Tackling sleep apnoea

Driving a lorry is an extremely important and responsible job. The lorry driver may be, almost by himself, responsible for the safe operation of a very valuable piece of kit, the truck and trailer, worth perhaps £100,000, together with an on-board load which could be worth a million!

What’s more, by the very size and weight of the vehicle which he is driving the potential damage and destruction to life and property from road accidents involving lorries is self-evident. So the driver must not only know what he is doing, he must behave responsibly, and take good care that he is fit enough to do the job.

There is a growing problem that we need to be increasingly careful about.

Have you ever dozed whilst driving? Honestly, have you? If you have then you will not need telling twice that it has the potential for disaster.

In February the RAC produced a report which suggested that as many as one driver in 20 was unknowingly suffering from the sleeping disorder called obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA). The report suggested that as many as 1.4 million motorists in the UK were at risk to themselves and to other road users as a result of their tendency to nod off at the wheel.

Incredibly, the problem could be responsible for as many as one in five accidents, with analysts suggesting that ‘sleep apnoea patients have a driving performance at least as bad as drivers over the alcohol limit.’

Those most at risk of being diagnosed with the condition are overweight middle-aged men working in sedentary occupations. Like lorry drivers.

The complaint affects breathing due to a partial or total closure of the airway behind the tongue while sleeping. This results in episodes of brief awakening in order to restore normal breathing. In severe cases this can be hundreds of times per night – all without the sufferer being aware that it is taking place. However, the consequence is an overall lack of real sleep, resulting in daytime sleepiness and dozing, with potentially very serious repercussions for drivers.

Diagnosis of OSA is sometimes difficult since the most noticeable symptoms take place while asleep. Partners may notice that the victim consistently snores, or is stopping breathing during sleep. It is vital that these symptoms are not ignored.

For mild sufferers off the shelf solutions may help. But persistent loud snorers, who also notice excessive daytime sleepiness, waking with a dry mouth or sore throat, have difficulty concentrating or are irritable, could be diagnosed with sleep apnoea and require treatment.

Managers should look for these symptoms in their drivers and sufferers should seek the help of their GP who may then refer them to a sleep clinic for a diagnosis and treatment. This takes the form of a piece of kit incorporating a mask which, when worn overnight, delivers a stream of air during sleep keeping the airway open and ensuring healthy sleep. Sufferers experiencing the treatment report total success.

But here is a problem. Once diagnosed with OSA, drivers should notify the relevant driving authority. This means that, until treatment has been organised, the victim may have to stop driving. Whilst commercial drivers may be fast tracked for treatment that is not always the case, and it is thought that only some 30 per cent of clinics are actually giving priority to professional drivers. To say the least, not every driver will be happy to accept the delay and may risk disguising his condition and avoiding what may be a six month wait.

The EU drivers’ hours’ rules were constructed with road safety in mind and are strictly enforced by use of the tachograph. And the penalties for non-compliance are serious. However, the OSA problem is not about working excessive hours but about the actual condition of the driver and his ability to stay awake whilst performing his potentially dangerous job.

Modern truck design, and its smart contributions to operational efficiency and driver comfort are constantly improving and ever welcome. But, though perhaps not too long off, the pilotless vehicle is not with us just yet.

In the meantime both managers and drivers must be aware of the potential for sleepy drivers and swift to get the problem sorted when they meet it. Failure to do so could be fatal.