The consequences of human fatigue in extended- and 24-hour operations are widely acknowledged and understood. Many business have examples of when fatigue has been indicated as a primary or contributory factor in an accident or incident (e.g. someone falling asleep while controlling a vehicle). Such examples can be valuable in raising awareness at a local level but they are of limited value when trying to assess fatigue-related risk within an entire site or operation.

Although many industries have not collected valid and reliable fatigue-related data, medical science confirms what most people have experienced first-hand; fatigue impairs performance. Scientific research into fatigue clearly shows that fatigue-related impairment can make us operate more slowly, less effectively and in unsafe ways. Studies investigating these relationships have shown that different regions of the brain were affected by just a single night of sleep deprivation. Personal functions that are impaired by fatigue include situational awareness, general alertness, concentration ability, numerical assessment, and problem solving.

Such research has transformed fatigue management from an issue generally seen as a health-and-wellbeing concern to a disciplined science that is an integral element of risk and safety management. Occupational Health and Safety laws are also increasing the focus on fatigue, since in many jurisdictions there are jail sentences and large fines that can be applied to managers and individuals who do not adequately discharge their duty of care.

What else can we learn from the research, and what is particularly relevant for those working in operational environments? The obvious answer is that as the level of fatigue increases, so does the risk of having an accident. While this answer is true, it really only focuses on the late stages of fatigue-related impairment. In fact, other fatigue-related effects occur much earlier and with a much higher frequency and these can be managed to a significant extent.

An early casualty of fatigue is communication, a capability which can be critical in many operations. If efficiency and productivity are important, it should be noted that speed and accuracy diminish as our fatigue level increases (until errors are made and/or other signs of fatigue-related impairment appear). Falling asleep (or having micro-sleeps) and other physical signs occur late in the process but safety and efficiency can reduce significantly before these physical signs appear.

In summary, fatigue management is critical for reasons including:

• The causes of fatigue are now well understood, and so are the potential costs for safety, productivity and sustainability
• There are severe penalties in many jurisdictions that allow for managers and individuals to be held accountable for not managing fatigue
• The risks associated with fatigue can be identified, assessed, controlled and monitored, to better ensure high levels of safety and high levels of flexibility
• Professional expertise is available to help develop and implement required policy, procedures, training, and other fatigue management system elements