Fatigue presentation to Health & Safety Conference 2023

Toilets:

Welfare & Emergency Arrangements:

Welfare:

Fire Alarm

First-aid: Fire

Evacuation & Assembly point:

Introduction:

What is fatigue?

Content:

Legislation:

What does the law say?

Health issues:

How does this affect your health?

Other Issues:

How has fatigue been notable in disaster?

Introduction:

What is fatigue all about?

What is Fatigue?

Arising from excessive working time and poorly designed shift pattens A decline in mental and/or physical performance and a sense of weariness

prolonged exertion, sleep loss and a disruption of the bodies internal clock

When workers become fatigued the outcomes can mean slower reactions, reduced ability to process information, memory lapses, absent mindedness, decreased awareness, lack of attention, underestimation of risk and reduced coordination

Be aware of a job or task that is mundane and boring

Workers choosing to take urban or country roads rather than long motorway journeys Why?

Flow Theory: Challenge & Skill

Mundane tasks are unsafe

Possible answers: Review ergonomics and make it more interesting

Highest Alertness

Best Coordination

Legislation:

What does the law say and what are companies doing?

Origins of Health and Safety Legislation Today

The Health & Safety at Work etc Act (1974) forms the basis of all health and safety legislation.

❑ What is legislation for

❑ Who does it protect

❑ What was Robens intention for the health and safety at work etc act

Origins of Health and Safety Legislation Today

Most of our legislation has evolved from the common law or case law.

Donoghue Vs Stevenson [1932]

Wilsons and Clyde Coal company Vs English [1937]

Edwards Vs National Coal Board [1949]

The Health & Safety at Work etc Act (1974)

Enabling Act

Brought in a transformation in health and safety policy. Employers previously needed to comply with a confusing array of prescriptive standards. The 1974 act gave a new emphasis to prevention, it places a duty on all employers to protect workers and the public from the risks presented by their business activity. The act covers the whole of the UK. Health and safety legislation has not been devolved to the Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly.

The act brought together fragmented policy makers and inspectorates together creating the health and safety commission and executive.

The HASAWA was seen as providing the basis for the creation of a more effective system of regulation which would result in having improved levels of worker protection.

The Health & Safety at Work etc Act (1974)

Section 2: Employers General Duties

(1) it shall be the duty of every employer so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of employers, duties under the preceding subsection, the matter to which that duty extend include in particular—

(a) The provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are so far as is reasonable, practicable safe and without risk to health.

(b) arrangements for ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.

(c) The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of their employees.

(d) so far as is reasonably practicable, as regards any place of work under the employer's control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risk to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from that are safe and without risk.

(e) the provision and maintenance of a working environment for their employees that is so far as is reasonably practicable safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for welfare at work

The Health & Safety at Work etc Act (1974)

Section 7 General duties of employees

It shall be the duty of every employee while at work—

(a) To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other person(s) who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work; and

(b) as regards any duty or requirement imposed on their employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to cooperate with them as far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.

The Health & Safety at Work etc

Act (1974)

Section 3 General duties of employers and self employed to persons other than their employees

(1) It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

Section 4 General duties of persons concerned with premises to persons other than their employees

Section 5 General duties of persons in control of certain premises in relation to harmful emissions into atmosphere.

Section 6 General duties of manufacturers etc; as regards articles and substances for use at work.

Section 8 Duty not to interfere with or misuse things provided pursuant to certain provisions

Section 9 Duty not to charge employees for things done or provided pursuant to certain specific requirements

No employer shall levy or permit to be levied on any employee of his any charge in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of any specific requirement of the relevant statutory provisions.

The Management of Health and safety at work Regulations (1999)

The Management Regulations

❖ Generally, detail more explicitly what employers are meant to do.

❖ The main requirement on employers is to carry out risk assessment

The

Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations (1977)

4: Function of a Safety Rep

7: Inspection of documents and provision of information

4A: Employers Duty to Consult and Provide Assistance

9: Safety Committees

5: Inspection of the Workplace

➢ Night work at least 3 hours between 23:00-06:00

➢ Night workers must not work more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period on average.

➢ Night workers average reference points 17 weeks

➢ Night workers must not work more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period if the work involves

• Special hazards

• Heavy physical or mental strain

The Working time Regulations

1998

How should employers protect workers?

➢ Due to the possible effects on health safety and wellbeing employers must offer.

• Anyone a health assessment prior to them becoming a night worker.

• Repeat assessments for a long as it reasonable.

➢ Although employees don’t have to accept the health assessment its good practice for employers to continuing regular checking.

➢ Employers must keep records to show what employees have worked.

Health issues:

What’s the short and long terms effects of workplace fatigue?

Health issues:

❖ Cardiovascular Disease:

❖ Diabetes and metabolic disturbance:

❖ Obesity:

❖ Mental Health:

❖ Cancer:

❖ Pregnancy issues:

❖ Neurological issues:

❖ Hyperuricemia (Gout) and thyroid levels.

❖ Cholesterol levels

❖ Pain

❖ Gastrointestinal disease

Long-term

Other issues:

How has fatigue been notable in disasters?

What problems have you encountered?

Fatigue what could possibly go wrong

often the root cause of major accidents

Thanks:

For your participation in the fatigue course: Have you got any questions?