What Is Fatigue?
A recent international group of scientists identified fatigue as “the largest identifiable and preventable cause of accidents in transport operations (between 15 and 20% of all accidents), surpassing that of alcohol or drug related incidents in all modes of transportation. Official statistics often underestimate this contribution.” (Rosekind, 1993). Fatigue engendered by sleep loss and circadian disruption can degrade all aspects of human capability. Significant reductions in operator performance can affect judgment and decision-making, attention, reaction time, alertness, memory, and mood (Rosekind, 1993). These degraded performance factors can increase fatigue-related risks and reduce the operational safety margin.
In spite of these well-documented …show more content…
The primary presenting complaint for many of these disorders is excessive sleepiness. There are a broad range of physiological and psychological causes for these sleep disorders and the individual sufferer might be unaware of its existence. Most of these sleep disorders can be diagnosed and treated successfully by accredited sleep medicine specialists. This factor is a consideration because an operator may have a sleep disorder that predisposes the individual for excessive sleepiness. Altered circadian rhythms (e.g., shift work, time zone crossings) and other factors could further exacerbate the preexisting sleepiness (Wake up America, 1993). One example sleep disorder is sleep apnea, a condition in which an individual has breathing pauses throughout sleep. This causes waking sleepiness and performance decrements, as well as other related health problems (Rosekind & Graber). Studies of individuals with sleep apnea have shown up to a 7 times increased risk for car accidents (Rosekind & Graber). Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, put individuals at increased risk for sleepiness and potential performance …show more content…
At the request of the NTSB investigators, members of the NASA Fatigue Countermeasures Program examined the fatigue factors related to the accident (Rosekind, 1993). A full NTSB report on the accident has been published and includes an appendix on the analysis of the fatigue factors by the NASA Group.
The four fatigue factors were analyzed for the AIA Flight Crew involved in an aviation accident that occurred at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on August 18, 1993. The data analyzed were taken from the NTSB Human Performance Investigator’s Factual Report, the Operations Group Chairman’s Factual Report, and the Flight 808 Crew Statements. When there were discrepancies among the sources, conservative estimates and averages were used. The sleep/wake histories for the Flight Crew of AIA Flight 808 prior to the accident at Guantanamo Bay on August 18, 1993 at about 1656 EDT are presented in Figure 1(Rosekind &
In spite of these well-documented …show more content…
The primary presenting complaint for many of these disorders is excessive sleepiness. There are a broad range of physiological and psychological causes for these sleep disorders and the individual sufferer might be unaware of its existence. Most of these sleep disorders can be diagnosed and treated successfully by accredited sleep medicine specialists. This factor is a consideration because an operator may have a sleep disorder that predisposes the individual for excessive sleepiness. Altered circadian rhythms (e.g., shift work, time zone crossings) and other factors could further exacerbate the preexisting sleepiness (Wake up America, 1993). One example sleep disorder is sleep apnea, a condition in which an individual has breathing pauses throughout sleep. This causes waking sleepiness and performance decrements, as well as other related health problems (Rosekind & Graber). Studies of individuals with sleep apnea have shown up to a 7 times increased risk for car accidents (Rosekind & Graber). Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, put individuals at increased risk for sleepiness and potential performance …show more content…
At the request of the NTSB investigators, members of the NASA Fatigue Countermeasures Program examined the fatigue factors related to the accident (Rosekind, 1993). A full NTSB report on the accident has been published and includes an appendix on the analysis of the fatigue factors by the NASA Group.
The four fatigue factors were analyzed for the AIA Flight Crew involved in an aviation accident that occurred at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on August 18, 1993. The data analyzed were taken from the NTSB Human Performance Investigator’s Factual Report, the Operations Group Chairman’s Factual Report, and the Flight 808 Crew Statements. When there were discrepancies among the sources, conservative estimates and averages were used. The sleep/wake histories for the Flight Crew of AIA Flight 808 prior to the accident at Guantanamo Bay on August 18, 1993 at about 1656 EDT are presented in Figure 1(Rosekind &