Work and Fatigue

Work and Fatigue
Fatigue has been broadly described as “a feeling of weariness, tiredness or lack of energy”.1 In workplace settings, it is commonly associated with nonstandard schedules, such as night shift work and extended work hours, which disrupt or shorten sleep. Fatigue can also be associated with other workplace factors such as stress, physically or mentally demanding tasks, or working in hot environments. It can stem from a number of different factors and its effects extend beyond sleepiness. Fatigue can slow down reaction times, reduce attention or concentration, limit short-term memory and impair judgement.
High levels of fatigue can affect any worker in any occupation or industry with serious consequences for worker safety and health. Learning the risks for fatigue-related events, identifying the sources of fatigue, and using strategies to manage fatigue will help keep workers safe and healthy.
1 A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia [Internet]. Fatigue; [reviewed 2019 Apr 16; cited 2020 Dec 12]; Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003088.htm
- AJIM Special Issue: Working hours and fatigue: Meeting the needs of American workers and employers
- Journal Article: The Joint Association of Daily Rest Periods and Sleep Duration with Worker Health and Productivity: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey of Japanese Daytime Workers
- Journal Article: Deciphering Fatigue Risk Management Systems: A Holistic Approach to Mitigating Work-Related Fatigue
- Hawaii Public Radio Interview: For shift workers like HPR’s Derrick Malama, there’s no getting used to insufficient sleep
- Science Blog: Setting Objectives for Fatigue Detection Technologies
- Journal Article: Addressing Occupational Fatigue in Nurses: A User-Centered Design Approach for Fatigue Risk Management
- Journal Article: Fatigue Risk Management Systems Diagnostic Tool: Validation of an Organizational Assessment Tool for Shift Work Organizations
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