How to manage fatigue in your workplace

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Fatigue in the workplace

The basics of fatigue and its risks.

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What’s the risk?


Fatigue affects a person’s health, increases the chance of workplace injuries occurring, and reduces performance and productivity within the workplace.

In 2009, an industry reference group, the Building Employee Redundancy Trust in Queensland engaged the University of Queensland to survey fatigue levels in civil and commercial construction.

The research showed that fatigue was associated with a significant increase in near misses at work as well as an increase in work-life conflict.



What’s the risk?


Other key findings in the survey of ‘fatigue levels in civil and commercial construction’ included:

• construction workers in all jobs reported fatigue to be highest between 2pm and 4pm

• workers associated November, December and January with higher levels of fatigue

• older workers reported higher levels of fatigue

• the longer the work hours, the higher the level of fatigue

• the longer the commuting hours per day, the higher the level of fatigue.



What causes fatigue?


Fatigue is compounded by lifestyle choices, diet, general health and includes such work-related aspects as scheduling, planning, rest breaks, payment incentives, work demands and the work environment.

Goldenhar, Hecker, Moir, et al. (2003), found that excessive overtime - both within 1 day and across many days - adversely affects productivity.

They also found that worker productivity was affected by the manner in which overtime jobs were run, in terms of timelines and type of supervision.



Fatigue can be fatal


Through a long term analysis of workers in construction from 1979 through to 1996 and annually therefore it has been found that working greater than 8 hours per day had higher injury rates than those working less than 8 hours per day (15% versus 10%).

The more hours worked the higher the likelihood of an accident and injury.

The consequence of fatigued workers in construction is more likely to be a serious accident due to the nature and hazards in the industry.




Studies have shown that being awake for 17 hours is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol level of 0.05.

Being awake for 20 hours is the same as of having a blood alcohol level of between 0.08 and 0.1.

The law stipulates that Australian drivers must have a blood alcohol concentration of less than 0.05 on a full licence. Would you allow your workers to do construction work under the influence of alcohol?


Did you know…?


What can you do about it?


Discuss the nature of fatigue with your workers. Include the effects of fatigue on the individual and the workplace.

Make sure workers know the effects of their lifestyle choices and their responsibilities to be “fit for work”

Make sure when planning projects, there is sufficient time for all job tasks and factor in the inevitable delays that occur.

Keep overtime to a minimum



Reducing fatigue in the workplace


To reduce the risk of fatigue, it is important to take mini-breaks throughout the day.

If possible, change tasks at least once every two hours.

Stretch your arms, neck, and legs often if you do the same type of work for long periods of time.

Rest your eyes often by closing them or looking at something other than the work at hand.

For a quick pick-me-up, breathe deeply several times by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth



Reducing fatigue


Preventing and reducing fatigue may lead to:

• better health and safety outcomes

• fewer workplace incidents and injuries

• reductions in absenteeism and staff turnover

• better performance and productivity



Fatigue management strategies


Implement a fatigue management strategy as part of your health & safety management including:

• appropriate and adequate rest, shade and shelter particularly when there is potential for workers to be exposure to heat stress

• decreasing the pace of work in extreme heat and during extended work periods

• discussing the effects of fatigue with workers regularly





Implement a fatigue management strategy as part of your health & safety management including:

• increase teamwork

• limit the hours and the number of days where overtime is required

• increase planning of job activities to reduce the risks

• encourage worker discussion and involvement in regular toolbox talks

Fatigue management strategies


Questions?

Call The Detail Devils 1300 768 019




How to manage fatigue in your workplace

Health & Medicine

Transcript of How to manage fatigue in your workplace