Fatigue Management in the Workplace

A report by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has underlined the importance of identifying and managing fatigue in the workplace. The report notes that employees experiencing fatigue are 2.9 times more likely to be involved in a workplace incident. Accidents caused by fatigue can include slips, falls and work-related illnesses. 

In order to comply with the Work Health and Safety Act, a workplace must ensure that employee fatigue does not create a risk to health and safety within their workplace practices. Every business and industry are affected to a degree by fatigue. However, particular sectors have an inherently higher risk of fatigue, especially those requiring a physical component for the job.

Fatigue goes beyond feeling tired and drowsy, within a work context it can be defined as a state of mental or physical exhaustion. Fatigue can be caused by various work-related factors such as excessive shifts, travel, strenuous jobs, working conditions and prolonged mental or physical activities. Fatigue influences an individual’s physical, mental and emotional state, resulting in poor judgments, lack of alertness, slower reaction time to events and decreased motor skills. These all significantly reduce an employee’s ability to perform work safely and effectively, increasing the risk of injuries and accidents. 

Safe Industries Australia can work with your business to implement a fatigue risk management program and put in place control measures to minimise the risk of fatigue in your workplace.

For more information on managing the risk of fatigue in the workplace, contact Safe Industries Australia via email or call (02) 6454 3339.