Running on empty towards an unsafe workplace
The Global Financial Crisis of the late 2000s marked a period of extreme stress in global financial markets and banking systems. But there’s a new GFC, the Global Fatigue Crisis that’s making waves - and it's impacting every industry.
The Great Fatigue Crisis
The challenges over the past few years have left many people feeling physically and mentally exhausted. What’s alarming is the impact fatigue is having on the workplace.
With 7 in 10 professionals suffering from exhaustion and burnout in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s not surprising to learn that the Sleep Health Survey of Australian Adults found that almost 30% of adults reported making errors at work due to fatigue and sleep problems. Not only can it affect the health and safety of the individual, but it can also impact co-workers.
Waking up to the issue
It is widely recognised that fatigue in the workplace can compromise physical and mental health, safety and performance. This is particularly so in safety-critical industries where it can cause or contribute to dangerous or costly errors. Think frontline workers and heavy machine operators.
According to research by Monash University’s Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, fatigue causes almost 10,000 serious workplace injuries and costs the Australian economy over $5 billion in lost productivity and healthcare costs each year.
The challenge for employers is not only identifying the causes of fatigue, which can be work related, non-work related or a combination of both, but how to prioritise employee wellness with competing demands, and knowing where and how to start.
Three actions for minimising fatigue in the workplace
Recognising and managing fatigue-related risks in the workplace is an essential part of creating a safe, healthy and productive workplace. Here are three actions you can take to do just that.
1. Start with good work design
This is about creating a workplace where fatigue-related risks can be removed or minimised, so employees can achieve greater job satisfaction, productivity and performance.
To implement good work design, you need to:
- Consider: what and who is involved in performing each work task.
- Consult: with staff about how the work could best be completed.
- Identify: and address workplace risk factors.
- Review: work design regularly and collectively so it can evolve with the needs of employees and the business.
Read more about the 10 principles of good work design.
2. Ensure role clarity
When an employee’s understanding of their role differs to a leader’s expectations, both can feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or experience stress. Operating in this way can be mentally draining, which can create fatigue. Creating role clarity helps manage these expectations, which can lead to improved collaboration, productivity and staff retention.
Read SafeWork NSW's tips for ensuring role clarity and managing role conflict.
3. Regularly monitor workloads
Burnout from working during COVID-19 was one of the major reasons people left their job in 2021. By regularly monitoring workloads, employers can identify potential fatigue hazards or challenges that could impact performance and wellbeing, and ensure employee workloads are manageable.
Safe Work Australia’s guide for managing the risk of fatigue at work has practical information on monitoring workloads, including a fatigue checklist.
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