A large proportion of all VAG drivers retire prematurely from driving duty for reasons of health. About two thirds have to retire due to disablement. Drivers who are not retired get transferred as "Disabled Driving Personal" in alternative positions within the company. The new positions often require fewer qualifications. The average age of this group is 51 years. The goals of this project were: (1) gathering further information concerning reasons for disablement; (2) trail of preventive measures in order to avoid disablement; and (3) improvement of the situation for disabled drivers. Gathering information on reasons for disability was realised by an analysis of accidents, an inquiry among totally active and disabled drivers via questionnaire as well as an analysis of the company doctor's records within a period of 22 years. The inquiry's results indicated that the strongest hindrance of job satisfaction was the planning and distribution of shift work duty. Due to this finding, improvements in scheduling and shift organisation have become priority measures in considering drivers' needs. The group of drivers, who were formerly excluded from work due to their handicaps (Partly disabled staff) are now also included in work scheduling. The socalled "Sonderrottenmodell" allows on the one hand the active service of partly disabled staff, and on the other hand - as a preventive measure for elderly drivers - realises sliding retirement. Disease of the heart and spinal area as well as problems with the circulation are the diagnosis, when drivers become disabled. Neck and back ache are the VAG drivers' common complaints. In assessing the basis for drivers' disablement, time pressure, the psychological load of shift work, traffic difficulties, and responsibility are contributing factors. Also frequently experienced are sleep disturbances and circulatory difficulties. The risk factors which increase the incidence of the forementionned health problems are restricted movement opportunity, obesity, and inproper diet. Based on these tendencies a seminar was organised to teach drivers stress and relaxation techniques, exercises designed to strengthen spinal musculature, and ground rules for health preservation, with emphasis on diet consciousness. The problems related to drivers' disability however will not be entirely solved by theses preventative seminar measures. Also, it is important to consider drivers already declared disabled. For this second group of workers additional steps are planned to assist with job integration. Strengthened individual attention measures, and group exchange of experiences among affected workers are two such planned activities. General organisational information will also be provided to acquaint the worker with his new role in the organisation.
Samenvatting