Worker Fatigue a Critical Safety Issue

According to the National Safety Council, workplace fatigue is to blame for over 10 percent of all workplace injuries. Nearly 50 percent of workers are sleep deprived, with those grinding out the night shift, irregular shifts and overtime facing an increased risks of workplace injuries.

A recent report reveals that nearly every worker has at least one workplace fatigue risk factor and more than 80% have two or more. When multiple risk factors are present, the potential for injuries on the job increases.  It is important for employers to recognize that safety performance decreases as employees become tired and certain workforce populations may be at increased risk.

• Fifty percent of night shift workers suffer from sleep deprivation
• Employees with rotating shifts are particularly vulnerable to fatigue related injuries because they cannot adapt their body clocks
• Workers that put in overtime are at increased risk as any long duration without sleep can affect performance
• Workers who operate potentially dangerous machinery at a factory or scale heights on a construction job face a greater risk of injury or even death when fatigued

For employees that drive for a living, the risk only goes up. Drowsy driving is impaired driving and tired employees are three times more likely to be in a car crash, with thousands of fatalities attributed to drowsy driving every year. Drivers who lose just a couple hours of sleep perform similarly to someone who has had a few beers and being awake in excess of twenty hours is the equivalent of being legally drunk.
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Fatigue on the job has become a critical safety issue among the nation’s 24/7 workforce and it is important for employers and employees to recognize the risks. If you have been injured at work, contact the Des Moines workers’ compensation attorneys of Hemminger Law Firm for a free consultation at 515-283-2116.