Sleeping giant to sleeping on the job: Fleet Voice
Fleet Voice Column: Wednesday 18, November 2009
One of the worst kept secrets in Formula 1 in recent months, was confirmed earlier this week with German car giant Mercedes buying Brawn F1 team.
Mercedes has finally awoke from its slumber, to take its place on the F1 grid as a full manufacturer outfit, its dream has now materialised.
The deal looks to be that Mercedes will buy 75 per cent of Brawn in partnership with an Abu Dhabi investment company but will continue as McLaren’s engine partner until 2015.
Meanwhile the Brawn team will be rebranded as Mercedes Grand Prix.
While this was happening Jenson Button was trying to negotiate a new contract with Brawn, unfortunately for the newly crowned world champion the new owners, Mercedes, if the rumour mill is to believed want two new drivers.
The German outfit could make Nico Rosberg its lead driver and if the FI rumours are true then Nick Heidfeld will possibly get the second seat.
Button is in talks with Mercedes (as we went to press Tuesday 17 November) but the likely scenario is that the Brit will move to McLaren and partner Lewis Hamilton in 2010. This is proof that you cannot sleep on the job, if you don’t keep your eye on the ball then you could lose out.
Sleeping on the job literally is one of the main worries that a fleet manager has of his/her drivers. Many of your drivers cover long distances on motorways up and down the UK.
From industry research, it shows that motorways are a dangerous place when it comes to drivers nodding off at the wheel. You must really be proactive and make sure that your drivers get their correct breaks, such as stopping for at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving.
The DfT figures claims that one crash in every five on major roads is caused by driver sleepiness.
You the fleet manager must tell your drivers if they feel drowsy, to take a break.
Trying to fight off tiredness by opening a window or turning up the radio is not always enough. Pull into a motorway service and get out of the car and go for a brisk walk.
The NHS advises that we should try not to make long trips between midnight and 6am as you are likely to feel sleepy, but if you are on the night shift and you feel tired then you should find a safe place to stop and have a rest and a caffeine drink if you can.
It is much better that your drivers have a short stop rather than pushing them to get on with it and risk a resulting accident.
Remember that when you are working out your rota for your fleet drivers, always make sure that they are in good health. If they have to take prescribed or over-the-counter medication, check the label as some can cause drowsiness
The Drivers Medical Group, part of central Government claims that; ‘Modern lifestyles such as early morning starts, shift work, late night socialising, often lead to excessive tiredness by preventing adequate rest. While drivers aged between 18-30 year-old males are more likely to fall asleep when driving late at night.’
Although your fleet drivers are subject to medical examinations before they become a driver, for your company, are you or you firm aware of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?
If you have heard of this, then that is a good sign as it is the most common sleep related medical disorder at the present time and if a motorist or fleet driver suffers from this then the chances of him/her having a traffic accident will increase.
So what is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?
- OSA is the most common sleep related medical disorder.
- This disorder significantly increases the risk of traffic accidents.
- OSA occurs most commonly, but not exclusively, in overweight individuals.
- Partners often complain about snoring and notice that the sufferers have breathing pauses during sleep.
- OSA sufferers rarely wake from sleep feeling fully refreshed and tend to fall asleep easily when relaxing.
- Long distance lorry and bus drivers affected by OSA are of great concern as most will be driving on monotonous roads/motorways and the size or nature of the vehicle gives little room for error.
- Estimates suggest at least four in every hundred men have OSA. Sleep problems arise more commonly in older people.
- Lifestyle changes for example weight loss or cutting back on alcohol, will help ease the symptoms of OSA.
- The most widely effective treatment for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). This requires the patient to wear a soft face-mask during sleep to regulate breathing. This treatment enables patients to have a good night’s sleep, so reducing daytime sleepiness and improving concentration.
Some might say that Jenson Button was sleeping on the job when trying to negotiate a deal with Brawn, surely he knew that they were going to sell to Mercedes?
Whatever, the outcome I cannot see Button without a team next season.
If you look after your drivers you will get loyalty just like Button gave to Brawn this year by taking a giant pay cut at the start of the 2009 F1 season.
Now you know, what OSA is, you need to get your medical examiners to look out for it when you are next testing your drivers.
Not only are you looking out for your company you are also looking out for the welfare of your employees.
“Stay Alert, Stay Alive.”
Source: OSA – Drivers Medical Group, DVLA
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