The driver’s health condition affects the quality of driving, and therefore the number of accidents. How can this be controlled? First of all, the responsibility lies with the driver himself, as well as with the enterprises responsible for his access to vehicles. How the pre-trip inspection of drivers is carried out , as well as their post -trip survey, we will consider further in the article.
Why do I need a physical examination
At any enterprises in motor transport or construction organizations, there is a driver's position. It doesn’t matter what type of vehicle it drives, the main thing is in what condition.
A large number of construction equipment implies the presence of such specialties as a tractor driver, excavator, driver and many others. All these categories should be examined at the very beginning of the working day.
The Constitution obliges to protect the labor of employees. And this means that it is necessary to create all the conditions that will ensure the safety of their work. For the driver, one of these conditions will be his state of health. Only a healthy, adequate person is able to correctly respond to prevailing road conditions or production situations, and accident on roads and production directly depends on this.
Medical examination of drivers is first of all a determination of their readiness to safely drive a vehicle. When issuing rights to this, it is mandatory to monitor the mental state, as well as to identify dependence on alcohol and drugs. Daily pre-trip inspection allows you to monitor the health of the driver and timely detect deviations and violations.
Types of medical examination of the driver
For such a procedure as a medical examination of drivers, there are specially designed conditions. So, the legislation provides for several types of physical examination:
- Pre-trip.
- Current.
- Post-trip.
Who is responsible
At enterprises, the responsibility for carrying out the above lies with the officials who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of vehicles. In addition, their duties include:
- Select drivers.
- Monitor the timely improvement of their professional level.
- Obliged to monitor the state of health and the implementation of the regime of work and rest.
- Not allowed to drive vehicles.
In the latter case, there is a whole list of such persons:
- drivers who do not have the appropriate category of rights;
- did not pass the medical examination at the indicated time;
- took medications that slow down the reaction rate and cause drowsiness;
- drunk or drug-affected workers.
Officials can fulfill all these conditions only after conducting a pre-trip medical examination of the driver. It is performed by a medical worker, who subsequently bears the responsibility for issuing access to transport management. How to arrange a pre-flight inspection ?
We organize a driver inspection
In order to organize a pre-trip physical examination, the following conditions must be met. So, the company should have a position of a medical worker who will carry out inspection of drivers. To do this, it is allowed to hire an employee under the contract, and it is allowed to attract medical workers from the nearest medical institution.
The main thing is that the inspection should be carried out by a specialist who had previously undergone special training.
The pre-flight inspection is carried out immediately before departure, after receiving the waybill. For this, a special room with adequate lighting should be allocated for a thorough examination. The results are recorded in the log pre-trip inspection. This document is sealed with the seal of the enterprise.
How to fill out a journal
Logging requirements are strict and non-negligent. The following must be observed in the journal:
- Pages are numbered.
- The binding is laced.
- The record is sealed with the seal of the enterprise or medical institution, if the examination takes place in a hospital.
After the pre-trip inspection of the driver is completed, the following data is kept:
- Full Name;
- age;
- place of work;
- date and time when the inspection was carried out;
- inspection report;
- Taken measures;
- FULL NAME. medical worker.
If the doctor has no complaints about the driver, he puts a stamp in the waybill. It also indicates the date and time when it was passed, its full name and signature.
How do we go through a pre-trip physical examination
Inspection of the driver before the flight, as a rule, involves a conversation with the driver about his health condition. In this case, you should pay attention to the behavior and mental state of the driver. No less important are the indicators:
- temperature
- blood pressure
- heart rate.
The doctor conducts a visual examination, not forgetting to pay attention to residual or obvious signs of drinking alcohol or drugs.
If the above signs are identified, it is necessary to conduct a laboratory examination and instrumental, as well as exercise sobriety control.
How is sobriety control carried out
One of the most important indicators of a driver’s inspection is his sobriety, because a significant number of accidents occur due to violation of this rule. Therefore, conducting pre-trip inspections necessarily provides for the control of driver sobriety.
The doctor draws attention, first of all, to such factors:
- strong smell of alcohol;
- driver behavior is suspicious, a violation of the reaction is observed;
- rapid pulse;
- speech impairment;
- the reaction of the pupils is abnormal.
The doctor analyzes the exhaled air. In case of suspicion of alcohol intoxication or the presence of drugs in the body, urine should be taken for analysis. This procedure is carried out using an express test. Take blood for analysis is prohibited. A popular method of sobriety testing is walking in a straight line, making sharp turns or lifting an object from the floor.
If there is a suspicion of the presence of alcohol or drugs in the driver’s body, and he does not agree with this, it is necessary to send him for examination.
In case of obvious alcoholic intoxication of the driver, if he refuses the examination, it is necessary to draw up an act on his intoxicated state during working hours. The act is drawn up in duplicate. One remains with the health worker, and the other is transferred to the head of the enterprise. This fact, by the way, may be grounds for dismissal.
Risk groups
At the time of the pre-trip inspection, they pay most attention to people who often reveal the following deviations from the norm:
- high blood pressure;
- fever;
- frequent colds;
- the presence of chronic diseases;
- alcohol abuse;
- there was the use of drugs that contain psychotropic substances ;
- the use of drugs for regular therapy.
All these indicators are recorded in the journal. Drivers with such health problems or with alcohol are at risk, and people over 55 are also included.
It is for this category that current and post-trip inspection is recommended.
Not allowed to work
The driver may not be allowed to drive if such deviations are identified:
- signs of exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- fever;
- loss of strength.
- headache or toothache;
- a strong or very weak heartbeat;
- high blood pressure;
- clear signs of intoxication or drug abuse;
- taking medications that slow down the reaction.
If you suspect the presence of alcohol or drugs in the blood, a sobriety control is carried out, which we described earlier.
If signs of an exacerbation of chronic diseases are found, then the driver is prescribed a referral to a hospital to a specialist. He confirms the disability of the driver and writes him a sick leave. Otherwise, if the doctor does not see any signs of the disease, he issues a certificate that the patient is healthy and can work.
The data of drivers who have chronic diseases is recorded in a separate journal, in addition, maps are entered on them. The health worker annually compiles lists indicating the diagnosis of such people and recommendations for admission to work. If we usually undergo a physical examination once a year, then for this category it is shown every six months, depending on the state of health.
Post-Flight Inspection
Post-trip inspection primarily disciplines workers. Knowing about him, the driver will not drink alcohol, realizing that he can be checked at any time. Indeed, as a result, you can lose your earnings or, having violated the rules of the road in this state, be left without driving permits. And we know that a large number of traffic accidents are committed through the fault of a drunk driver.
Pre-trip and post-trip medical examinations are carried out identically. Except that in the latter case, the driver is no longer issued a ticket. However, if there are signs of alcohol consumption, or a suspicion that the driver was using drugs, he may be fired.
For those with chronic illnesses, post-trip monitoring is also necessary. To prevent exacerbation of the disease and timely take the necessary measures.
It is worth noting that control of sobriety of the driver is impossible without his consent. It is documented in writing. Also, such consent may be agreed upon in advance in the employment contract or is executed as a separate document. Most often, this important point is provided when applying for a job.
According to the law “On Road Traffic Safety”, pre-trip inspections of drivers are mandatory, and post-trip inspections are necessary for everyone in the “risk group”. This is the only way to be sure that only sober and healthy drivers will drive our roads.