Fatigue Management Presentation

ByPatience Ndhlovu

Outline• What is Fatigue?

• Why manage Fatigue?

• Causes of fatigues

• Symptoms of fatigue

• Managing fatigue

• Medical conditions

• Link between Fatigue and Accidents

• Approach to the management of Fatigue

• Key Elements

• Fatigue Risk Management

• Elements of success

What is Fatigue?

“Extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness”

Why Manage Fatigue?

• Tired employees at work are a fact life

• Employee health is intimately related to safety

• COST

Healthy, well rested and alert employees are critical to safe operations

Causes of Fatigue

• M E D I C A L S

• Night shifts with circadian rhythm

• Workload and working environment factors

• Long shifts and overtime

• Personal factors

Symptoms of fatigue

• Inattention

• Apathy

• Lethargy

• Microsleep whilst on duty

• Impatience & irritable

• Grumpiness

• Decreased motivation

• Physical effects:

How to manage fatigue

• Relax by playing sport

• Get enough sleep (+8hrs)

• Avoid energy drinks eg red bull

• Seek counselling

• Avoid analgesic medication

• Avoid high risk tasks if not mentally fit

• Get breaks when on repetitive tasks

Link between Fatigue and Accidents

In a study that looked at 89 729 person-years of data

• Shifts >12h/dayn injury incidence rate 38% higher than 8 hour shifts

• Each 2 hours worked after 8 hours resulted in an increase of 1.2 injuries per 100 worker-hours

Another study reviewed 1.2 million accidents

• Exponential increase in accident risk was observed beyond the 9th hour at work

18 hours without sleep = blood alcohol level of 0.05mg%

Approach to the management of fatigue

Do we have tired workers?

If yes, then:

• Establish a forum to assess and manage the risk

• Management involvement

• Employee consultation and involvement

• Line ownership

Fatigue Risk Management

• Is a management function

• Needs a multidisciplinary team and approach

Fatigue risk management

Key elements:

• Risk Assessment

• Controls

• Education and training

• Monitoring and review

• Continuous improvemen

Key factors for success

• Management involvement

• Collaborative approach

• Clearly defined programme with objectives

• Monitoring and evaluation

• Decide what success looks like for you