Being alert on a worksite is paramount to staying safe. Not only being alert on a worksite is important but when traveling between job sites.
Driving to work can be more dangerous than working on the job site because of traffic, distractions, and fatigue. Statistics show drowsy driving is the most dangerous condition.
Stress and obviously lack of sleep are two main factors of driving tired. Other causes can be medications and sleep disorders.
Each year, drowsy driving accounts for about 100,000 crashes and 71,000 injuries in the U.S., according to the National Safety Council (NSC), while the National Sleep Foundation claims that an estimated 6,400 people die annually in crashes involving drowsy driving.
A study by The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA) also found that an estimated 16.5 percent of fatal crashes, 13.1 percent of crashes resulting in hospitalization, and 7 percent of all crashes in which a passenger vehicle is towed involve a drowsy driver.
While it's obviously on drivers to be responsible by not driving when tired, it's also on companies to take necessary steps to help prevent employees from hitting the roads or operating equipment when drowsy.
A company should be careful how much they expect employees to operate vehicles, be able to give them enough time to rest between trips, arrange accommodations to rest during long shifts or travel time, and to have a system to assist lone workers.
A lone worker is someone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision such as delivery drivers. For example, this might include having an agreed schedule to touch base and check in.
A company can also have a reporting system for workers to report all work-related road incidents and near misses.
Providing up-to-date and relevant driver training will keep employees aware of their unique risks on the road.
And finally, identify on-the-job training that presents information in a way that is learned in a timely and efficient manner.
