Employers need to be on alert as clocks spring ahead

The switch to Daylight Savings Time can be a safety issue for many BC employers as the time change on March 12 could lead to more fatigued employees.

Vehicles used for work in BC are deemed workplaces so employers are responsible for the safety of any employee who drives full time, part time, or even occasionally.

People who drive for work could be more at risk of crashing as body clocks take time to catch up with alarm clocks. “Springing ahead” by an hour can disrupt circadian rhythms, which regulate our sleep cycle. The resulting fatigue can affect a person’s ability to safely drive. Employees are at risk whenever they are behind the wheel, whether on the job or off. They also need to be alert for other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians who may be fatigued too.

“Fatigue is a type of impairment that reduces mental and physical performance,” says Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work. “Research shows it’s a contributing factor in about 20% of crashes.”

Driving may already be the most dangerous thing many employees do on the job. Work driving can be anything from making deliveries full time, to driving to see clients, to occasional trips to pick up supplies. Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic work-related fatalities in BC.

Fatigue adds to the risk. It can affect any driver regardless of age, skill level, or experience.

Fatigued drivers are more likely to take risks and forget or ignore normal checks or procedures. They’re less able to judge distance, speed, and time. They’re also less able to absorb critical driving information and respond to it.

“Reacting a fraction of a second faster or slower can be the difference between a near miss and a serious, costly crash,” Acres says.

That’s especially true at this time of year, when wet roads make driving hazardous.

Employers need to identify the driving activities, situations, or tasks where fatigue could increase the risk of worker harm. Then they need to assess the likelihood and seriousness of the risks.

Once that’s done, employers need to take steps to eliminate or minimize the risks. For example, an employer could avoid assigning a fatigued driver to new driving tasks or driving that is more complex.

Here are some tips from Road Safety at Work:

• Make sure drivers know their work-related driving responsibilities and procedures to deal with fatigue.
• Use journey management to decide what driving is essential. Can a trip be avoided by using a virtual meeting instead, for example? When driving can’t be avoided, build trip plans that include breaks so drivers can get fresh air, stretch their limbs, and drink water about every 2 hours.
• Schedule driving during daylight hours when the driver is well-rested.
• Avoid scheduling driving between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. where possible. Weekday crash frequency peaks during those hours year-round. In the week after the time change, mornings could also be a higher risk driving time.
• Train drivers to adjust their seat, headrest, and mirrors before driving to maximize visibility, improve alertness, and reduce fatigue.

For more road safety information visit RoadSafetyAtWork.ca. Funded by WorkSafeBC, Road Safety at Work and its two associated campaigns, Shift into Winter and Cone Zone, aims to reduce injuries and deaths among those who drive for work or work at the roadside.