Evaluation of Fatigue During Motorcycle Mail Delivery

摘要

The most significant occupational hazard for motorcycle Postal Delivery Officers (PDO) is a crash. An impairment of the PDOs reaction time or alertness due to fatigue significantly increase the risk of a crash (a parallel may be seen here with impaired reaction times due to alcohol consumption). A recent introduction of new mail sorting equipment may increase the cognitive load for the PDO and the potential for this to impact on fatigue led to a review of fatigue levels. Additionally, the amount of mail being sorted and delivered by PDOs has increased over recent years and may also contribute to PDO fatigue levels. There were 76 male participants from 8 delivery centres in Victoria and 12 from Queensland. Dependent variables included error rates, reaction time, self ratings of mood and heart rate. Computer based performance tests conducted by the PDOs during motorcycle delivery showed no slowing in reaction time, although there was a non-significant trend towards an increase in errors as the shift progressed. Self ratings of work demands such as effort, frustration and time pressure increased with length of shift. This has an implication for the motor cycle component of their work. However it may be reassuring that physical demand was not rated higher at the end of the day and PDOs reported that they maintained their levels of alertness across the shift. Similarly, active heart rate measures indicate only light to moderate physical effort. Moderate increases in delta heart rate occurred during motor cycle delivery and peak increases were probably associated with loading bikes. The study indicated that PDO fatigue indicators assessed during normal operations were not significantly affected by the introduction of the new sorting process or increased mail volumes, but some impact in mood was noted after prolonged overtime where shifts exceeded 10.5 hours.