FMCSA Seeks Info on Apnea Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration announced they are seeking public input during the next 90 days on the impacts of screening, evaluating and treating commercial motor vehicle drivers and rail workers for obstructive sleep apnea.
The joint Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is the first step as both agencies consider whether to propose requirements specifically on OSA. The agencies will host three public listening sessions to gather input on OSA in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
“It is imperatives for everyone’s safety that commercial motor vehicle drivers and train operators be really focused and immediately responsive at all times,” said United States Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “DOT strongly encourages comment from the public on how to best respond to the national health and transportation safety issue.”
It is estimated that 22 million men and women could be suffering from undiagnosed OSA, a respiratory disorder characterized by a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. Undiagnosed or inadequately treated moderate to severe OSA can cause unintended sleep episodes and deficits in attention, concentration, situational awareness, memory and the capacity to safety respond to hazards when performing safety sensitive service. For individuals with OSA, eight hours of sleep can be less refreshing than four hours of ordinary, uninterrupted sleep, according to a study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The size and scope of the potential problem means that OSA presents a critical safety issue for all modes and operations in the transportation industry.
“The collection and analysis of sound data on the impact of OSA must be our immediate first step,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling. “We call upon the public to help us better understand the prevalence of OSA among commercial truck and bus drivers, as well as the safety and economic impacts on the truck and bus industries.”
For any CMV drivers who are detected to have a respiratory dysfunction such as OSA, FMCSA currently recommends that medical examiners refer them for further evaluation and therapy. In January 2015, FMCSA issued a bulletin to remind health care professionals on the agency’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners of the current physical qualifications standard and advisory criteria concerning the respiratory system, specifically how the requirements apply to drivers that may have obstructive sleep apnea.
