Fatigue is more than simply feeling tired after a long day. In physically demanding and high-risk workplaces, exhaustion can reduce concentration, slow reaction times and increase the likelihood of serious accidents. Safety organizations continue to emphasize that worker fatigue is a hazard that deserves the same attention as defective equipment or unsafe working conditions.
The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association recently highlighted this concern by encouraging employers and employees to use the “RACE” approach when addressing fatigue in the workplace. The framework begins with recognizing fatigue-related hazards, followed by assessing the level of risk, implementing appropriate controls and regularly evaluating whether those safety measures remain effective.
The RACE approach
Recognizing fatigue early is especially important. Warning signs may include reduced alertness, slower physical performance, frequent yawning, difficulty communicating clearly, poor judgment and noticeable changes in mood or behavior. Left unaddressed, these symptoms can contribute to preventable workplace injuries involving machinery, vehicles, falls or other dangerous situations.
Managing fatigue is not always straightforward because workers experience it differently. Physical job demands, uncomfortable work environments, inadequate ventilation, long commutes and poor work-life balance can all influence a person’s ability to remain alert. Extended shifts, repeated overnight schedules, insufficient recovery time between shifts and skipped breaks are also common contributors to potentially dangerous fatigue.
Employers can reduce these risks by limiting overnight work whenever practical, assigning less hazardous duties during periods when fatigue is more likely, rotating job assignments to reduce mental strain and implementing written fatigue-management policies that encourage reporting concerns without fear of retaliation.
Workers also play an important role in protecting themselves. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, allowing adequate recovery time between shifts, staying hydrated and eating nutritious meals can all support alertness on the job.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, fatigue-related accidents still occur. When they do, injured employees may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. While it is ideal to avoid needing these benefits in the first place, it can be helpful to know that they are available when injuries occur.