Fatigue doesn’t just cause workers to feel more tired, it also increases the risk of accidents and injuries, reduces productivity, and causes absenteeism. Research has shown that spending 17 hours awake is equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of 0.05, and 24 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.10. You’d never let an employee operate heavy machinery with that much alcohol in their system, yet fatigued workers routinely engage in difficult or hazard-heavy work.

In the context of safety and health, fatigue refers to mental or physical exhaustion that reduces a person’s capacity to perform work safely and effectively. The causes, however, aren’t always work related. Some of the most common reasons for fatigue include:

Prolonged or intense mental or physical activity
Sleep loss or disrupted sleep
Travel
Organizational change
Irregular work scheduling or excessively long shifts
Strenuous activity
Long commutes to and from work
Working in extremely hot or cold environments

How to tell if a worker is fatigued

Fatigued workers can put themselves and others at risk of injury. It is important for managers and supervisors to know the signs of fatigue and watch out for these symptoms in their employees.

Tired, Weariness, or Sleepiness – Drooping heads, incessant yawning, and eyelids that seem to be closing are the most obvious indicators that a worker is fatigued and needs time to recover before costly errors or accidents happen.
Irritability – Workers can be irritable for many reasons, including problems at home, financial stress, conflict with coworkers, etc. Another reason may be the lack of rest. It is a good idea to watch for patterns of irritability or a newly developed “bad attitude,” especially when combined with other signs on the list above.
Reduced Alertness, Concentration, or Memory – Watch for workers who appear to have trouble focusing or who can’t recall seemingly simple things, like what they just said or did. Having difficulty solving problems can also be an indicator of fatigue.
Lack of Motivation – Employees who appear to suddenly lack motivation to do their job, and do it well, may seem lazy but this is generally a sign of broader issues, including fatigue.
Increased Mistakes or Lapses in Judgment – If a worker who is otherwise proven to be competent and good at their job starts making frequent errors or poor choices, it might be a sign of sleep deprivation or fatigue.
Headaches – Headaches are a sign of fatigue, but they can also be a sign of dehydration. Before deciding it is fatigue, make sure all workers are adequately hydrated on the job, even when it is not hot outside.
Increased Susceptibility to Illness – Workers who are suddenly taking more time off due to illness may be experiencing fatigue. Insufficient sleep wears the body down and affects a person’s ability to fight colds, flu, and other illnesses. With an increase in fatigue, it’s not uncommon to see a rise in absenteeism.

Proactively Addressing Worker Fatigue

Employees certainly play a role in preventing fatigue and some of the causes go beyond the workplace, but there are a number of things employers can do to reduce fatigue at work. An effective approach to fatigue risk management should involve some or all of the following:

Shift scheduling: consistent schedules, frequent breaks, two consecutive days off each week, and no more than four night shifts in a row
Balancing workloads and staffing
Developing a reporting system for fatigue related incidents
Workplace design: cool atmosphere, low humidity, natural light, minimal noise/vibrations
Employee training on fatigue and managing sleep disorders
Supervisor and management training on monitoring and identifying fatigue in workers
Offering an insurance plan that covers sleep disorders or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) so workers can get information and counselling to assist them in ways to recover from fatigue issues. All municipalities with OMAG insurance plans are eligible to use New Directions Employee Assistance Program at no charge to the employee or municipality. Contact Monica Coleman at (800) 234-9461 for more information.

By identifying fatigue and taking a proactive approach to deal with it before it becomes an issue, you can ensure a safe, healthy, and productive work environment for your entire workforce.