• What law applies
• About fatigue
• Effects of shift work and extended hours
• Effects of fatigue
  • Work performance
  • Micro sleeps
  • Health effects of fatigue
• Managing fatigue
  • Responsibility for managing fatigue
  • Risk management
  • Factors to consider when managing fatigue

• Risk management

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Step Four: Implement control measures

The fourth step when managing fatigue is putting the selected control measures in place. These activities include:

• Developing work procedures;
• Communicating control measures;
• Providing training and instruction; and
• Supervision.

Effective fatigue control measures should define and communicate responsibilities, and provide a shift system that gives staff sufficient opportunity for rest and recovery.

When communicating control measures to workers, it is important to remember that under section 81 (1) (f) of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 kB) , workers (through their workplace health and safety representatives and committees) are entitled to be consulted about any changes in the workplace that affect, or could affect their safety.

This consultation process should include:

• The possible health and safety impact of changes;
• The benefits and problems associated with the proposed changes;
• Measures needed to eliminate or control any adverse impact on health and safety;
• Processes for incorporating needs of workers with impairments;
• Procedures for workers to notify supervisors of any impairment or potential impairment that may pose a risk; and
• Definition and communication of responsibilities.

Training and instruction for workers and supervisors on fatigue should include information about:

• Common causes of fatigue including shift work, extended working hours and roster patterns;
• Potential health and safety effects of fatigue; and
• How workers are responsible for making appropriate use of their rest days.

If workers must attend training outside the normal shift, they should be considered at work and rosters adjusted accordingly.

Adequate supervision should be provided to ensure that new control measures are being used correctly.