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Fatigue Management
https://worksafe.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf…
What is fatigue?Fatigue refers to mental or physical exhaustion that stops a person from being able to function normally. It is more than simply feeling tired or drowsy. Fatigue is generally cause by:
- Spending long periods of time awake
- Having an inadequate amount and/or quality of sleep over an extended period
Being awake for 17 hours is the equivalent of having blood alcohol level of 0.05.
Being awake for 20 hours is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol level of 0.1
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Fatigue is a broad term covering a range of conditions but in this case it can be described as a progressive loss of alertness that ultimately ends in sleep
Fatigue is associated with the following factors:
- Long periods awake
- Inadequate amount or quality of sleep over an extended period
- Sustained mental or physical effort
- Disruption to circadian rhythms
- Inadequate rest breaks
- Environmental stresses (heat, noise, vibration)
Circadian rhythms or the body clock physiological and behavioural functions on a 24 hr basis. Sleep and wakefulness are programmed and sleepiness is greatest between 3-5 am and to lesser extent between 3-5pm
Relationship between fatigue and patient safety
Apart from general research into the impact of fatigue on performance there is some evidence of a similar link in medicine. Our findings suggest that lack of sleep may affect performance in the operating theatre
OHS legislation and fatigue
Fatigue as an OHS issue is one of many hazards that an employer has a duty to manage. Under retrospective acts in each state , the employer has a general duty to make the workplace as safe and health as practicable.
The legal duties are stated a little differently in each state but have a similar effect. Employers (hospitals) must minimise risks associated with long working hours and employees (doctors) must assist the employer in managing these risk