According to the New York Daily News, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will expand a program and test more Metropolitan Transportation Authority employees for sleep apnea.
More MTA employees will get tested for sleep apnea, expanding a program instituted after the fatal 2013 Metro-North derailment caused by a drowsy engineer, Gov. Cuomo announced Tuesday.
After testing 438 Metro-North locomotive engineers in a pilot program, sleep apnea screenings will be offered to the rail line’s conductors and Long Island Rail Road train crew staff.
The Metro-North engineer at the helm during the fatal derailment at Spuyten Duyvil in the Bronx had an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea.
“This program helps us identify workers who may be at risk for sleep apnea, ensure they receive appropriate treatment, and ultimately create a safer MTA,” Gov. Cuomo said.
The MTA is seeking a medical firm to handle the screenings.
