Argos Distribution has always focused on Driver Training, especially concentrating on protecting our staff, the public and property. At Castleford Distribution Centre, the transport department has been working closely with AWAKE, Britain's foremost Fatigue Management organisation, and is now incorporating this subject into the annual refresher training of its team of LGV drivers.

Focusing on awareness of the potential dangers of driving when tired, coupled with comprehensive prevention measures, the exercise has involved the Castleford Driver Assessors working alongside the AWAKE team.

A comprehensive survey of the site, its training and selection methods, the scheduling process, accident record and facilities for drivers revealed that Argos Castleford already had in place procedures and practices supporting the drivers' needs.

BP has a long tradition of attention to road safety and, in 2004, with the help of AWAKE, launched 5 'driver standards' or golden rules that apply internationally to professional drivers and sales people alike. The standards include driver tiredness and the use of mobile phones and seatbelts.

The BP driver tiredness standard is largely based on research conducted at the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre.

BP appreciates that for their driver tiredness standard to be effective, the safety message has to come from the top. Thus there has to be company-wide appreciation of driver tiredness and the associated dangers. To achieve these aims, Awake developed an in-house fatigue management programme, aimed at engaging managers, drivers and drivers' families.

Since 2003 Awake has been training BP's own trainers, about issues of driver tiredness. This has been extended to: BP Air, BP Marine and, in Hong Kong, to BP's asian employees. AWAKE's training for BP has been translated into 13 languages and distributed across Europe, Asia and in the US.

The Prince Michael Road Safety Award winning driver fatigue campaign implemented by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), was developed by Awake.

The FTA campaign was designed to both draw attention to the potential dangers of trucks being driven by tired drivers and to suggest measures to avoid the situation.

Awake produced information and practical advice for drivers that included posters, leaflets and pocket cards, plus an tailored FTA Guide to Driver Fatigue.

"Awake's advice has led the way for us". Hugh Brogan, Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Rathbones Bakeries Ltd.

Driver tiredness Rathbones Bakeries has produced and delivered bread for over 100 years without any fatalities, before having 12 fatalities in three years. In the worst incident, one of the company's truck drivers hit a car and killed its four occupants. The driver pleaded guilty to falling asleep at the wheel and served five years in prison.

In response to these tragedies Rathbones employed Awake to help tackle the issue of driver tiredness. Awake developed a bespoke training programme to raise awareness of the importance of sleep and the dangers associated with driver tiredness - all with the aim of eliminating risk. The success of the training was noted by the Federation of Bakers (FoB), who with Awake, held its first ever Drive-Safe seminar for the benefit of the entire baking industry.

Workplace impairment due to drugs or alcohol Awake has also worked with Rathbones to educate drivers and managers on the workplace impairment associated with drug and alcohol use. The training programme covered the following topics:

The company's legal responsibilities as well as those of management and employees. The balance between individual rights to privacy and the need to protect other employees and the general public;

• UK statistics on the extent of drug and alcohol misuse and its cost to business.

• The principle drugs of abuse: what do they do, how long their effects last, how long can they be detected?

• The effects that drugs and medicines can have on workplace performance, in particular driving and operating machinery;

• How to identify the signs of drug use and drug-related impairment;

• The drugs screening devices available: their strengths and weaknesses.

The programme was developed by Awake consultants who had been responsible for DfT research projects, including the effects of drugs on driving, the development of police training on drugs awareness, and the introduction of police roadside impairment tests.

Awake has been working with the Shell Group of companies since 2003. During that time we have been involved in accident investigations where fatigue was suspected, providing written reports on a range of subjects relevant to driver wellbeing, and giving policy advice regarding this and associated issues.

Our involvement with this Company has grown since our initial work with Shell UK, then Shell International, and now with Shell Global. In 2004 Awake ran the first of a series of Driver Tiredness workshops, attended by Shell representatives and their contractors. These have been extremely successful, and continue to be given over various parts of the world, for into shell's hearts and minds campaign

The researchers and consultants at Awake helped develop the government's publicity campaign warning of the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drugs and medicines. You can see more of this campaign at the following links:

http://www.drugdrive.co.uk

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk