RELATED: NTSB release preliminary report on crash investigation
In wake of NJ TRANSIT crash, feds target sleep apnea
The agency disclosed a policy change that will prevent engineers suffering from sleep apnea to operate a train unless they are being treated, while federal regulators prepare a safety bulletin that will urge all railroads to screen for sleep apnea.
November 22, 2016
NTSB_Chris O'Neill
1 min to read
NTSB_Chris O'Neill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following an accident that killed one woman and injured 100 people, engineers suffering from sleep apnea must have the fatigue-inducing disorder under control before they will be allowed to operate trains for NJ TRANSIT, ABC News reports.
NJ TRANSIT disclosed the policy change to the AP on Monday as federal regulators prepare a safety bulletin that will urge all railroads to screen for sleep apnea.
The engineer in the Sept. 29 crash in Hoboken was later found to suffer from sleep apnea. NJ TRANSIT officials said it previously allowed engineers with sleep apnea to keep working as long as they were being treated. It changed the policy in early October, banning engineers with the disorder from operating trains until they get medical certification that the condition has been corrected or controlled. For the full story, click here.
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