Fatigue

Nearly one quarter of American workers

spend over 40 hours a week at work and
almost 15 million work full time on evening,
night, rotating, or other irregular shifts.*

*OSHA

PPT-SM-F 2018 2
 Irregular and extended work shifts are
common among:
Health care providers
Air traffic controllers
Transportation workers
First responders and firefighters
Police officers
Construction workers
Oil field workers

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 It is important to recognize the symptoms
of worker fatigue and its potential impact on
worker safety and health.

PPT-SM-F 2018 4
 Irregular work schedules may cause worker
fatigue. Long work hours may increase the
risk of injuries and accidents, and can
contribute to:
Poor health
Poor eating habits
Lack of physical activity
Illness

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 The human body operates on a
circadian rhythm cycle, which
means your body is naturally
designed to sleep during
night hours.

Fighting against this natural

circadian rhythm can cause
both sleepiness and fatigue.

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 Sleepiness is the normal drowsy feeling
after a long day at work and can be fixed
with a good night’s sleep.

Fatigue is the build-up of lack of sleep,

poor sleep, and working long hours over
time. Fatigue is mental or physical
exhaustion that prevents workers from
functioning normally.

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 Fatigue increases the risk of illnesses and
injuries at work. Accident and injury rates
are 18% greater during evening shifts and
30% greater during night shifts when
compared to day shifts.*

*OSHA

PPT-SM-F 2018 8
 Fatigue can cause:
Weariness
Sleepiness
Irritability
Reduced alertness
Impaired decision making
A lack of motivation, concentration,
and memory

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 Studies have shown that fatigue is linked
to health problems, including heart
disease, stomach and digestive problems,
musculoskeletal disorders, depression,
sleep disorders, and obesity.

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 Companies can reduce the risk of worker
fatigue in the workplace by:
Examining staffing issues, such as workload
and work hours
Arranging schedules to allow frequent
opportunities for rest breaks and nighttime
sleep
Making adjustments to the work environment
to increase alertness
Providing worker education and training on
the hazards of worker fatigue
Implementing a Fatigue Risk Management
Plan
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 Workers can promote healthy sleep by
following sleep hygiene recommendations,
such as:
Making sure your sleep period is 7-9 hours
without interruption
Trying to go to sleep at the same time every
day
Avoiding drinks with caffeine before bedtime
Making sure your sleeping environment is
comfortable, cool, dark and quiet
Exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet

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 The most effective way to reduce the risk of
fatigue is to control what causes it.
To control fatigue:
Reduce physical demands
Take rest periods while
working
Avoid excessive overtime
Avoid working in extreme
temperatures
Get enough sleep when you are not working

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 There is no magic number to tell you how
much sleep you need to feel well-rested but
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
recommends 7-8 hours of sleep a day
for adults.

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 Fatigue can also be a driving hazard
because it reduces your ability to drive
safely. Driving to and from work can be
dangerous if you add fatigue to the mix.

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 Driving while fatigued can result in:
Slower reaction times
Errors in calculating speed and distance
Poor judgment
Falling asleep

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 Safe driving tips include:
Get a good night’s sleep before heading off on
a long trip
Do not travel for more than 8-10 hours a day
Do not travel when you would normally
be sleeping
Take a 15-minute powernap if you feel
yourself becoming drowsy

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 Fatigue can be hazardous to your health
and safety. Control the causes of fatigue to
reduce your risk. Sleep is an important part
of staying safe, make it a priority.

PPT-SM-F 2018 18
Copyright © 2016 by PEC/Premier Safety Operations, LLC
 Sign and date this quiz sheet. Name: Date:
Circle the letter representing the correct
answer to each quiz question below.

1. Long work hours may increase the 6. The most effective way to
Fire Safety
Safety Meeting Quiz: Fatigue

risk of injuries and accidents, and reduce the risk of fatigue is to

can contribute to ______________, ________________.
poor eating habits, lack of physical A. Ignore it
activity, and illness. B. Control what causes it
A. Poor health C. Allow workers to take naps
B. Excellent health at work
C. Increased physical activity D. Let it continue to be an
D. Healthy eating habits issue

2. ______________ is the normal 7. Ways to control fatigue include

drowsy feeling after a long day at reducing physical demands, taking
rest periods while working, and
work and can be fixed with a good
________________.
night’s sleep.
A. Working excessive overtime
A. Fatigue B. Working in extreme
B. Tiredness temperatures
C. Sleepiness C. Getting enough sleep when
D. Boredom you are not working
D. Avoiding sleep when you
3. _______________ is the build-up are not working
of lack of sleep, poor sleep, and
working long hours over time. 8. The National Heart, Lung, and
A. Boredom Blood Institute recommends
B. Tiredness _______________ of sleep a day
C. Sleepiness for adults.
D. Fatigue A. 3-4 hours
B. 5-6 hours
4. Fatigue _______________ the risk C. 7-8 hours
of illnesses and injuries at work. D. 9-10 hours
A. Increases
B. Decreases 9. Driving while fatigued can result
C. Does not affect in slower reaction times, errors in
D. Eliminates calculating speed and distance, poor
judgment, and ________________.
5. Studies have shown that fatigue is A. Reaching your destination
linked to health problems, including ahead of schedule
B. Staying awake
_______________, stomach and
C. Obeying speed limits
digestive problems, musculoskeletal
D. Falling asleep
disorders, depression, sleep
disorders, and obestiy.
10. Safe driving tips include taking a
A. Kidney disease
________________ powernap if
B. Heart disease you feel yourself becoming drowsy
C. Asbestosis while driving.
D. Lung cancer A. 30-second
© 2018 PEC Safety, Inc.

B. 1-minute
C. 15-minute
D. 3-hour

QUIZ-SM-FATIGUE
MARCH 2018
Instructors: The following key shows the answers for the Fatigue safety meeting quiz.

1. A

Safety Meeting Answer Keys: Fatigue

2. C

3. D

4. A

5. B

6. B

7. C

8. C

9. D

10. C

© 2018 PEC Safety, Inc.

KEY-SM-FATIGUE
MARCH 2018
 STUDENT ROSTER
INSTRUCTOR NAME SAFETY MEETING DATE

SAFETY MEETING NAME COMPANY NAME

Student Instructions: Print and sign your name. Also, provide your date of birth or the last four digits of your social security number.

PRINT STUDENT NAME (CLEARLY) STUDENT SIGNATURE LAST 4 SSN or DOB

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©2014 PEC Safety, Inc. All rights reserved.