Post on 09-Mar-2018
FATIGUE MANAGEMENT Shell Canada Road Transport Forum
September 26, 2013
Bruce Adams, Regional Traffic Safety Consultant
Alberta Office of Traffic Safety
Copyright 2013
Definition “The state of feeling very tired, weary or sleepy resulting from
insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or
extended periods of stress or anxiety. Boring or repetitive tasks
can intensify feelings of fatigue. It can also be described as
either acute or chronic”
“A combination of symptoms, such as impaired performance
and subjective feelings of drowsiness, as well as contributory
factors, such as prolonged activity, insufficient sleep and
disruption of circadian rhythms”
ccohs.ca, CCMTA
Definition There is no universally accepted definition of fatigue, however there is a general consensus among researchers which include the following:
Lack of sleep
Build up of sleep debt
Time of day as it relates to circadian rhythm
Time awake, and time performing a task
CCMTA, Hartley, Penna, Corry and Feyer, 2000; Williamson, Feyer, Friswell and Finlay-Brown, 2000)
Highway Hypnosis Driver fatigue is often caused by highway hypnosis.
Highway hypnosis, also known as "white line fever," occurs when someone has been driving a vehicle along a long stretch of roadway for an extended period of time. The monotony of a long drive can induce sleepiness or forgetfulness. It can lull the brain into trance, and the body is essentially operating on auto pilot while the mind is off somewhere else. Highway hypnosis is most common during the late-night hours when the time of day also plays a role in drowsiness. The concept of highway hypnosis is nothing new. Many roadways are built with rumble strips or other variations in the scenery to reduce the monotony of the road. Highway hypnosis occurs more than people would like to believe.
Signs of Being Fatigued Yawning
Head bobbing
Day dreaming/difficulty of focusing
Drifting out of your lane
Missing exits or entrance ramps/cross streets
Excessive eye blinking > focusing
Irritability/aggressiveness
Prevention Tips Take a 10 to 20 minute nap if you have been driving 2 straight hours or
more.
Switch drivers every 2 to 5 hours
Avoid driving when you would be normally sleeping
Be aware if you have had less then 8 hours of sleep in the past 24 hours
you will likely be fatigued.
Avoid alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness
Prevention Tips…cont Allow more time to get to your designation, drivers trying to make
destinations by a certain time are more likely to push themselves beyond acceptable physical limits.
Keep a upright sitting posture, slouching or leaning backwards can increase drowsiness.
Drink water and eat healthy foods. Avoid fatty, heavy foods that will likely induce sleep.
Drink beverages with caffeine only if a boost is necessary.
Fatigue Related Collision Usually involve a single vehicle drifting off the road (75% of incidents)
Or, are head on collisions where the fatigued driver is not attempting to pass (25%)
Usually driver is the only passenger
Male drivers under the age of 25 are at a higher risk of a fatigue related collision
Absence of avoidance
Difficult to determine if fatigue was the cause
CCMTA; Traffic Injury Research Foundation(TIRF)
Some Statistics/Research
20% of Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes are Fatigue Related
Approximately 60% of Canadians admit to driving while fatigued
20% of Canadians admit to falling asleep while driving
Research found that in long haul truck driver fatigue related incidents, the driver had slept 5.5 hours or less prior to the incident
More likely to experience catastrophic loss between midnight and 6am, and 2 and 4pm
CCMTA; TIRF; Dawson and Reid, 1997; Lamond and Dawson, 1999; Arnedt, Wilde, Munt and MacLean, 2001; Williamson et al., 2001
Some Statistics/Research The statistics on fatigue related collisions are somewhat conservative because most don’t include:
Crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than 0.05g/100ml
Crashes involving any unlicensed drivers or unlicensed motorcycle riders
Crashes involving a pedestrian
Crashes where the speed limit is less than 80km/h
CCMTA
Reaction Time Increase in time it takes to react
At legal blood alcohol limit (.08) 12%
Texting 35%
Fatigue 14%
Cell phone use 18%
Royal Automobile Commission; University of Utah
Fitness for Work Someone who’s been awake for 18 hours has an impairment level
compared to someone who has a BAC .05
Someone who’s been awake for 20 hours has an impairment level compared to someone who has a BAC of .10
These impairment levels may cause significant lapses in a workers ability to concentrate or make sound judgments
Research has shown an 15.2% increase in injuries on afternoon shifts and 27.9% on night shifts
Night workers get 5-7 hours less sleep per week
Dawson and Reid, 1997; Lamond and Dawson, 1999; Arnedt, Wilde, Munt and MacLean, 2001; Williamson et al., 2001; Lombardi, Folkard 2004
Major Incidents Attributed to
Fatigue “Over one million injuries and between 50,000 and 100,000 deaths each year result from preventable medical errors”
Caused mainly by doctors working 24 hour shifts.
This number could be brought down by 36% if doctors worked 16 hour shifts, and scheduling no more than a 80 hour work week
Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School
Major Incidents Attributed to
Fatigue March 6, 1987 Zeebrugge Ferry Capsize (193 Dead)
Ship workers routinely scheduled to work 24 hour shifts
Assistant Boatswain in charge of closing bow doors fell asleep, failing to
perform required task
Poor communication between bridge and boatswain, along with no follow-up
procedure also contributed
Note: Company had sailed with doors open in 1983, due to another Assistant
Boatswain falling asleep
Major Incidents Attributed to
Fatigue March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (Considered to be one of the most devastating human caused environmental disasters)
The third mate failed to properly maneuver the vessel, possibly due to fatigue or excessive workload
Failure of the company to provide vessel with a properly rested crew
The crew routinely worked 12-14 hour shifts plus overtime
Other incidents 2 Cyclists killed near Lake Louise. 2004
Driver charged with careless driving, and failing to remain in lane
Other Incidents Truck ends up on-top of car at intersection of Hwy 1 and Olympic Way in
Calgary. 2004
Driver charged with Criminal Negligence
(1 dead, 8 injured)
Legal Liability Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulation.
Section 4, Not to allow driver to drive if the drivers cognitive abilities are impaired to the point that it is unsafe to drive
OHS Act
Section 2, Must ensure the safety of all workers
OHS Code.
Section 9, Hazard elimination and control (Fatigue is a hazard!)
Legal Liability So far in Canada there has been no employers convicted for accidents as a direct cause of fatigued employees driving home after work, however there have been cases in the states that would suggest it could happen here:
Texas: oil worker driving home after 12 hour shift crossed median and killed 4. Workers widow sued and the company was found negligent
Oregon: fast food restaurant worker was excused from work due to fatigue after working 3 shifts in 24 hours. Worker crashed into oncoming van and was killed. The van driver sued and was awarded damages due to employer negligence.
OHS Insider.com
Future Developments
In July of this year, Transport Canada, U.S. Department of Transportation
along with Provincial partners (WCB, Alberta Transportation) launched a web
site that provides training and education on commercial bus and truck driver
fatigue management. The web site is: www.nafmp.org
North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP) provides drivers
and carriers with an awareness of the factors contributing to fatigue and its
impact on performance/safety. It provides:
How to develop a corporate culture that facilitates reduce driver fatigue
Fatigue management education >drivers/carriers/managers/dispatchers
Information on sleep disorders, screening and treatment
Driver and trip scheduling information
Information on fatigue Management Technologies
Note this complements but does override regulation on hours of service
Thank You!