Fatigue is an often overlooked or misunderstood workplace hazard. Credit: Getty Images/Jacob Wackerhausen.
As we head into fall, the days are getting shorter and darker. This shift in daylight can throw off our circadian rhythm and make it challenging to balance sleep and alertness. This can subsequently increase worker fatigue – a form of potential impairment – impacting productivity and increasing the risk of occupational injuries and illnesses.
Recognizing and addressing fatigue is crucial for maintaining a safe work environment. CSA Group’s Candace Sellar, manager of health and safety strategic initiatives – standards, discusses the importance of managing workplace fatigue and offers valuable CSA Group resources to help organizations implement effective fatigue risk management (FRM) systems.
What are the different types of fatigue and what impact can they have on worker performance and safety?
CSA Group’s research report, “Workplace Fatigue: Current Landscape and Future Considerations,” recognizes that fatigue can be both physical and mental and can impact anyone, at any time, for any number of reasons. It can also worsen during the fall and winter, with some experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can amplify feelings of depression and hinder focus. Mental fatigue can impair a person’s ability to evaluate hazards and make sound decisions, which can be particularly dangerous if you manage others. Tasks like operating machinery, inspecting workspaces for hazards, or selecting the correct personal protective equipment become much riskier.
Physical exhaustion also raises injury risks, as workers may, for example, modify how they lift and carry loads, or become more prone to slips, trips, and falls.
For these reasons, we strongly encourage employers to develop and implement an FRM system for their workplace. CSA Group has several resources available to assist with this, including CSA Z1615:22, First responder fatigue risk management system – an evidence-informed standard built on the findings of a multi-year research and development project led by the Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP), with funding from Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC).
What are some common myths about fatigue?
CSA Group’s research found that fatigue is an often overlooked or misunderstood workplace hazard. It is not uncommon for organizations and workers to struggle to recognize fatigue as a significant impairment to safe work and to acknowledge it as a joint organizational and individual responsibility. Workplace factors such as the structure of work itself (e.g., shift work or repetitive job functions) can exacerbate fatigue, while research from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. shows psychological health issues such as high-stress environments, harassment and bullying, long hours, and lack of performance recognition can further contribute to worker fatigue.
Quick fixes such as extra coffee or the occasional catch-up on sleep won’t address persistent fatigue (also called acquired sleep debt).
What does an effective FRM system look like?
CSA Z1615:22, First responder fatigue risk management system, indicates the objective of an FRM system is to reduce the risk of harm to workers, their workplaces, and the public. An effective FRM system takes a holistic approach, recognizing that fatigue is a multi-causal and multi-dimensional issue. It should encompass various activities, including strategies, operations, processes, projects, and services.
Key components of a robust FRM system as identified in CSA Z1615:22 include fatigue risk assessment, optimized work schedules, education and training, and continuous monitoring and reporting. By incorporating these elements, an FRM system addresses fatigue at both organizational and individual levels. When properly designed and implemented, it can enhance worker productivity by improving attendance, alertness, accuracy, efficiency, and safety, while also fostering a positive attitude toward work.
What standards exist to address workplace fatigue?
CSA Z1615:22, First responder fatigue risk management system, was published in July 2022 as a National Standard of Canada. Its development was informed by a multi-year research and development project led by the Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP), with funding from Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC). CSA Z1615:22 was developed for first responders; however, OHS professionals in other sectors may find the content useful in understanding the building blocks for constructing a FRM system.
Additional CSA Group standards that can be beneficial when addressing fatigue risk include: CSA Z1008:21, Management of impairment in the workplace; CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ 9700-803/2013 (R2022), Psychological health and safety in the workplace – Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation; CSA Z1011:20, Work disability management system.
What CSA Group resources are available to help organizations and individuals implement these standards and develop an effective FRM system?
Within our occupational health and safety standards support tools, CSA Group has a free employee fatigue self-assessment tool, enabling workers to screen themselves for fatigue risk.
Employers can also identify fatigue risks by conducting employee fatigue and lifestyle surveys. These surveys can guide developing or refining work/rest policies and operational procedures. Additionally, they can inform fatigue hazard identification, risk analysis, and training for managers to ensure workplace safety and safe commutes home.
The observational fatigue behaviour checklist (supervisor/peer) is another free tool that helps supervisors assess employee fatigue. It uses a two-step approach: the first step involves checking for observed signs of fatigue categorized by risk level, and the second step offers strategies to mitigate fatigue, including both individual and supervisor controls to ensure safety.
Additionally, CSA Group’s research report, “Workplace Fatigue: Current Landscape and Future Considerations,” defines workplace fatigue and highlights relevant national and international legislation and best practices. The report examines fatigue risk management practices in Canada,
including prescriptive rules (e.g., hours of service restrictions), tactical approaches (e.g., short-term initiatives as part of a larger strategy), and comprehensive fatigue risk management programs.
These free resources can help raise awareness of how fatigue affects workers and workplaces, while also educating employees on their role in mitigating fatigue-related risks.
CSA Group is a global organization dedicated to safety, social good, and sustainability. It is a leader in standards development and testing, inspection, and certification around the world, including in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. CSA Group’s mandate is to hold the future to a higher standard.
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