De Beers Consolidated Mines, the largest diamond mining company in the world, is equipping the haulage truck fleet at its Venetia mine in South Africa's Limpopo Province, with what De Beers says is the "best technology available to assist in monitoring driver fatigue and reducing mine related accidents."

Studies have shown that shift work and late-night/early-morning driving are associated with disruptions to normal sleep routines. As a result the human body's internal clock switches the brain to lower alertness levels late in the day and during the night to induce sleep. In addition, it is reported that fatigue manifests itself in slower reaction times, reduced vigilance as well as a reduction in the ability to process information. A National Sleep Foundation report says "people are often very poor judges of their degree of alertness. That means a person may not feel sleepy even if at a biological level their alertness is low, and the drive for sleep is high."

Venetia Operations Manager, Johnny Velloza comments, "We are a 24-hour continuous operation and so managing driver fatigue is critical in our quest to avoid accidents. To reduce the monotony of driving a single piece of equipment all the time, we get the drivers to operate different pieces of equipment during a shift. However, eventually this still becomes monotonous, driver fatigue sets in and becomes a major problem. After a lengthy research process, we established that the best solution for Venetia is Attention Technologies' Driver Fatigue Monitor. Once installed, the monitor will interface with our current Fleet Management Control System which allows real time data to be sent through to our control room. This is monitored 24 hours a day as well. The installation of the monitor demonstrates an investment in our continuing commitment to protect our haul truck operators from harm and in making Venetia mine the safest it can be."

The Driver Fatigue Monitor (DD850) is the result of ten years of research and development at Carnegie Mellon University with grants from the US Department of Transportation. Attention Technologies, a Pittsburgh-based company, introduced the third generation monitor in March 2005. It is a portable device that can detect dangerous levels of fatigue up to an hour before drivers notice its onset. The monitor's ability to measure drowsiness has been validated by laboratory tests conducted by the US Department of Transportation.

The DD850, which can be easily mounted on the truck dashboard, alerts drivers of impending fatigue an hour before fatigue sets in and creates the potential for an accident to occur. The device monitors the driver's eyes with infrared technology, detecting when the operator looks away from the road or closes their eyes. An audible alarm sounds when the unit ascertains that the driver is getting drowsy. Visual feedback shows how long the driver's eyes were closed. "Drowsy drivers often drive with their eyes closed for several seconds without realizing it," said Dr. Richard Grace, CEO and founder of Attention Technologies, and a pioneer in the field of driver fatigue. "Eye closures of three to four seconds are common. Research indicates that drowsy drivers have no idea that they driver with their eyes closed for extended periods," said Grace.

The Driver Fatigue Monitor removes a source of anxiety for truck drivers and dispatchers, the guesswork of having to decide if and when they should take a break. Haul drivers are burdened with long, difficult hours and pressures to meet production goals. Now they have an ally in the cab with them. They'll be free to do their jobs with less danger to themselves and other vehicles.