Social protection:
Working time

A recent ILO working paper, The issues of fatigue and working time in the road transport sector (pdf – 140K) highlights the correlation between fatigue and working time. It points out that working time, evening work and inadequate periods of rest all play a role in driver fatigue. The report also provides examples of what some countries, through working time legislation and modern technologies, are doing to address the issue. In addition, it presents positive strategies taken by employers and highlights a workers' organization's annual appeal to raise awareness of the issue, and the success that it has had. Challenges lie ahead for working time in the road transport sector as ILO member States address this critical health and safety issue. The ILO can play an important role in facilitating dialogue between governments and employers' and workers' organizations in order to better manage working hours and rest periods in the road transport sector. This working paper supports the International Transport Workers' Federation's international campaign 'Fatigue Kills'.

Fatigue and working time in the road tranport sector

Fatigue is a growing health and safety concern for the road transport sector. It is a workplace hazard that is the main course of thousands of road transport accidents and fatalities each year. Although fatigue cannot always be avoided, it can be better managed. Governments, employers and workers and their organizations, are making progress in combating fatigue. In particular some governments are introducing new technologies, better working time legislation and improved enforcement. But, more needs to be done, especially in less developed countries, to improve the situation in the road transport sector.