Taking Goal Zero Outside the Fence: Lifestyle and Health Influences on Tanker and Commercial Drivers’ Performance and Road Safety

Abstract

Abstract Background Drivers are key contributors to economic development. Poor health and behavior poses a challenge to their work performance and safety of even road users. Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), has demonstrated the impact of Human Performance and care agenda on Driver engagement, behaviour, performance and road safety. An ‘outside the fence’ approach is therefore critical towards reaching a larger pool and achieving drivers’ health and public safety Aim To determine and intervene on the risk factors from lifestyle, affecting the health of tanker and commercial drivers as a social investment strategy to improve drivers’ health and foster ‘goal zero culture’ (no incidents, no fatalities). Method A baseline survey among 731 randomly selected consenting commercial and tanker drivers from three motor parks in Rivers (Mile 3 & Eleme), and Lagos (Ojota) states using close ended Interviewer-administered questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions. Health Screening (for Blood Alcohol Concentration {BAC}, visual acuity, blood pressure, random blood sugar, cholesterol and Body Mass Index). Interventions included Health education, medical consultations, treatment of minor ailments, eye care including glasses. Data was analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results Findings showed that 36.9% had raised blood pressure with only 11.5% being known hypertensives; 19.5% of the drivers had trace to significantly raised BAC; 66% of respondents had never had an eye test. Also, 40.7% had visual impairment (with 4% glaucoma-related); 35.5% had elevated blood cholesterol; 18% obese, while 3.6% had elevated blood sugar. Conclusion The lifestyles of these drivers were risk factors for the observed non communicable diseases among them which could potentially interfere with their work performance and invariably, Goal Zero. Health education on, lifestyle modification, continuous monitoring and policy changes to driver monitoring are recommended.