fatigue policy

Source excerpt

# Is fatigue a workplace issue? (cont.) ## What are some factors that are related to fatigue? (cont.) narcolepsy Illness, medical conditions, and pharmaceutical products (including over-the-counter medications) can also affect sleep length and sleep quality. For example, substances such as nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol can affect the quality of sleep. Caffeine can remain in the body for about 3 to 7 hours. Alcohol may shorten the time to fall asleep, but it disrupts sleep later in the night. Nicotine also can disrupt sleep and reduce total sleep time. ## Is jet lag or the change to daylight savings related to safety issues? Jet lag is the result of a mismatch between a person's circadian rhythm and the time of day in the new time zone. Similarly, this effect can be felt when there is a hour adjustment when clocks move ahead to daylight savings time. Employers may wish to help minimize the impact of these changes by educating workers about the hazards associated with fatigue, allowing flexible hours for a day or two, scheduling major changes or tasks for a different time, and checking in with workers to determine if they are experiencing any impacts. There are reports of increased incidents when daylight savings time begins (in the spring), especially incidents involving transportation and heavy machinery. There are also reports of increased traffic incidents following the end of day light saving time (the adjustment in the Fall). Factors may include that there is less light (visibility), especially during morning and evening rush hour drives. ## How can a workplace address fatigue? Fatigue can be addressed through the workplace's safety management system, or as a separate fatigue management program. Creation of a program that addresses both workplace and personal factors may include to: - identify the hazards and conduct a risk assessment for factors associated with fatigue - develop and implement the organization's response to when a person is experie…

Source excerpt

WORK SAFE KENTUCKY Free safety resources provided by KEMI HOME SAFETY RESOURCES SAFETY TRAINING SAFETY BLOG ABOUT KEMI CONTACT US O # Preventing Worker Fatigue ## Print a Sign-In Sheet | Spanish Version Coming Soon In the United States, it is common for workers to spend more than 40 hours a week at work. Also, some workers have irregular schedules, such as rotating, evening, and night shifts, which can result in workers' fatigue. Fatigue may lead to increased levels of stress, bad eating habits, lack of concentration, lack of physical activity, and illness. If a worker is fatigued, the risk of accidents and injuries may increase as well. Accident and injury rates are 18% greater during evening shifts and 30% greater during night shifts compared to day shifts. Research has shown that working 12 hours a day increases the risk of injury by 37%. Therefore, to help ensure employees stay safe, healthy, and productive, see the information and tips below to assist in preventing worker fatigue. Occupations most commonly affected: • Health care providers. • Transportation workers. • First responders. • Firefighters. • Police officers. • Military personnel. Follow us on Social Media • Construction workers. • Oil field workers. • Service and hospitality workers. ## Effects of worker fatigue: • Sleepiness. • Irritability. • Reduced alertness. • Lack of concentration and memory. • Impaired decision-making. • Lack of productivity. • Heart disease. - Stomach and digestive problems. • Musculoskeletal disorders. • Reproductive problems. - Depression. • Sleep disorders. Employer preventive measures: • Examine staffing issues: • Workload. • Work hours. • Understaffing. • - Arrange schedules to allow for rest breaks and nighttime sleep. • - Adjust the work area to increase alertness • Lighting. • Temperature. • Physical surroundings. • Train employees on the hazards, symptoms, and impact of worker fatigue. • Educate employees on steps to h…

Source excerpt

# Is fatigue a workplace issue? Everyone should be concerned about the impact of fatigue as it can be considered a form of impairment, making fatigue a workplace hazard. However, fatigue levels are not easily measured or quantified; therefore, it is difficult to isolate the effect of fatigue on incident and injury rates. Workplace factors that may influence fatigue are shift rotation patterns, balanced workloads, timing of tasks and activities, availability of resources, and the workplace environment (e.g., lighting, ventilation, temperature, etc.). However, be sure to consider other factors beyond a lack of sleep including mental fatigue, such as mental workloads, demanding mental activities or stress, long periods of anxiety, or long periods of monotonous tasks, etc. Many studies focus on the amount of sleep required. Some research studies have shown that when workers have slept for less than 5 hours before work or when workers have been awake for more than 16 hours, their chance of making mistakes at work due to fatigue are significantly increased. Research has shown that the number of hours awake can be similar to blood alcohol levels. One study reports the following: - 17 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of 0.05 21 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of 0.08 (legal limit in Canada) - 24-25 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of 0.10 Fatigue is regarded as having an impact on work performance. Government of Alberta, Labour* reports that most incidents occur when people are more likely to want sleep - between midnight and 6 am, and between 1 to 3 pm. Government of Alberta, Labour also reports that fatigue affects people differently but it can increase a worker's hazard exposure by: - reducing mental and physical functioning, - impairing judgement and concentration, - lowering motivation, - slowing reaction time, and - increasing risk-taking behaviour. *Source: Fatigue, Extended Work Hours, a…

Source excerpt

# Is fatigue a workplace issue? (cont.) ## How can a workplace address fatigue? (cont.) - develop administrative practices such as maximum hours of service, appropriate shift rotation, extended workdays, reducing or eliminating the need to do high risk activities between certain hours (e.g., between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.), etc. - maintain a consistent work schedule, where possible. - assess physical and mental job demands. - provide appropriate work, where possible. For example, try to offer a variety of tasks that vary in interest and movement throughout the shift. - consider not scheduling any critical or demanding tasks following a time change or when workers have travelled (jet lag). - provide lodging or areas to rest or sleep, where appropriate and necessary - educate and train about fatigue, including recognizing signs and symptoms of fatigue, how to gauge alertness, or steps to help achieve better sleep - provide medical screening for health issues that may affect sleep - provide mental health services, including employee assistance programs (EAP), as needed - include fatigue as a possible factor and related causes of fatigue when investigating incidents For more information, please see the following OSH Answers documents: - Extended Workday: Health & Safety Issues - Rotational Shiftwork - Employee Assistance Programs ## How much sleep do people need? It varies, but on average studies say we need at least 7 to 9 hours every day. Studies have reported that most night shift workers get about 5 to 7 hours less sleep per week than the day shift. (You can accumulate a sleep "debt", but not a surplus.) Humans follow an "internal" or "biological clock" cycle of sleep, wakefulness, and alertness. Although these circadian rhythms are influenced by external clues such as the sun setting and rising, it is the brain that sets your pattern. Most cycles are 23-25 hours long and there are natural dips or periods when you feel tired or less aler…