Federal Regulators to Conduct Listening Sessions on Sleep Apnea Next Month
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration announced on April 27 that the two agencies will hold public listening sessions next month in Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles on the subject of obstructive sleep apnea.
The sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C., on May 12, in Chicago on May 17 and Los Angeles on May 25.
The agencies said they will solicit information on the prevalence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea among individuals occupying safety sensitive positions in highway and rail transportation and of its potential consequences for the safety of rail and highway transportation.
The sessions follow a joint advance notice of proposed rulemaking by the agencies on March 10 seeking written public comment on sleep apnea. The purpose of the listening sessions is to receive oral comments in response to the ANPRM, the agencies said.
“FMCSA and FRA also request information on potential costs and benefits from possible regulatory actions that address the safety risks associated with motor carrier and rail transportation workers in safety sensitive positions who have obstructive sleep apnea,” the announcement said.
The agencies will post specific information on how to participate via the Internet and the locations in advance of the listening sessions.
“The collection and analysis of sound data on the impact of OSA must be our immediate first step,” FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling has said. “We call upon the public to help us better understand the prevalence of OSA among commercial truck and bus drivers as well as the safety and economic impacts on the truck and bus industries.”
