FATIGUE

The Silent Killer

A Ramadan Reminder

Objective

Worldwide statistics suggest that around one-third of all MVA fatalities are related to human fatigue.

Fatigue also plays a significant role in the causation of workplace accidents, major incidents and even large-scale manmade disasters.

Our objective is to highlight the importance of identifying fatigue symptoms in our daily lives, how to manage them and how to limit the effects.

Outline

• Fatigue Causes & Symptoms

• Driver Fatigue• Fatigue in the Workplace• Fatigue Management

Fatigue Causes & Symptoms

Symptoms…

• Yawning, tired & sore eyes, drowsiness, micro sleep • Boredom, restlessness, feeling irritable • Poor concentration, slow reactions, boredom• Missed road signs, lane control problems on the highway

• Missed safety alerts, unaware of hazards at work

Fatigue Causes & Symptoms

Causes…

• Shift work, traveling long distances, disrupted biological clock, jetlag

• Disturbed sleep, quality & quantity of sleep, continuous hours awake

• Excessive physical activity, mental or cognitive work

• Physical fitness, ill-health, medication, nutrition, environment, age, family problems

Fatigue Causes & Symptoms

Deprived Sleep… …Film Clip

Fatigue Causes & Symptoms

Micro Sleep… …Film Clip

Driver Fatigue

• Driver Fatigue – one-third of all MVA fatalities

• Driver Fatigue – large percentage serious injury MVA’s leaving

many people in wheelchairs or worse • Shift workers are six times more likely to have MVA than day

workers• Sleep-deprived brain – poor judgment, control, attention and

visual function

Driver Fatigue [cont]

• Several nights deprived sleep leads to a 'sleep debt' – when a 'sleep debt' gets too big, the brain eventually goes to sleep involuntarily – the ‘micro sleep’

• ‘Micro sleep’ lasts approximately three to five seconds – can be fatal, main cause of fatigue-related MVA’s

• Drivers should get off the road when physical signs of fatigue begin

Fatigue in the Workplace

• Workers on shifts and overtime are significantly more likely to have an accident than day workers

• Workplace injuries – more than one-third attributable to fatigue• Fatigue is a common factor in major incidents and large-scale

manmade disasters

Fatigue in the Workplace

• Fatigue causes slower reaction times and delayed response to emergency situations

• Fatigue results in reduced vigilance and awareness of safety features

• Fatigue reduces capacity to process information and slows cognitive thinking

Fatigue Management

• Limit maximum work hours – avoid regular overtime• Break up long journeys – take regular rest periods, don’t drive

tired, use public transport or someone else drive• Maintain physical fitness & health, healthy diet, limit intake of

caffeine • Avoid excessive physical activity, mental or cognitive work,

especially before going to sleep

Fatigue Management

• Create optimal sleep environment – quiet bedroom with cool room temperature, no light, consistent bedtime routine, and don’t go to bed hungry

• Avoid work or worry in bed – one long period of sleep, with consistent wake up time

• CS target 2008 – review shift working and overtime patterns for Saudi Aramco and contractor workers

• CS Workplace Wellness Campaign 2008 – improve fitness, monitor health, improve diet and reduce workplace stress

FATIGUE

The Silent KillerThank You!

Ramadan Mubarak