Road Distribution Action Group - Working Group - Final meeting held on 9 June 2009
This working group was initiated by the Road Distribution Action Group (RDAG). The key objective of the group was to provide clear information for employers and employees on managing fatigue at work, including links to existing advice. The agreed advice from the group will be available on the Department for Transport ‘Driving for better business’ website.
RDAG handed over the running of this group on 9 June 2009. The individuals agreed to continue to work together in the future to ensure completion of the new website and to help address any future work on occupational road safety.
The introduction page includes statistics, details and limitations of driving hours and brief bullets on the key responsibilities of employers and employees.
This ‘model policy’ document explains the need for senior commitment, and gives advice on the key steps that a haulage operator can take to manage their responsibilities on employee fatigue, and what employee’s can do.
The group agreed that larger operators would also like to have more detailed information about the practical methods and systems for implementing the policy. This could come out of the trialing work on FRMS (see below).
This document highlights that most fatigue is related to lifestyle factors, however medical conditions can also contribute, including conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). More information on OSA is provided. Easy steps for employers to reduce risks relating to medical issues include helping to raise awareness amongst driving employees.
This document outlines the key areas that a training programme on fatigue should cover, including the cause and effects of fatigue, managing overtime and work schedule design, circadian rhythms, sleep debt and individual strategies. For larger companies, training should include an explanation of company policy, and how the person being trained fitted in to that policy, and the management systems that support the policy.
The group agreed that the case studies provided by Wincanton were an excellent way to communicate key messages on fatigue. The case studies must be anonymous, and up-to-date in terms of working time rules etc.
The group agreed that the checklist produced by the Energy Institute (EI) looked particularly useful. Paper copies were distributed at the meeting. Initial feedback from EI is that they would be happy for the checklist to be used on the DFT site, subject to acknowledgment.
DFT have proposed to look further at the possibility of promoting Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) with operators. This follows initial research carried out by Clockwork.
This identified that countries such as Australia and New Zealand have introduced regulations whereby transport operators who can show they have an auditable FRMS in place, are permitted to allow their drivers to drive longer hours than those companies who do not. Australian evidence suggests that this approach has led to clear benefits including fewer accidents, higher driver morale etc. although the New Zealand authorities have not recorded such benefits.
FRMS have also been introduced in some UK air transport companies, and some UK logistics companies are in the process of setting up FRMS.
DFT now want to carry out a pilot, starting next year, whereby they hope to get a number of haulage companies to trial a FRMS with a view to evaluating whether such a system, working within existing UK working time and drivers hours rules, could bring tangible benefits to UK hauliers.
One possible outcome of this work is more detailed guidance on what a FRMS would look like.
The group felt that providing separate material for drivers and employers may not be that useful. A single good source of material could meet the needs of both. However, it was agreed that this should be revisited when the material was put on the DFT website, to see if a quick guide for drivers would be appropriate.
A number of useful sources were identified, although it may not be appropriate to reference foreign guidance, although some of this guidance could be a useful template for producing material produced by this group. These are referenced in Annex 1.
DFT: The group agreed that information provided by this working group should be on a single website, not spread around different sites. Andrew Burr agreed that DFT were best placed to provide a single site – ‘Driving for better business’.
DVLA: Heather Major suggested that leaflets on fatigue could be distributed with class 2 licence renewals.
VOSA: Gordon MacDonald said that VOSA are keen to spread the message that the working time limits are a maximum to work to.
HSE: HSE plan to produce a ‘Fatigue’ page on their road haulage section of the HSE website, which will include links to key advice. It was agreed that this should wait until DFT’s webpages were completed.
RHA: Ray Engley stated that RHA would be happy to promote messages and material from this group through their various mediums.
Press articles etc.: The group agreed it was important to spread messages about the work of the group. Work with the media should be done once the material is finalised.
‘THINK!’ campaign: Future focus on this topic will include supporting the THINK! Campaign on fatigue starting in 2010.
Regular group members:
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Doug Russell | USDAW |
| Sean Cusack | Wincanton |
| Robert Hudgell | HSE |
| Ray Engley | RHA |
| Steve Clarke | Kuehne and Nagel |
| Paul Sturgeon | Wincanton |
| Paul Jackson | Clockwork Research |
| Joan Williams | FTA |
| Heather Major | DVLA |
| Terry Stevenson | DHL Exel |
| Gordon MacDonald | VOSA |
| Andrew Burr | DFT |
| Graham Reeves | BP |
Links last verified: June 2009 version
VOSA guides to EU and domestic drivers’ hours
Energy Institutes Guide on Fatigue Management which can be accessed at: Energy Institute - Humanfactors fatigue Both the report and blank checklists can be downloaded from the website.
IPIECA/ OGP ‘Fitness to drive: Sleep Disorders in the workplace – a guide for the oil and gas industry’
Currently in draft form.
ROSPA info on driving and fatigue, including summary of literature search. (truck drivers at 5.1, shift work at 5.3)
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