What are the key steps to creating a Fatigue Risk Management Plan?
Fatigue can often lead to workers making mistakes, tiredness and absenteeism. An organisation that manages and monitors the fatigue of their workforce will minimise such issues. The introduction and utility of a Risk Management Plan and/or System will be able to identify the individuals that are at risk of being fatigued and will allow operational management to intervene and plan. Efforts to manage fatigue can pay off in improved alertness, productivity, and job performance, as well as improved levels of your staff’s health and reduced accident risk.
Steps to creating a Fatigue Risk Management Plan:
- Fatigue policies and procedures: Fatigue management policies and procedures should be of focus for any organisation. We encourage the development of a fatigue management policy and procedures based on the specific risks and requirements that exist in your industry, consider the risks and cognitive demands of your workers’ jobs, and set working patterns and limitations that will protect your workforce against excessive fatigue.
- Defined working hour limits: To mitigate the risk and threat to your workforce, it’s imperative to monitor your organisations staff and working hours to ensure that the wellbeing of your workers and to sustain optimum performance levels. A FRMP should address rest and how long workers need in between successive shifts, and in between extended shifts to rest and fully recover.
- Defined rest periods: Defining rest periods for your staff is extremely important in order to minimise fatigue and overloading or burning out your staff. Personal health issues including sleep apnea, insomnia, and depression can also interfere with quantity and quality of sleep and increase the risk of fatigue-related incidents. Rest periods should also be devised for workers who work unscheduled operations and on-call shifts.
- Fatigue monitoring systems and reporting: Fatigue Risk Monitoring and a Fatigue Risk Management System will be able to identify the individuals that are at risk of being fatigued and will allow operational management to intervene and plan. The system allows organisations to prevent and mitigate the risk of fatigue from impacting the performance and efficiency of their systems, ensuring they are operating at premium levels at all times.
- Training and educating staff: We encourage the development of staff including training and educating staff on fatigue related issues. Raising awareness with staff and workers on issues such as fatigue risk management shows your organisations commitment to keeping the wellbeing of workers at the forefront of business, whilst showing a strong demonstration of management to sustain business operations and meet objectives.
About Weston Analytics
Weston Analytics, an award-winning fatigue risk management solutions provider has developed, Fatigue360, an end-to-end fatigue risk management and job planning tool, enabling planners and rosters to monitor the fatigue of their workforce.
Fatigue360 is already the leading Fatigue Risk Management System utilised within the UK rail industry. For more information or to discuss how your organisation can transfer your existing FRI system over to Fatigue360 please visit the Fatigue360 page. For more information on Fatigue360 and how it can benefit your organisation please visit: https://westonanalytics.com/fatigue360-fatigue-management-system/
Established in 2020, Weston Analytics is a technology company that creates and offers bespoke software as a service and business systems. The Weston Analytics portfolio currently includes Fatigue360, a fatigue management solution, Worksite360, a workforce management solution, and Enviro360, a waste management solution.
Contact us at sales@westonanalytics.com
