The Impact Of Work Duration On The Cognitive Abilities Of Bus Drivers In West Bengal

Bus driving job is a part of public service industry. Bus drivers always need to show concern for the passengers in spite of the fact that they must be concentrating on bus driving. In driving performance, the physical and cognitive harmony of the bus driver is a vital factor. Many recent reports related with bus drivers indicate that public transportation employees are at high risk of experiencing traumatic psychological events during the course of their work, with serious threats and assault making up the majority of those reported. This phase of study focuses the changes cognitive ability with duration of working hours. According to year of exposure, 140 subjects were alienated into group 1 and group 2 respectively. Different physical parameter was measured and general questionnaire was administered to know their different responses. Single letter cancellation test, stick drop test were administered to all the subjects for cognitive assessment with different time of the work shift. It was observed from the study that number of incorrect letters was increased with increased duration of working time. As per the reaction time, this was also increased at the end of the shifts and found to be best before the shifts. From the study it can be concluded that their cognitive ability was decreased according to their age. Impairment of motor activity of both groups of drivers was highly related with the time of duration of work. It was also observed in the study that age is another cofactor for the development of that impairment.