Identification and Recommendations for Correction of Equipment Factors Causing Fatigue in Snowplow Operations Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
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research for winter highway maintenance Identification and Recommendations for Correction of Equipment Factors Causing Fatigue in Snowplow Operations Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Project 1001325/CR15-02 November 2017 Pooled Fund #TPF-5(218) www.clearroads.org Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. CR 15-02 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Identification and Recommendations for Correction of Equipment Factors November 10, 2017 Causing Fatigue in Snowplow Operations 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Report No. Matthew C. Camden, Jeffrey S. Hickman, Susan A. Soccolich, and CR 15-02 Richard J. Hanowski 9. Performing Organization Name & Address 10. Purchase Order No. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute 3500 Transportation Research Plaza (0536) 11. Contract or Grant No. Blacksburg, VA 24061 MnDOT No. 1001325 12. Sponsoring Agency Name & Address 13. Type of Report & Period Covered Clear Roads Pooled Fund Final Report [May 2016 to Lead state: Minnesota Department of Transportation December 2017] 395 John Ireland Blvd 14. Sponsoring Agency Code St. Paul, MN 55155-1899 15. Supplementary Notes Project completed for Clear Roads Pooled Fund program, #TPF-5(218). See www.clearroads.org. 16. Abstract The objective of this project was to recommend cost-effective equipment solutions to mitigate fatigue experienced by winter maintenance operators. A questionnaire collected the opinions on the relationship between equipment and fatigue from 2,011 winter maintenance operators in 23 Clear Roads states. An analysis of the existing literature and questionnaire results produced eight cost-effective equipment solutions and eight non-equipment solutions to mitigate winter maintenance operator fatigue. These 16 solutions are believed to be the most promising to mitigate fatigue at low cost (in no particular order): (1) provide dimmable interior cab lighting, (2) use light emitting diode (LED) bulbs for exterior lighting, (3) equip winter maintenance vehicles with warning lights that have a nighttime setting (i.e., dimmable), (4) install a compact disc player or satellite radio in all winter maintenance vehicles, (5) equip winter maintenance vehicles with a heated windshield, (6) install snow deflectors on front plows, (7) install LED narrow-beam bulbs on auxiliary lighting, (8) use an ergonomically designed seat with vibration dampening/air-ride technology, (9) instruct winter maintenance operators to take a 15- to 30-minute break every 4 to 5 hours, (10) provide education and training to winter maintenance operators to identify early signs of fatigue, (11) investigate reduced shift lengths, start/end times, and overtime rules/limits, (12) create an agency-wide fatigue management policy, (13) investigate methods to provide early notifications of an impending swing shift, (14) encourage heathy lifestyles, (15) encourage winter maintenance operator input in equipment purchases, and (16) provide a dedicated place for winter maintenance operators to rest at each garage/terminal. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Winter maintenance, fatigue, equipment, operator, No restrictions. This document is available to the questionnaire, snowplow, plow public through the National Technical Information Service, Alexandria, Virginia 22312. 19. Security Classification (this report) 20. Security Classification (this page) 20. No. of pages 21. Price Unclassified Unclassified 136 -0- Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page is authorized Identification and Recommendations for Correction of Equipment Factors Causing Fatigue in Snowplow Operations Task 11: Draft Final Report CR 15-02 Matthew C. Camden, Jeffrey S. Hickman, Susan A. Soccolich, and Richard J. Hanowski Virginia Tech Transportation Institute 3500 Transportation Research Plaza Blacksburg, VA 24061 September 15, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................1 1.1 WHAT IS FATIGUE? ...................................................................................................1 1.2 HOW DOES FATIGUE IMPACT DRIVING? .............................................................2 1.3 IMPACT OF FATIGUE IN WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS ..................3 1.4 PROJECT OBJECTIVE ................................................................................................3 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................4 2.1 WORKLOAD AND DRIVER FATIGUE.....................................................................4 2.2 VIBRATION AND DRIVER FATIGUE ......................................................................5 2.2.1 Operator Seats ................................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Rubber Blades ................................................................................................... 6 2.2.3 Tire Chains ........................................................................................................ 7 2.3 SOUND AND DRIVER FATIGUE ..............................................................................7 2.3.1 Music/Radio ...................................................................................................... 8 2.4 LIGHTING/VISIBILITY AND DRIVER FATIGUE ...................................................8 2.4.1 Interior Vehicle Lighting .................................................................................. 9 2.4.2 Exterior Vehicle Lighting ................................................................................. 9 2.4.3 Snow Deflectors .............................................................................................. 10 2.5 DISTRACTION AND DRIVER FATIGUE ...............................................................10 2.6 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR SNOWPLOW OPERATIONS AND DRIVER FATIGUE ....................................................................................................11 2.6.1 Collision Avoidance Systems ......................................................................... 11 2.6.2 Automated Vehicle Location Systems ............................................................ 12 2.7 CONCLUSIONS..........................................................................................................13 3. QUESTIONNAIRE METHODS .......................................................................................14 3.1 QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................14 3.2 QUESTIONNAIRE ANALYSES ...............................................................................15 4. QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS .........................................................................................16 4.1 WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATOR FATIGUE ...............................................20 4.2 FATIGUE AND WINTER MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT ....................................24 4.2.1 Equipment-Related Vibration and Fatigue ..................................................... 24 i 4.2.2 Equipment-Related Noise and Fatigue ........................................................... 34 4.2.3 Equipment-Related Visibility and Fatigue...................................................... 44 4.2.4 In-Cab Equipment and Fatigue ....................................................................... 57 4.2.5 Winter Maintenance Operators’ Fatigue-Related Recommendations/Comments .................................................................................... 68 5. EQUIPMENT SOURCES AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATOR FATIGUE .....................................................................76 5.1 SOURCES OF FATIGUE ...........................................................................................76 5.2 COMPARING COSTS AND BENEFITS OF POTENTIAL EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS TO WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATOR FATIGUE ..................77 5.2.1 Overview of Potential Solutions ..................................................................... 78 6. DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................................88 6.1 WINTER MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT AND FATIGUE ....................................88 6.1.1 Equipment-Related Vibration ......................................................................... 88 6.1.2 Equipment-Related Noise ............................................................................... 90 6.1.3 Visibility-Related Equipment ......................................................................... 91 6.1.4 In-cab Equipment ............................................................................................ 93 6.2 NON-EQUIPMENT SOURCES OF AND SOLUTIONS TO WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATOR FATIGUE ................................................................93 6.2.1 Shift Length and Restricted Sleep................................................................... 94 6.2.2 Time of Day .................................................................................................... 95 6.2.3 Driver Breaks .................................................................................................. 95 6.2.4 Motor Carrier Hours-of-Service Regulations ................................................. 96 6.2.5 North American Fatigue Management Program ............................................. 97 6.3 LIMITATIONS