Consequences of Fatigue
Fatigue results in decreased worker productivity due to reduced ability to make safe decisions, decreased concentration, impaired memory, and decreased reaction time and accuracy.
Moreover, fatigue affects people's moods and behaviors. Employees can become impulsive, which often leads to misunderstandings and conflicts. And a workplace filled with overly busy employees creates an unhealthy psychological climate, which can negatively affect the productivity and safety of the organization. For example, if employees don't take care of their co-workers, they are less likely to voluntarily raise safety issues that they may notice.
In addition, fatigue and related physical ailments and conditions can lead to short- and long-term absences from work and increased medical costs. It is not uncommon for occupational diseases to develop. Last but not least, fatigue results in significant loss of productivity. Distractions, mistakes, inability to concentrate and lack of motivation can have a negative impact on practical results, which in turn can have an even greater impact on employee morale.
Combating fatigue in the workplace
Reducing the impact of fatigue involves changing habits. And coping with fatigue constantly requires numerous habit and lifestyle changes. But the results are worth it. Below are recommendations to consider when trying to eliminate fatigue problems.
1. Implement wellness programs
Wellness programs can be a significant investment, but the results can be seen in improved employee engagement, fewer absences due to injuries and illnesses and improved employee health, leading to improved health and safety performance and increased productivity. Such programs and policies often include:
health education,
medical screenings for sleep disorders,
prevention programs, including smoking cessation, weight control, exercise, and promotion of healthy eating,
fitness programs/services on-site or discounted group rates at outside facilities,
long rest breaks,
providing healthy meals in vending machines and cafes.
2. Creating a favorable microclimate and environment in the workplace
Human circadian rhythms can easily be disrupted by insufficient natural light, which can exacerbate feelings of fatigue. In addition, a slight change in temperature can also have a significant impact on energy levels and productivity.
Bright light promotes wakefulness and increases productivity, but can lead to problems with people's internal clock. The body needs natural light to achieve optimal levels of functioning. Natural light makes people less sleepy and helps them work longer. This means that providing natural light when possible can help prevent fatigue.
Temperature can also affect fatigue levels. Lower temperatures require energy to be diverted away from the brain to heat up the rest of the body. When this happens, the brain is likely to perform worse and people are much more prone to make mistakes. Providing a comfortable temperature in the workplace can prevent this.
Each person's work environment should be considered. Do they have to go up and down, cover distances, lift objects repeatedly? Anything that can be automated to reduce unnecessary movement or help with moving loads can not only reduce fatigue, but also improve productivity.
Changes in physical factors due to seasonality, production demands, or temporary heating or air conditioning failures must be taken into account because they can deviate from the normal levels to which workers are accustomed.
3. informing employees about the benefits of sleep
While employees' lives outside of the company may seem like an afterthought in ensuring a safe work environment and controlling fatigue, their health and safety is just as important outside of work hours.
Companies should consider educating their employees about the importance of sleep. Providing free materials and training on sleep health and sleep hygiene can help make staff more rested as a result. It may also encourage them to take naps at home without feeling like they are wasting time.
This is important because many studies have shown that short breaks (10 to 30 minutes) increase productivity by 34 percent and attention by 54 percent. A short 10-minute nap can improve alertness, communication and mood.
Some companies even provide "rest rooms" and actively encourage employees to use them because they know that sleep can increase productivity, critical thinking and creativity.
Unfortunately, few organizations can offer their employees the opportunity to take a little nap during their shift. In most cases, it's simply not practical. As a next best option, helping them sleep better at home can make a significant difference in their fatigue levels and, as a result, improve their health, safety and performance.
While employers can't guarantee that employees get enough good, quality sleep, it's worth informing them of the significant risks of fatigue on and off the job. Training sessions, manuals and webinars on this topic are a good way to help employees understand the value of getting enough sleep. You can find relevant guides or create your own. Whichever resource you choose, make sure it includes the following guidelines:
Develop a sleep preparation ritual. This will help your body know that doing certain activities means it's almost time to go to bed.
Your bedroom should be cool and dark.
Technology should be removed from the bedroom. Screens are distracting, and their light also interferes with circadian rhythms. Regular late-night computer use is associated with sleep disturbances, stress and depressive symptoms.
The brain needs to equate your bedroom with sleep. Exposing your brain to mixed messages, such as watching TV or working in bed, means it will not associate pillows and sheets with sleep.
Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, tobacco and alcohol before bed, as they affect your body's natural rhythms.
4. use of technology and engineering
The number of wearable devices designed to track fatigue is expanding. These days, numerous companies are providing specialized equipment to various industries, such as:
Drowsiness detection glasses,
caps that measure brain activity,
monitors that track head and facial movements,
wearable devices,
smartphone apps.
Tools and devices designed to track fatigue can be extremely useful in preventing serious incidents in which fatigue is a factor, especially when information gathered by some of these devices can be automatically sent to management or supervisors. This data can be critical in industries where a manager can make an informed decision to give severely fatigued workers safer work assignments, change schedules, or make other real-time interventions.
