Fatigue Management

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Fatigue Management Procedure

The effects of fatigue decrease performance and productivity in the workplace and can increase the potential for incidents, mistakes and injuries to occur.

Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to facilitate a safe, healthy and productive workplace through the mitigation of health risks to personnel associated with their own, or others fitness for work.

BGB employees (including labour hire and contractors) are required to follow this procedure.

Procedures

Fatigue can occur as a result of various factors that may be work-related, lifestyle-related or a combination of both. The management of workplace fatigue is a shared responsibility between management and each individual.  The effects of fatigue decrease performance and productivity in the workplace and additionally they increase the potential for incidents and injuries to occur, by placing the fatigued worker and others in the workplace at increased risk.

Sleep is the only effective long-term strategy to prevent and manage fatigue. While tired muscles can recover with rest, the brain can only recover with sleep. The most beneficial sleep is taken in a single continuous period. The optimum amount of sleep varies for each person; with an adult generally requiring 7-8 hours of sleep daily. When less sleep is taken, a sleep debt can occur, which accumulates until either fatigue is experienced, or enough sleep is taken to overcome the sleep debt.

Signs of Fatigue

• Headaches and/or dizziness
• Wandering or disconnected thoughts, daydreaming, lack of concentration
• Tired eyes, blurred vision, difficulty keeping eyes open
• Constant yawning, a drowsy relaxed feeling, falling asleep at work
• Moodiness, such as irritability, poor communication
• Difficulty in concentration; easily distracted, low motivation
• Impaired decision-making and judgment, increased errors
• Slower reaction times, reflexes
• Reduced memory, short term memory problems
• Reduced hand-eye coordination and visual perception
• Falling asleep for less than a second to a few seconds, and being unaware of this (micro-sleeps)
• Reduced vigilance, evidence suggests may be more likely to engage in risk taking behaviour
• Hallucinations

Fatigue and Safety

Fatigue increases the risk of making errors and causing incidents and injuries. Depending on the task at hand, this may present significant risks eg.

• Operating machinery and driving vehicles
• Undertaking critical tasks that require a high level of concentration
• Where the consequence of error is serious

Workplace Considerations

The following workplace considerations have the potential to impact fatigue:

• Shifts lengths and rosters
• Adequate rest breaks during shifts
• Adequate recovery time between shifts

A review of the Fatigue control measures will be completed every six months during Management Review meetings to evaluate its effectiveness.

Monitor and Review

• As part of the review process storeworkers, packing staff and managers will be consulted regarding any signs or symptoms of fatigue within themselves or if they have noticed other fellow employees displaying symptoms.