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Managing the Risk of Work-Related Fatigue

Why does Fatigue Matter?

Fatigue can impact workers’ health and can increase the risk of health and safety incidents. Fatigue-related incidents include:

  • loss of control while operating fixed or mobile plant, including vehicles or vessels,
  • slipping or falling, especially while operating plant or tools and performing tasks requiring balance and coordination such as when working at heights,
  • errors in following health and safety procedures.

What is Fatigue?

Fatigue is not just being tired. It results in a significant reduction in mental and physical performance.  It is a condition caused by:

  • prolonged wakefulness,
  • sleep deprivation and/or
  • excessive mental and physical workload.

Signs and Symptoms of Fatigue

The signs and symptoms of fatigue can vary depending on the individual and the nature of the work. These include:

  • reduced alertness,
  • poor judgement,
  • slower reaction times,
  • memory lapses and loss of focus,
  • low energy and motivation,
  • increased risk-taking, and/or
  • irritability or mood changes.

Employer Duties

Employers’ duties include:

  • identifying the hazards in their workplace
  • assessing the risks to employees and
  • putting in place appropriate control measures to protect employees.

This is about identifying where and when workers are exposed to fatigue risks and implementing controls that can adequately eliminate or minimise risks from known hazards.

Employee Duties

Employees’ duties include:

  • taking reasonable care for their own health and safety and the health and safety of others at the workplace that may be affected by their acts or omissions,
  • supporting workplace safety, and
  • reporting to their employer any unsafe working conditions.

Assessing the Risk of Fatigue

The aim of risk assessment is to determine what measures need to be taken to prevent or minimise the potential for work-related fatigue. When carrying out a risk assessment, consult workers and take account of all relevant factors, consider

  1. Individual employee factors.
  2. The type of work they are doing.
  3. The organisation of work and the work environment.

Below are examples of hazards that contribute to the risk of workers becoming fatigued. Some can cause fatigue on their own, but in many circumstances, it will be a combination of hazards together that cause fatigue.

Individual factors: Insufficient sleep quality and quantity (e.g. pregnant employees, older employees), young employees, Workers with health conditions, New and temporary workers. Type of work: Physically or mentally demanding work, Monotonous work (e.g. machine-pace), Work that requires constant attention. Organisational and Environmental Factors: The design of shift work schedules, Night work, Long working hours, Workplace environmental conditions (e,g, lighting, temperature).

Shift Work and Night Work

The health and safety impacts for shift workers and night workers can be significant, with fatigue due to disruption of the body clock, being one of the issues that needs to be managed. Guidance is available to support employers in complying with their legal duties to night and shift workers.

Key Messages

  • Fatigue can impact a worker’s ability to perform tasks safely and increase the risk of accidents, injuries and ill health.
  • As an employer, acknowledge fatigue, talk about fatigue and take action on fatigue in the workplace in a meaningful way. Genuine commitment by managers and leaders is essential as these roles actively shape the organisation and how work is undertaken.
  • Risk assessment should recognise that there is an organisational and individual role to the management of fatigue.
  • Education and raising awareness activities should include information on the health and safety impact of fatigue and the importance of sleep, good diet and exercise for health.
  • Employers have legal duties to protect night and shift workers. Health Assessment for all night workers must be made available free of charge.

Resources and References