Fatigue at Work

Fatigue is a form of impairment and a recognized workplace hazard.

Causes of fatigue

• long work hours
• shift work
• prolonged mental or physical work
• stress or anxiety for extended periods
• insufficient sleep
• health conditions
• personal circumstances

What employers can do

Change the way work is done

• Identify and address tasks and factors that may cause fatigue, and situations where fatigue could increase the risk of an incident.
• Avoid scheduling high-risk tasks between midnight and 6am, after a time change, or after worker travel.
• Establish predictable shifts that allow enough rest. Rotate shifts forward from mornings to afternoons to night.
• Vary tasks to break up repetitive and boring work.
• Avoid dim lighting, warm temperatures, and excessive noise.

Support workers

• Provide appropriate resources, equipment, training and time to perform work safely.
• Provide training on recognizing fatigue, how to gauge alertness, and how to improve sleep.
• Have healthy food options available.
• Provide mental health and wellness support, including employee assistance programs.
• Encourage workers to take breaks and report concerns about fatigue.

Impacts of fatigue

Decreased

• decision-making ability
• ability to do complex planning
• communication skills
• productivity and performance
• attention and vigilance
• ability to handle stress
• reaction time
• memory and ability to recall details

Increased

• tendency to take risks
• forgetfulness
• errors in judgement
• sick time and absenteeism
• medical costs
• incident rates

Do not perform high-risk tasks such as driving if you are experiencing fatigue. Contact your supervisor.