Findings from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Broaden Understanding of Risk Management (Prevalence of Operator Fatigue In Winter Maintenance Operations)

2019 MAY 31 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on Risk Management have been published. According to news originating from Blacksburg, United States, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Similar to commercial motor vehicle drivers, winter maintenance operators are likely to be at an increased risk of becoming fatigued while driving due to long, inconsistent shifts, environmental stressors, and limited opportunities for sleep. Despite this risk, there is little research concerning the prevalence of winter maintenance operator fatigue during winter emergencies.”

Financial support for this research came from Clear Roads.

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, “The purpose of this research was to investigate the prevalence, sources, and countermeasures of fatigue in winter maintenance operations. Questionnaires from 1043 winter maintenance operators and 453 managers were received from 29 Clear Road member states. Results confirmed that fatigue was prevalent in winter maintenance operations. Over 70% of the operators and managers believed that fatigue has a moderate to significant impact on winter maintenance operations. Approximately 75% of winter maintenance operators reported to at least sometimes drive while fatigued, and 96% of managers believed their winter maintenance operators drove while fatigued at least some of the time. Furthermore, winter maintenance operators and managers identified fatigue countermeasures and sources of fatigue related to winter maintenance equipment. However, the countermeasures believed to be the most effective at reducing fatigue during winter emergencies (i.e., naps) were underutilized. For example, winter maintenance operators reported to never use naps to eliminate fatigue. These results indicated winter maintenance operations are impacted by operator fatigue.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “These results support the increased need for research and effective countermeasures targeting winter maintenance operator fatigue.”

For more information on this research see: Prevalence of Operator Fatigue In Winter Maintenance Operations. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2019;126():47-53. Accident Analysis & Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis & Prevention - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from M.C. Camden, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Transportat Institute, 3500 Transportat Res Blvd, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States. Additional authors for this research include A. Medina-Flintsch, J.S. Hickman, J. Bryce, G. Flintsch and R.J. Hanowski.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.01.009. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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