Fatigue Risk Management
As auto insurance claims are among the most significant risk restoration contractors, we will share some insight into commercial auto safety over the next few posts.
Fatigue Risk Management
What do insurance companies look for?
Proactive fatigue controls are established in advance of legislative compliance or significant loss.
Fatigue training programs are formally established and applied consistently across all operations of the organization.
Fatigue monitoring systems are established and applied consistently across all operations of the organization.
Drivers returning from leave or suffering from sleep apnea are identified and managed.
Factors that will negatively affect your premiums:
Only reactive fatigue controls are established that typically follow legislative compliance or significant loss.
Lacking or poor systems established for either continuously or periodically monitoring fatigue in drivers.
Very little training/information on fatigue is provided for drivers.
Little consideration for everyday aspects of fatigue, such as returning from leave and sleep apnea.
Risk Improvement Ideas
Do not rely on legislative compliance for adequate risk management of fatigue.
Rosters/schedules for drivers should maximize the opportunity for night-time sleep at home for drivers.
Ensure that hours of work (driving) are reviewed at least periodically (less frequently for reduced fatigue exposures and more frequently for increased fatigue exposures) and include analysis/awareness of individual daily and weekly work/rest periods with trigger points established for increased controls at maximum acceptable work durations (e.g., more breaks or more straightforward tasks at extended hours). Consideration should also be given away from work/quality of sleep aspects. This may require a comprehensive Risk-based Integrated Fatigue Management program (RIFM).
Fatigue training programs should be provided (especially for increased exposure drivers) that suitably cover the time of day, duration of work, sleep quality, health, diet, social rhythms, etc. – they should not merely focus on the work aspects of fatigue.
