Safety Alert

What Happened

A worker self-reported fatigue symptoms including difficulty concentrating, slow reaction times, and microsleep episodes during the final 2 hours of a night shift. The worker had completed four consecutive 12-hour night shifts and had reportedly only achieved 4 hours of sleep before the shift due to accommodation noise issues. The worker was stood down safely and transported to accommodation.

Why It Matters

Fatigue impairs cognitive function and reaction times to a level comparable to alcohol intoxication. After 17 hours of wakefulness, performance degrades to a level equivalent to a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration. Self-reporting of fatigue is a critical safety behaviour that should be encouraged and never penalised.

Immediate Actions Required

1. 1Review accommodation conditions for night shift workers — address noise complaints immediately
2. 2Implement fatigue check-in at the 8-hour mark of all 12-hour shifts
3. 3Supervisors to conduct visual fatigue assessments during pre-start meetings and at shift midpoint
4. 4Promote the confidential fatigue reporting process — reinforce zero-consequence policy for self-reporting

Key Learning

Fatigue is a silent killer. The worker in this event did the right thing — they recognised the symptoms and self-reported. This takes courage. As a team, we must create an environment where reporting fatigue is seen as a strength, not a weakness. If you are fatigued, you are a risk to yourself and your mates. Speak up.

Discussion Points for Toolbox Talk

• •What are the early signs of fatigue that you look for in yourself and your workmates?
• •Have you ever felt too fatigued to work safely? What did you do?
• •What barriers exist to reporting fatigue on this site? How can we remove them?