Although there is no scientific definition for fatigue, it is normally described as feeling tired and not being able to carry out work as effectively as usual.
A worker who is suffering may have lower levels of concentration, short-term memory problems, and slower reaction times and less interest in their work than normal.
Fatigue can be caused by:
- Excessive time at work and/or shift patterns that are not well thought out
- Working too hard or for too long
- Not sleeping enough or having poor quality sleep
- Disrupted sleep patterns, such as working nights/early mornings
- Poorly designed shift work
- Inadequate breaks
- Indirectly fatigue is made worse by lifestyle factors such as poor diet, irregular meals, alcohol, and being under or overweight.
Employers should note that workers often struggle to assess their own fatigue levels; even when managed well, it can still increase stress and the risk of ill health.
What is the impact of fatigue at work?
Fatigue causes physical and psychological problems. These can lead to poor performance and reduced productivity, as well as operator errors, accidents, injuries and ill health.
It’s important that employers control long working hours. Changes to working hours need to be risk assessed. Exhaustion can lead to:
- Slower reaction times
- Falling asleep at work
- Inability to concentrate or process information
- Problems with short-term memory
- Lack of attention to detail
- Poor decision making
- Underestimation of risk
- Poor coordination
Shift work:
Shift work, involving hours outside normal daylight hours, can put workers at risk of fatigue. There is a higher incidence of accidents and injuries on night shifts, ‘low points’ (eg after lunch), or when shifts are long with inadequate breaks. In one study, 62% of shift workers had sleeping problems, compared with 20% of day workers. Shift workers are also more likely to have digestive disorders and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Around 4 million people in the UK are shift workers, which is about 14% of the total workforce. There is no specific legislation for shift work but employers are responsible for the health and safety of workers (The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) and this includes reducing the risk of fatigue by planning shift work schedules effectively (Working Time Regulations 1998) This, in turn, reduces risks associated with fatigue and can prevent ill health, injuries and/or accidents.
Stress and fatigue:
This can contribute to a range of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. Mental health should therefore be considered in reference to fatigue.
What can employers do to actively reduce exhaustion in shift workers?
- Implementing Rotating Schedules: Avoiding consecutive night shifts and ensuring adequate rest periods.
- Promoting Regular Breaks: Encouraging short, frequent breaks during shifts to maintain alertness.
- Optimising Work Environments: Ensuring proper lighting, temperature, and ergonomics.
- Providing Health Education: Offering guidance on sleep hygiene, nutrition, and stress management.
- Limiting Overtime: Avoiding excessive working hours and setting realistic workload expectations.
- Offering Flexible Shift Patterns: Allowing workers to have input on schedules to suit their natural body clocks.
- Monitoring for Signs of Tiredness: Training supervisors to recognise symptoms of fatigue and take action.
Whilst not to be considered a ‘silver bullet’, implementing some or all of these strategies can improve worker wellbeing and productivity.
If you would like to discuss details about Becoming Fatigue Free and how we can help you Raiys your wellbeing please contact us.