In high-risk industries, health and safety professionals can use fatigue-tracking technology to immediately see how fatigued each worker is, identify critical risks, and then take steps to remedy the situation. But it's important to remember that this can't replace good old-fashioned communication, feedback and a culture that supports an open dialogue about fatigue.
Fatigue monitoring devices can't stop fatigue, tell workers what to do if they're tired, or rest. They can only provide information. So organizations and their workers have to make the right decisions.
When it comes to technical decisions, organizations should consider things like anti-fatigue coatings, conveyor belts, tools that hang from the top to prevent tilting and lifting, etc. Even small changes in the environment can help reduce stress and fatigue.
5. Managing Stress
Stress in the workplace can have a significant impact on fatigue. In fact, constant and prolonged stress is debilitating and detrimental to mental and physical health.
Some managers believe that pressure can make employees work faster, and it will-but up to a point. But soon enough, fatigue will catch up, and the effects of stress will translate into health care costs, accident compensation and reduced productivity. An employee who works in a friendly, relaxed environment performs much better than one who is under constant pressure. And a relaxed work climate is possible even in very dangerous and stressful jobs because it's about the psychological climate, not the job itself.
Some employers try to help their employees cope with stress and other aspects of their lives by offering flexible schedules, long vacations, half-day Fridays, stress reduction classes and even yoga. In general, creating social activities for employees is good for boosting morale and reducing stress. Even simply providing "space to relax" can make a big difference.
In addition, communicating with employees can improve well-being because keeping employees informed about the company and their own performance reduces feelings of stress and anxiety.
Leadership and team communication also play a key role here. Managers must be able to recognize the signs of stress in their team and understand how many sources of stress transfer from work to home and vice versa.
6. Take breaks.
Every eighty to one hundred minutes, people's concentration and attention levels drop, fatigue sets in and their performance suffers. This is a signal that it's time to stop and take a break. These breaks can be a simple trip to the bathroom, a walk to talk to a colleague instead of texting, or just a couple of minutes to take a walk, stretch and look out the window.
People's brains and bodies aren't capable of continuously working at a steady level for eight or nine hours straight-everyone experiences lapses in concentration throughout the day. Recovery breaks are a proven method of allowing the brain to rest and work longer.
A few short breaks can increase productivity, and it's better for employees than working a full shift with one break in the middle.
The intensity and conditions of work should also match the frequency and length of the breaks. Someone who lifts heavy objects in the heat takes much longer to recover than someone who sits in an air-conditioned room. Ideally, managers should have strategies for scheduling work and distributing it evenly among their teams.
Companies should encourage employees to take short breaks for:
A short walk,
Visual exercises,
A warm-up,
Short conversation.
This can make employees feel less fatigued and more likely to notice safety hazards and make safer decisions.
7. You should eat right
While it may seem like nutrition has nothing to do with fatigue, it actually has a huge impact on energy levels. That's why it pays to provide workers with the information they need to encourage certain behaviors and changes in eating habits.
Even mild dehydration can have a negative impact on productivity and fatigue. It increases feelings of lethargy and slows people down. To address this problem, keep in mind that when it comes to hydration, not all fluids are created equal.
Carbonated and sugary drinks will give a person a short-term energy boost, but it will soon be followed by a breakdown and an increase in fatigue. The best thing to do is to drink water. A water cooler in the workplace is always a good idea because it gives workers easy access to it.
Some people use coffee to compensate for moisture and stimulation. But caffeine is a stimulant that works best when used strategically because its effects can last up to six hours and can affect the body's natural rhythms. Also, like alcohol or salty foods, caffeine can contribute to dehydration.
It is even more important to encourage workers to hydrate in hot work environments because people need more fluids than usual in these conditions. It's a good idea to distribute water to employees on a regular basis and remind them to take water on a regular basis.
8. Exercise and warm-up
Studies have shown that exercise helps relieve stress, improve overall health and boost immunity. It has also been proven that physical activity increases energy levels and reduces fatigue. And exercise doesn't even have to be strenuous. Studies show that people who exercise with low intensity three times a week have a 65 percent reduction in fatigue levels. A simple walk a few times a week is very helpful in reducing fatigue.
Even people who lead sedentary lifestyles and prefer to engage in regular, low-intensity exercise can increase their energy levels by 20 percent. So, while it may not seem very appealing, you can start with simple exercises and results will soon follow. Encouraging intermittent exercise can contribute to a healthier and less fatigued workforce.
Conclusion
There are many factors that affect fatigue, changing or eliminating them can have a significant impact on safety and reducing fatigue. Think about which fatigue issues deserve the most attention, and then create a plan that works best for you or your employees.
But whatever you decide, remember that it should include
Educating employees about the risks of fatigue,
information to manage fatigue,
eliminating conditions that increase the risk of injury.
Think about mitigating factors that cause fatigue. Some working conditions can affect your workers, even if you don't realize it. And your advice can help protect workers from the hazards of fatigue.
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