Sleep Apnea, Occupational Health, and the Trucking Industry

America is waking up to the significant costs of drowsy driving and low productivity in the workplace due to sleep disorders. Building up a sleep deficit through a lack of proper rest or a clinical sleep disorder makes it difficult for the brain to function. A lack of alertness increases reaction times, impedes judgment, and interferes with problem solving. The result is a real cost to society, employees, and employers. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsy driving related accidents have a monetary impact of $12.5 billion annually. Untreated sleep disordered breathing increases the mortality rates due to the higher risks of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular events. Employers are burdened with higher insurance costs and a less productive, less safe workforce.

These costs can be reduced through a proactive sleep program designed to screen, diagnose and treat your employees. REM Medical provides the commercial trucking industry with a geographically independent, comprehensive suite of sleep safety programs that provide measurable results.

Commercial Trucking Sleep Disorder Overview:

• Prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) approaches 28% (1) of drivers;
• Large truck crashes are expensive with the average cost per large truck crash involving a fatality being in excess of $3.5 million; many of these crashes can be linked to sleep apnea;
• Conditions of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are costly expenditures in the commercial driver population that have been shown to be reduced through sleep medicine treatment (2);
• Treatment with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) has been shown to decrease auto accidents (3);
• Hours of Service Regulations designed to ensure sufficient sleep and awareness has made addressing driver fatigue a national safety priority.

Elements of a REM Medical’s occupational sleep safety implementation:

1. National: convenient access for employees
2. Screening: web based questionnaires / home screen devices
3. Diagnosis: physician consultations / laboratory testing
4. Treatment: customized therapy plan
5. Follow-up: compliance monitoring
6. Reporting: real time web based employer feedback on program status and effectiveness

For additional questions, please contact Jeff Zuhl, MD at (480)991-0480.

Please click here to access relevant articles regarding the risks of untreated sleep disorders in the workplace.