The Fatigue Management Program – Alternatives to Prescription

This paper aims to challenge the traditional prescriptive approach to Government interventions. The prescriptive approach to issue resolution relies on ?rule and rote? methodology which requires clear and unambiguous rules that cover all possible situations. The paper demonstrates that fatigue management safety issues do not meet the criteria for successful implementation of the rule and rote approach.

An example of an alternative approach, the Queensland Transport Fatigue Management Program (FMP) Pilot, is explored. The FMP Pilot aims to develop and evaluate a program, which allows industry and Government to better manage heavy vehicle driver fatigue under alternative compliance arrangements instead of the regulated driving hours regime. The results of the FMP Pilot to date are discussed before highlighting the responsibilities of Government and industry in implementing effective alternative arrangements.