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!