NIOSH
Long work hours coupled with the high physical and emotional strain associated with emergency response and recovery operations can prevent responders from getting enough sleep and puts them and those around them at risk for fatiguerelated mistakes that can lead to injuries and death

NIOSH Offers Training to Reduce Risk for Emergency Responders Who Work Long Hours

March 2, 2015
Interim NIOSH Training for Emergency Responders: Reducing Risks Associated with Long Work Hours is designed for emergency workers who respond to epidemics such as Ebola, weather-related disasters, earthquakes and other catastrophic events.

A new free, web-based training released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will help emergency responders and their managers better cope with the demands of emergency operations when deployed to a disaster site.

The 30-minute online training program, Interim NIOSH Training for Emergency Responders: Reducing Risks Associated with Long Work Hours, provides strategies to reduce the health and safety risks that are linked to working long hours during the daytime. Long work hours, coupled with the high physical and emotional strain associated with emergency response and recovery operations, can prevent responders from getting enough sleep. Insufficient sleep puts responders, and those around them, at risk for fatigue-related mistakes that can lead to injuries and death.

“Workers and their managers across many sectors – healthcare, public safety, utilities, construction, humanitarian aid and clean up services – need to address the importance of sleep and plan for it like other critical logistical items to carry out operations, such as having enough water, food, and supplies,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “This training is an important resource to promote the health resilience among those who are on the front lines of a natural or man-made disaster.”

The training is designed to increase knowledge and promote better personal behaviors and workplace systems that will reduce the risks associated with working long hours. The training covers the following topics:

  • Dangers of working while sleepy and fatigued.
  • Basic information about sleep and fatigue.
  • Personal factors that could lead to higher health and safety risks.
  • Better work schedule design and other management strategies.
  • Signs and symptoms of fatigue in response workers.
  • Tips for improving sleep at night and alertness on the job.
  • Preventing fatigue from strain to muscles and joints.
  • Protecting from fatigue due to excessive heat.

The course is available on the NIOSH web site, as is additional information about NIOSH’s resources on emergency preparedness and response.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

Avetta Named a Leader in The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Supply Chain Sustainability Software 2024

Nov. 26, 2024
Avetta was named a leader by Verdantix in a 2024 sustainability software report for our ability to help clients and suppliers build sustainable supply chains.

Avetta is a Leader in Supply Chain Sustainability Software

Nov. 26, 2024
Verdantix has named Avetta a leader in its 2024 Green Quadrant for Supply Chain Sustainability Software. Download the report for independent insights into market trends and top...

The Power of Benchmarking in Procurement: Driving Success and Strategic Planning

Nov. 26, 2024
Explore the strategic impact of benchmarking in procurement to drive success and plan effectively.

The Five Eras of Safety Maturity

Nov. 26, 2024
Discover the 5 Eras of Safety Maturity, from reactive measures to data-driven assurance, and how organizations can evolve toward proactive safety cultures.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!