FATIGUE & YOUR WORKPLACE
AN INFOGRAPHIC FROM TMSCONSULTING.COM.AU
‘Fatigue’ is a general term used to describe the feeling of being
tired, drained or exhausted. Fatigue is a cumulative and gradual
process that manifests in the form of tiredness, lack of energy,
exhaustion and reductions in performance capacity. It is said to
be a “common, almost universal feature of modern life,” but
when it is in excess is clearly an industrial and public safety issue.1
The circadian rhythm acts as a body’s internal “alarm clock”; telling the body when to sleep, when to wake up and when
to eat. On average, an adult requires 8 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Disrupted circadian rhythms can impact on the
quality and quantity of sleep, task performance and create a perceived sense of personal imbalance.
DROWSINESS
Drowsiness refers to feeling sleepy or
tired, or being unable to keep your
eyes open. While most people feel
drowsy at some point or another,
persistent sleepiness or fatigue,
especially at inappropriate times, can
indicate a sleep disorder or other
medical problem.
FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia is a chronic
condition that causes pain,
stiffness, and tenderness of
muscles, tendons, and joints. It
is also characterized by restless
sleep, awakening feeling
tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety,
depression, and disturbances in
bowel function.
MENTAL EXHAUSTION
Mental exhaustion, leading to
burnout, results from excess,
long-term stress. Mental
exhaustion symptoms not only
manifest in the mind, but also
as physical, emotional and
behavioral symptoms.
EMOTIONAL
Fatigue can result in a person
being more quiet than usual,
withdrawn, increased stress
levels, reduced motivation,
lacking energy, anxiety,
irritability, decreased tolerance,
and depression.
DECLINATION TO PERFORM
Fatigue affects tens of
thousands of people. People
with fatigue are often unable to
perform normally at work and
home because of their longterm fatigue and problems
with short-term memory.
CONCENTRATION
Poor memory, forgetfulness and
difficulty concentrating can cause
problems at work and at home.
Study shows that a quarter of
workers sleep so badly on a
regular basis that it’s impossible
to concentrate on their job.
REACTION TIME
Fatigue leads to poor
judgement, poor performance
on skilled tasks and slower
reaction times. As little as
two hours sleep loss on one
occasion can affect reaction
time, mental functioning,
memory, mood and alertness.
A recent study has found that the risk of accidents
increased exponentially beyond the eight and ninth hour
at work. Decreased performance associated with fatigue
and sleep deprivation resulting in decreased accuracy of
performance, increased time required to complete a task,
longer reaction times and impairments in anticipation,
planning and judgement.
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Whilst a certain level of fatigue
is a natural response to everyday
living, high levels of fatigue can
be detrimental to the individual,
organisation and the community.
1
PRODUCTIVITY
PRESENTEEISM
MORTALITY
MOBILITY
An effective fatigue management system is imperative for any
business where staff are driving for long periods during, before
or after work. A recent study from an Australian Work Health
Authority showed fatigue and microsleeps were a factor in a
significant number of incident notifications of light and heavy
vehicle accidents at or near mine sites, some resulting in serious
injuries. A microsleep is an episode of sleep which may last for a
fraction of a second or up to 30 seconds. For the sleep-deprived,
or the fatigued, microsleeping can occur at anytime without
warning. A four second microsleep while driving at 100km/hr
means you will travel the length of a football field while not in
control of your car.2
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BREACHES OF WHS
FAMILY IMPACTS
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BRAND REPUTATION COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
HEALTH
SOCIAL/DOMESTIC
ROAD TRANSPORT
ACCIDENTS ARE
FATIGUE RELATED
Employers have a duty to take
reasonable care for health and safety of
all employees in the workplace.
Work Health and Safety Acts and Regulations in each respective
state, such as the Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011,
impose strict legal duties on all employers.
Employers have a primary duty of care to ensure, so far as is
reasonalbly practical, the health and safety of:
All workers or persons undertaking work for the
employer
Workers whose activities are directly influenced by
the employer
Other persons who could be put at risk from work carried
out by PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking)
These legal duties mandate that persons with management or control
of a workplace must ensure so far as is reasonably practical that all
aspects of the workplace are without risk to the health and safety to
any person. Risks include those of both physical and mental nature. In
a real sense the risks arising from excess fatigue impairment, just lke
any other work-related risk, must be eliminated and managed.3
FATIGUE RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management is a key
component to eliminate
fatigue hazards. A Fatigue Risk
Management System should
be a ‘living and breathing’
document that is able to adapt
to and learn from developments
in the workplace. Risk
assessment can be adapted
to the process of fatigue
management. By identifying
and assessing the various tasks
that can result in undue fatigue,
countermeasures can be easily
chosen and planned.4
Employers have a duty to provide a reasonably practicable working environment that is safe and without risk to the
health of employees. This includes removing or controlling the risks of fatigue by organising and planning shift work
arrangements, optimising work schedules to minimise fatigue and providing rest breaks.
WHS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT
Members of the management must be made aware of the effects of fatigue in the
workplace on productivity, costs, and safety. Employers are encouraged to develop and
implement a comprehensive Workplace Safety and Health management programme to
establish a safe and healthy working environment so as to prevent workplace accidents
and work-related illnesses.
SUPERVISORS
The main role of supervisors is to provide close and direct supervision of the tasks
performed by the employees under them. Therefore, knowledge of the symptoms of
fatigue is particularly important to supervisors so that they can detect fatigue amongst
their employees, and carry out countermeasures to prevent potentially unsafe work.
EMPLOYEES
It is important to highlight that the responsibility for fighting fatigue belongs to everyone
at the workplace. Employees must also do their part by ensuring that they use time away
from work properly - of particular importance is ensuring that they get enough sleep.
Sources:
Collaborating closely with key stakeholders, we aim to add
value by reducing fatigue-related risk and the associated
costs. Contact TMS today to find out how we can assist you
with your fatigue management requirements.
TMS Consulting Pty Ltd
Brisbane • Sydney • Perth
© copyright 2013 www.tmsconsulting.com.au
(1) Dembe, A.E., Erikson, J.B., Delbos, R.G., & Banks, S.M. (2005). The impact of overtime and long work hours on
occupational injuries and illnesses: new evidence from the United States. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62(9),
588-97
(2) D.F. Swaab (1992). Progress in Brain Research: The Human Hypothalamus in Health and Disease vol.93
(3) Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/W/WorkHSA11.pdf
(4) Workplace Safety and Health: Risk Assessment Guidelineshttp://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/legislation/
Occupational_Safety_and_Health/workplace_safety_and/workplace_safety_and0.html