FLEET MANAGEMENT
don’t just slip into sleep, there are signals and we
need to react early to avoid it. Eating something,
having a drink, winding down the windows or putting
music on are not substantial enough. We’re trying to
get people to pull over, stop, get out of the seat and
move around, and rest, have a sleep.”
Increasing frustration on the issue of managing fatigue
on our roads is being directed at our message-makers
who put infinite resources into speeding and drink/
drug driving campaigns. Fatigue may not have the
same hard-hitting impact, but Ann says it’s a bigger
problem than is being made aware of.
“We need to be treating fatigue with the same stress
as drinking, texting or speeding while driving. I think
we have far too many fatigue-related crashes and
they go unaddressed because we don’t challenge
the way things are done and I think the demands on
drivers are too great,” she adds.
fatigue before it happens.” It seems the best way to
fight fatigue, is to not fight it at all.
For these three passionate individuals, fatigue is
silent danger – a workplace risk that affects more
than just the driver and happens on a regular
basis without the drama of other road safety
propaganda. Hearing their messages might just help
you, employers and employees, bring to the fore
this unglorified safety risk and encourage better
practices. Those racing possums, Jack and Jill,
making a racket while you’re trying to nod off could
even be causing your fatigue. At least they know
when it’s time to pull over. Jack fell down and broke
his crown in a nursery rhyme, let’s keep it that way.
For strategies on managing fatigue in your workplace
visit www.nhvr.gov.au or www.ethoshealth.com.au/
workplace-health-safety.html
“I’m not a road authority, but it feels like research isn’t
being listened to. We have new evidence now that
shows the same old methods aren’t working very well.
People need to know how to avoid getting into that
situation of being fatigued. Start these conversations
with your workforce. It needs to be made okay to
respond to early signs of fatigue. The message needs
to be about doing something sooner, not going longer
and increasing the risk. Fleet managers need to be
doing everything they can operationally to stop
GOVLINK » ISSUE 3 2016
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