title: Determinants of the occupational environment and heavy vehicle crashes in Western Australia: A case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between a heavy vehicle driver's work environment, including fatigue-related characteristics, and the risk of a crash in Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study included 100 long-haul heavy vehicle drivers who were involved in a police-reported crash in WA and 100 long-haul heavy vehicle drivers recruited from WA truck stops, who were not involved in a crash in the previous 12 months. Driver demographics and driving details, work environment, vehicle and sleep-related characteristics were obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Drivers were tested for obstructive sleep apnoea using an overnight diagnostic device. Conditional multiple logistic regression analysis was undertaken to determine work environment-related factors associated with crash involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After accounting for potential confounders, driving a heavy vehicle with an empty load was associated with almost a three-fold increased crash risk compared to carrying general freight (adjusted OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.17-7.34). Driving a rigid heavy vehicle was associated with a four-fold increased risk of crashing compared to articulated heavy vehicles (adjusted OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.13-14.68). The risk of crashing was almost five times higher when driving more than 50% of the trip between midnight and 5.59am (adjusted OR: 4.86, 95% CI: 1.47-16.07). Furthermore, the risk of crashing significantly increased if the time since the last break on the index trip was greater than 2h (adjusted OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.14-4.17). Drivers with more than 10 years driving experience were 52% less likely to be involved in a crash (adjusted OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.23-0.99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide support for an association between a driver's work environment, fatigue-related factors, and the risk of heavy vehicle crash involvement. Greater attention needs to be paid to the creation of a safer work environment for long distance heavy vehicle drivers.
authors.affiliation: Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. Electronic address: L.Meuleners@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meuleners
authors.affiliation: Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Govorko
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Design and Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D014904:Western Australia; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Crash risk; Fatigue; Heavy vehicles; Work environment