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Untreated sleep apnea exposes your company and your employees to unacceptable risk... - Dr. Mark Berger

Introduction

How Does OSA Affect My Business?

The tragic and costly results of drivers falling asleep at the wheel are rightfully receiving consid­erable attention in the media and from numerous concerned industry and public interest groups. Much of the concern is that commercial drivers may fall asleep while driving as a result of an insufficient number of hours (quantity) of sleep between work (driving) shifts.

There is another sleep issue having a significant impact on “drowsy driving” crashes. It has more to do with the quality of a driver’s sleep than the quantity of that sleep. For many drivers the quality of sleep is adversely affected by a sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Management uses considerable resources to find drivers who have the ability to make good driving decisions and who are physically qualified to drive safely. OSA can negatively affect a driver’s ability to make good driving decisions and cause them to fall asleep behind the wheel. Even when not “at the wheel,” a driver with untreated OSA faces poten­tially life threatening medical complications.

This Reference Note provides general infor­mation to help employers understand the effect of OSA on their drivers and on their cost of managing risk. Taking action to identify & and treat OSA among drivers may help employers:

  • Reduce the risk of serious workers compensa­tion, auto liability, and physical damage losses due to sleep-related vehicle crashes
  • Realize productivity gains from drivers who are more alert
  • Help their drivers enjoy a greater quality of life
  • Contribute to greater safety for all on our nation’s roads
  • Reduce medical expenses for those treated for obstructive sleep apnea
  • Increase employee retention

How Can an Employer Reduce the Risk of OSA Related Crashes?

Only qualified medical practitioners can diagnose and treat OSA, but employers can reduce the risk of OSA caused crashes and contribute to the health of their drivers. In doing so they may benefit from safer, more productive, and happier employees, grateful for the employer’s interest in their well-being.

The current FMCSA Regulations, Part 391 Qualification of Drivers, 391.41(b) (5), require that commercial drivers have “. . . no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a respira­tory dysfunction likely to interfere with the ability to control and drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.” They identify sleep apnea as one of those conditions.

In 2006, a joint task force of the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and the National Sleep Foundation recommended the FMCSA update the requirements and...

  • Equate the length of a driver’s medical certifi­cation to the severity of his/her sleep apnea.
  • Give extensive consideration to sleep apnea risk factors in the medical evaluation (weight, family history, neck circumference, etc.).
  • Require that those who use a CPAP machine for treatment use it for at least 4 of every 24 hours and use one that measures the amount of time it is supplying pressure.
  • Until the FMCSA adopts these or similar controls, an employer could adopt the joint task force recommendations as a corporate standard.

In addition, employers should:

  • Educate their employees who drive about sleep apnea; its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
  • Encourage employees who suspect they may have this condition to make arrangements with Occupational Sleep Apnea Solutions for eval­uation and treatment.
  • Stay alert for symptoms among employees, and refer those employees to their physicians for diagnosis and treatment.
  • Consider Occupational Sleep Apnea Solutions’ free initial screenings for all employees to identify those who may need further evalua­tion and treatment. Screening, administered by Occupational Sleep Apnea Solutions, may include sleep apnea questionnaires and the use of a portable take home overnight sleep screening device that would determine if the employee would need further treatment.
  • Contract Occupational Sleep Apnea Solutions to diagnosis and treat the employee with a standard of care that could include a full polysmnography sleep study and possibly a nasal CPAP device for those with obstructive sleep apnea.

How do we know if our drivers are compliant with Federal regulations?

Click here to view FMCSA Website - www.mrb.fmcsa.dot.gov
Click here to view FMCSA Rules & Regulations Section 391.41 - www.fmcsa.dot.gov
Click here to view a PDF of the complete proposed FMCSA Medical Review Board guidelines – View Document
Click here for a summary of the proposed guidelines - View Document

Common Sleep Apnea Questions?

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
How Does OSA Affect the Body?
What Are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
What is a Sleep Questionnaire?
What is the Treatment for OSA?
How Does OSA Affect My Business?
How Can an Employer Reduce the Risk of OSA Related Crashes?

Please Contact Us with anymore questions.....thank you.