Focus
Steering towards better sleep: healthy sleep cultures save time, money and lives in the transport industry
By Integrated Safety Support CEO Dr Adam Fletcher
freight continues to grow, it’s time for the transport and logistics industry to focus on building more positive sleeping cultures to keep workers safe.
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ruck drivers all know the familiar feeling of being halfway through a 12hour night shift, trying to keep their semi between the white lines as the feeling of drowsiness starts to creep in. While Australians are inundated with confronting warnings and horror stories about the dangers of speeding and drink driving, (which account for 34 per cent and 30 per cent of road deaths respectively), fatigue is a major contributing factor to 30 per cent of road fatalities and it often slips under the radar. In fact, the National Road Safety Action Plan says, “fatigue is four times more likely to contribute to impairment than drugs or alcohol”. For those in the Australian transport industry, feeling safe and supported on the road fundamentally relies on healthy sleeping habits. Drivers are at particularly high risk of fatigue during lengthy and irregular shifts – a common reality for many who work on the roads. As our roads return to pre-covid congestion levels, and the reliance on road
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WATM • June 2021
Fatigue hits hardest in the transport industry Fatigue can severely impact employees across all workplaces and industries, but attention-critical workers are at particularly high risk. Although desk-bound workers often face burnout, mental health problems and deteriorating physical health due to poor sleep habits – but there’s no denying the dangers for workers in transport are more likely to come with tragic consequences. Long hours, insufficient downtime between shifts and unpredictable work schedules impact a driver’s ability to get good quality, managed and routine rest. Research suggests long-distance drivers sometimes enter a semi-conscious state while behind the wheel for long periods, while others face circadian rhythm interruptions that can lead to sudden onset drowsiness. Devastating stories of road deaths and injuries have been told time and time again, leaving an irreparable mark on survivors, colleagues and families.
So, if white-collar businesses are raising the bar when it comes to improving employee wellbeing and creating a healthy sleep culture, isn’t it time that transport leaders to do the same? With lives genuinely at risk, combatting fatigue and building productive sleep cultures using evidence-based training and the latest technology should be a top priority for all transport executives.
Trucking sleep culture at the fore In a move that sparked outrage, the Australian Federal Government briefly closed truck rest stops during COVID-19 lockdowns last year. Anybody in the industry would know that essential amenities like showers, lounges and rest spaces are vital to the proper and safe functioning of drivers. While closures during the pandemic were quickly remedied, what hasn’t been addressed is the ongoing issue that there simply isn’t enough rest stations in Australia to combat sleep deprivation. This is particularly true in remote parts of the country, where dedicated rest zones are few and far between. Drivers are often forced to sleep in high-density parking bays that are exposed to road noise and lack sufficient amenities. This environment is not conducive to quality sleep.
