More Information on Tiredness Accidents
It is well reported, especially on roads, that tiredness can cause at least 10% of all road accidents and 20% on motorways and trunk roads. Furthermore, it is considered to claim more lives on roads than alcohol related accidents. Figures show that young men aged between 18-30 are most at risk and make up 50% of the figures for sleep related accidents.
Most accidents on roads occur between in the afternoon between 2-6 when a persons natural body clock as at its low point.
Many of these are work related for instance involving trucks, good vehicles and company car drivers. Often when employees are driving long distances for the purpose of their job. This can be caused by many factors but in particular spending long periods of time driving without takings regular breaks. Many employees may feel under pressure to get back to the office following meetings and give themselves unrealistic travelling time and do not feel they have enough time to take the necessary breaks from driving.
Falling asleep at the wheel is due to feelings of extreme sleepiness. The drivers are often aware of this overwhelming tiredness but often unfortunately ignore these signs. This is obviously extremely dangerous and may have severe consequences. Employees may feel that they do not have enough time to take a break from driving but it is essential that they do so.
In addition, there are other accidents at work due to employees suffering fatigue . This can be due to employees working irregular shift patterns, working unsociable hours, working long and additional hours due to staff shortage or work commitments or deadlines to meet. Once again it has been reported that this tiredness peaks during the afternoon. This tiredness can be responsible or contribute to many accidents in the workplace.
You may not be aware but your Employer has a duty and a responsibility to protect your Health and Safety as an employee during the course of your employment. One of the duties of your employers is that your job or the hours that you work do not cause you to become so excessively fatigued that this places you at risk of being involved in an accident or not being able to carry out your job properly. Many employees work with dangerous equipment and if they are over tired this can be extremely dangerous. This can cause personal injury to an employee and may result in them not being able to work at all for long periods of time.
If you feel any of the above is relevant to you and you have suffered personal injury following being been involved in an accident on the road either during the course of your working day, or even on your way home from work due to fatigue then please contact a member of our Personal Injury Team at Bartletts and we will be happy to offer you advice. Or, if you have been involved in an accident at work and sustained personal injury by you being over tired due to working long or unsocial hours then please contact us also.
We will be able to offer you confidential advice at no charge to yourself.
More Information on Tiredness Accidents
