New guidelines outlining a holistic approach to managing the risk of fatigue at work have been developed following a groundbreaking study into fatigue at a pipeline construction site in Queensland.
The Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) Fatigue Risk Management Guidelines note the wide range of work-related and personal factors that contribute to fatigue and recommend that companies develop their own fatigue risk management systems.
“Focusing on a single factor like the roster cycle or the length of a shift only addresses part of the risk,” said APIA Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright.“The factors affecting fatigue are many and they can interact. Health, exercise and the quality and quantity of sleep are just as important as the number of hours worked and the type of work undertaken. Education about the signs and symptoms of fatigue and on how make some healthy lifestyle choices are key elements of a fatigue risk management system.”
The new guidelines were developed following a landmark yearlong study involving more than 400 employees working at a pipeline construction site in Queensland. Participants wore rest and activity monitors to collect data on their sleep/wake characteristics and they were also tested for neurocognitive performance on each day of the 28-day work roster.
The Fatigue Management Study was undertaken by TMS Consulting. Chief Executive Officer Helen Wood talks about the study here. The APIA Fatigue Management Guidelines are available here.
Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling