Sleep Apnea Is A Growing Concern For Commercial Vehicle Drivers
A study sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Trucking Association estimated that nearly one in three commercial truck drivers suffers from mild to severe sleep apnea. Other research indicates that drivers with undiagnosed sleep apnea have an increased risk (two to seven times higher) for falling asleep at the wheel. As a result of these and other studies, a joint task force of health and safety organizations released new recommendations that offer an updated approach to the screening and management of obstructive sleep apnea among commercial motor vehicle operators.
The joint task force suggests a screening process that bases driver certification on severity of sleep apnea. These recommendations suggest certifying a driver at low risk for sleep apnea for a maximum of three months, pending an inservice medical evaluation. Drivers with more severe risk factors or who’ve been involved in a motor vehicle crash likely related to sleep disturbances should be prohibited from returning to work unless they receive an out-ofservice medical evaluation. Furthermore, the task force suggests expanding the screening process to include a more extensive medical and physical exam, flagging such risk factors as body mass index, neck circumference and family history of sleep apnea. For those diagnosed, experts recommend using positive airway pressure for a minimum of four hours within a 24-hour period by a continuous positive airway pressure machine.
Under current FMCSA guidelines, commercial vehicle operators who are being treated for sleep apnea can return to work a minimum of one month after initiation of treatment. The task force’s recommendation includes reducing return-to-work time to two weeks after treatment initiation in certain situations. Re-evaluation after four weeks to ensure compliance with therapy and improvement in symptoms also is recommended.
Sleep apnea is a highly treatable disorder. With appropriate therapy and compliance, drivers who suffer from it will be addressing a significant risk for impaired performance on the job.
