Workplace Fatigue
Workplace fatigue can lead to accidents, injury, ill-health and loss of productivity. Fatigue is also implicated in 20% of accidents on major roads.
What is fatigue and why should I be concerned about it?
Fatigue is generally considered to be a decline in mental and/or physical performance that results from prolonged exertion, sleep loss and/or disruption of a person's 'internal clock'.
Worker fatigue can result in:
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lack of attention
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slower reactions
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reduced co-ordination
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decreased awareness
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underestimation of risk
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memory lapses or absent-mindedness
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a reduced ability to process information
Causes of workplace fatigue
Fatigue can arise as a result of excessive working time or poorly designed shift patterns. It is also related to workload, since workers are more easily fatigued if their work is machine-paced, complex or monotonous.
HSAW helps you to benefit from managing the risks of fatigue
Research shows that some working patterns result in less fatigue than others. By taking advantage of more favourable patterns and allowing sufficient recovery time, it is possible to balance the needs of both worker and workplace.
Our team has developed a deep understanding of the issues surrounding fatigue over many years and is very familiar with the scientific knowledge and thinking in this area.
The team provides expert assistance to businesses and regulators, as the many interacting factors that can contribute to fatigue make this a challenging risk to manage without informed guidance.
Managing fatigue offers measurable benefits and return on investment, including:
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increased productivity
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healthier shift patterns
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increased employee motivation
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optimised alertness and decision making
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assurance of compliance with relevant H&S regulations
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staff buy-in to managing fatigue on- and offline
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reduced likelihood of fatigue-induced human error leading to accidents
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