Fatigue Management

Fatigue is a state of tiredness leading to reduced mental and/or physical performance.

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Fatigue in the Workplace
Effects of Fatigue
Preventing Workplace Fatigue
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Fatigue in the Workplace

Excessively long working hours and poorly planned shift work can result in workers' fatigue. Poor work schedules where there are inadequate rest breaks can also accelerate the onset of fatigue in the workplace, especially when the work is demanding.

Effects of Fatigue

Fatigue at work can affect your

Alertness
Concentration
Judgement
Motor skills
Reflexes

These can lead to an increased risk of workplace accidents and near-miss incidents, endangering yourself at the workplace.

Preventing Workplace Fatigue

The best approach to preventing fatigue is having adequate rest or sleep.

As fatigue is normally caused by a confluence of factors, it is necessary to recognize them to prevent the onset of fatigue. A combination of risk control measures will hence be more effective in managing workplace fatigue.

Fatigue Factor	Control Measure(s)
Dim work environment	Provide adequate lighting.
Hot working environment	- Provide adequate ventilation. - Provide facilities for break.
Long working shift	- Limit shift work to not more than 12 hours, including overtime. - Ensure adequate staffing on a shift.
Sustained mentally demanding work	Schedule complex tasks during the day.
Monotonous work e.g. standing in a fixed position for extended time periods	Include activity breaks e.g. simple stretching exercises of limbs and body.