DOS-SAS- AW-201620-1613088 Downstream Oil Sands – Shell Albian Sands April 2016

Turnaround – Worker Fell Asleep while Driving

Target audience for this alert

 All Personnel

What happened
On April 8th, 2016, at 2:15pm, a worker was driving alone in a light
duty vehicle down a straight and flat access road to a laydown area on
the Shell Albian site. The driver had been working as part of the Shell
Albian Sands Turnaround. The worker fell asleep and the Vehicle crossed
the center lane, entered a ditch and struck a sign. The worker was
unharmed and there was minor damage on the vehicle’s driver’s side
fender.

Why it happened
 The worker was fatigued. The worker fell asleep as they were driving and lost control of the vehicle
 The vehicle then drifted across the centre lane, into a ditch and made contact with a sign on the opposite side of
the road.

Lessons learned
 This was the worker’s 12th and last day on shift.
 Fatigue reduces performance, in particular in relation to “situational awareness”
 Fatigue is a frequent contributing factor in road transport incidents, often resulting in serious consequences. It is
critical fatigue awareness training is given to all drivers, emphasising the importance of having a good night’s rest
before driving;
 All staff and Contractors can benefit, in both their work and personal lives, from a better understanding of the
risks associated with fatigue and its effects on driving performance;
 The vehicle driver was wearing seat belts, which provided a barrier preventing injury at the time of impact.
Recommendations
 Ensure that a fatigue management program is in place for your teams.
 The line manager/contract holder should to conduct a fatigue risk assessment if:
o near misses or incidents occurred suspected to be associated with driver fatigue; or
o drivers regularly start work before 6 AM; or
o a substantial change to the work schedule of drivers is considered; or
o there is reason to suspect that drivers may be suffering from fatigue when driving.
 Workers must ensure they are properly rested before assuming duty. Get sufficient sleep. If you feel tired (or
unwell), STOP at a safe location and call your Manager. Rest until you feel refreshed prior to continuing driving
 Supervisors should discuss how workers deal with fatigue during toolbox talks – ensure the quality of rest is
emphasised as a necessary component of working safely
 Contract holders should ensure that contracting companies are aware of Shell’s requirements for Defensive
Driving Training, including fatigue, and ensure that their staff is made aware and properly trained.

Further information
Robert Mullin, Turnaround Event Manager, can be contacted for more incident details or more information
regarding the lessons learned or recommendations. FIM Incident ID: 1613088

Visit Shell Health – Fatigue for more information:

http://sww.shell.com/health/HealthyWorkplace/Fatigue.html