE DUTY DAY. A 16-HR DUTY DAY MIXED WITH A 5-DAY TRIP AND BAD WX IS A RECIPE FOR MISTAKES. MOST PLTS WILL AGREE THAT THESE MISTAKES WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 5TH DAY OF THE TRIP. THAT DAY WE WERE UP SINCE XA00 FLYING ALL DAY IN AND OUT OF BAD WX. THIS CREATES MENTAL EXHAUSTION CREATING SITUATIONS LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. THE DUTY DAYS HAVE GOT TO BE REDUCED IN ORDER TO HELP PREVENT UNSAFE SITUATIONS. THE NORMAL 9/5 PERSON WORKS ONLY AN AVERAGE OF 9 HRS A DAY. WE ARE FLYING UP TO 8-9 HRS A DAY; ALLOWING PLTS TO OPERATE HVY EQUIP FOR 16 HRS. THE DUTY DAYS HAVE TO BE RESTR TO 12 OR 14 HRS AND PART 121 CARRIERS SHOULD BE RESTR TO 4-DAY TRIPS MAX.