A recently released hazard alert from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association says fatigue reduces a worker’s mental focus and “creates serious safety risks,” according to Safety+Health magazine.
Fatigue can affect the mind and the body, and IHSA says most workers “will experience fatigue at some point, which means that every workplace faces some level of risk.”
The organization recommends following the “RACE” method to address fatigue: recognize the hazards; assess the risks; control the risks; evaluate and review the controls.
Early signs of fatigue include decreased alertness and strength, yawning, slurred speech, difficulty making decisions and mood changes. Most workers will experience fatigue from long shifts, extended periods without time off, skipping breaks, frequent night or on-call shifts, and excessive commute times.
IHSA offers the following tips for addressing fatigue risk:
- Limit shift work—especially overnight shifts—to essential tasks.
- Schedule low-risk tasks during high-fatigue periods.
- Implement fatigue-management policies such as guidelines regarding work hours, breaks and fatigue reporting.
- Rotate workers through tasks to prevent mental fatigue.
- Encourage workers to exercise regularly, hydrate, get consistent sleep and eat a healthy diet.
IHSA also recommends regularly reviewing control measures. Consider whether changes to the work environment or processes affected controls, and be sure to request worker feedback.
