Proactive Management of Occupational Health using Fatigue Risk Assessment

Abstract

Company conducted a Fatigue Risk Assessment Study to estimate the fatigue levels of approximately 9000 shifts and the risk of incidents occurring due to operator fatigue. The findings provided an insight into the likelihood of fatigue and risk of errors / incidents occurring for approximately 9000 shifts of control panel operators working on a 4×4, 12-hour, day and night shift pattern. The results presented in this paper are limited to the assessment conducted for day shifts in order to demonstrate the methodology. The study compared different shift patterns in order to identify shifts with higher fatigue levels and identify control measures to reduce operators’ fatigue levels and risk of incidents occurring to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). Lowest fatigue and risk levels were identified for the current 4×4 shifts in comparison to 7×7 and 28×28 shift cycles followed by other Companies. In order, to lower the risk to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP), additional control measures such as training, campaigns, ergonomic assessments, KPIs such as tracking incidents by fatigue levels, etc. are being rolled-out for implementation. This is a novel approach on the combination of a qualitative (IOGP) and quantitative (UK HSE) fatigue risk assessment methodology that has widespread applicability, prospectively in terms of shift design and prevention of incidents caused by fatigue induced impairments and retrospectively for incident investigations. This Fatigue Risk Assessment Study fosters proactive occupational health management by promoting health of employees and preventing / reducing fatigue and thus plays a vital role in the prevention of sickness absenteeism and illnesses associated with chronic fatigue.