Safety

Tools to Help Address Worker Fatigue

March 14, 2024

NSC provides toolkit with cost calculators and assessments to address this issue.

EHS Today Staff

Tools to Help Address Worker Fatigue

A study from the National Safety Council found that 13% of workplace injuries are attributed to fatigue.

And 43% of American workers say they sometimes are too tired to function safely at their job.

The cost of this was $136 billion annually in health-related lost productivity.

Workers who are fatigued might exhibit negative effects of fatigue, such as:

Lacking energy to do their jobs safely or effectively.
Having trouble paying attention or taking longer to react to what happens around them.
Taking more risks that may lead to errors or injuries.

NIOSH notes that “researchers estimate that close to 1 in 8 of all workplace injuries may relate to fatigue.”

Factors that contribute to fatigue include:

Performing prolonged physically or mentally demanding tasks.
Following repetitive routines.
Working in extreme temperatures.
Feeling stress.

To help companies NSC has put together a comprehensive toolkit. Here are some of the components.

Here are some Assessments

For further information see NSC Fatigue at Work Employer Toolkit

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.