Toolbox Talk - Fatigue Management

Fatigue Management

Working in the construction industry is taxing - physically and mentally. It involves heavy lifting, a lot of manual labour, long days, sometimes night shifts. A personal fatigue management plan is a must if you're going to be productive every day on site.

Construction work involves high-risk activities. To work safely, construction workers must be physically and mentally alert. On-site, it’s up to you and your teams to manage fatigue.

Fatigue is the condition of being physically and/or mentally tired or worse, exhausted. Extreme fatigue can lead to an uncontrolled and involuntary shutdown of the brain.

How can we manage fatigue?

• Lack of sleep can be a contributor to fatigue. On average people generally need between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep a night.
• The best sleep is deep, undisturbed and taken in a single continuous period.
• Keep a regular schedule by going to sleep and waking up at similar times each day.
• Avoid using electronic devices like phones or computers before sleeping.
• Eliminate noise where possible.
• Avoid eating large meals directly before sleep.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eating & drinking the right stuff.
• Take all scheduled work breaks. A snack or exercise during the break will refresh you.
• Work carefully and very methodically, always following proper procedures.
• Do you drink water regularly throughout the day? Health authorities also recommend drinking at least two litres of water a day.

Things to look for in your co-workers to help identify fatigue:

• Their job performance slows.
• They have trouble solving problems.
• They have trouble focusing
• They can’t stop yawning.
• They have a near-miss accident.
  
  

Remember team! Safety is a habit!

Any suggestions or improvements in regard to Health & Safety on site can be emailed to our Health & Safety Officer or have a conversation with him on-site when you see him.