Abstract

Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea will impair Commercial Motor Vehicle operator performance. Obesity will increase the risk of developing serious medical conditions that may cause harm to human health and wellbeing. One condition that can be associated with obesity is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Various symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea will impair a commercial motor vehicle operator's ability to safely maneuver a vehicle. Many commercial motor vehicle collisions have been caused by operator fatigue and have resulted in serious injury and death. Due to unhealthy lifestyles, commercial motor vehicle operators are at a high risk of being obese. Obesity will increase the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. Both obesity and obstructive sleep apnea have an impact on commercial operator performance. Recognizing these relationships and understanding this information can be used to prevent the effects of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea on commercial motor vehicle operator performance. Literature, statistical analysis, surveys, and interviews confirm the prevalence of obesity in commercial motor vehicle operators. Literature, statistical analysis, surveys, and interviews verify a relationship between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Literature, statistical analysis, surveys, interviews, and case studies discuss the relationship between obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and commercial motor vehicle operator performance. Finally all of this information is used to substantiate preventative methods that will minimize or eliminate the detrimental effects of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea on commercial motor vehicle operator performance; furthermore reduce the risk of serious injury and death.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Truck drivers--Health and hygiene; Bus drivers--Health and hygiene; Traffic accidents--Research; Sleep apnea syndromes; Obesity--Physiological aspects

Publication Date

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety (CAST)

Advisor

Schneider, Jennifer

Advisor/Committee Member

Plotkin, Kenneth

Advisor/Committee Member

Nightingale, Terry

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: TL230.3 .O64 2010

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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