Fatigue doesn’t just relate to not getting enough sleep. It is a hazard in the workplace and should not be underestimated. While fatigue is usually accompanied by feelings of weariness or tiredness, it can negatively impact cognitive performance, reduce the capacity to work, and lead to slower response times. In industrial environments, this can lead to disastrous consequences.

It’s important to consider fatigue in a broader sense than just physical fatigue. Mental fatigue is a complex physiological state that comes in active and passive forms. Fatigue can either be caused by a prolonged stimulating activity or a prolonged monotonous activity. A good example is the difference between rally driving and motorway driving - rally driving requires constant attention and is highly stimulating, whereas motorway driving requires constant attention but is not very stimulating. Despite the different driving styles, both cause mental fatigue.

According to OSHA, accident and injury rates are 30% greater during night shifts and workers on the job for 12 hours per day show a 37% increased risk of injury. This can be attributed to fatigue and regardless of whether it’s short- or long-term, the effects on health and the likelihood of injury are considerable.

During the 1890s, full-time industrial employees worked 100 hours per week. Thankfully, this is a far cry from the current fatigue prevention working standards set by governments today to improve worker safety. For example, in the EU, working hours are limited to 48 hours per week, with rest breaks of 11 hours during each 24-hour period and a mandatory day off for every 7 days worked. While this does not apply to armed forces or emergency personnel, these standards considerably reduce overall workplace fatigue.

However, it’s crucial to be aware that there are substantial differences in fatigue tolerance and sleep requirements across all individuals and this can cause some employees to be at a greater risk of fatigue than others. Even in this day and age, fatigue can be considered an inevitable consequence of industrial operations - especially when you take into consideration 24/7 opening hours, inconsistent work schedules, short and variable off-duty periods, lengthy commutes, and in some cases, a poor sleep environment.

Being able to detect when a team member is fatigued enhances their health and safety and improves overall productivity. For health and safety professionals, real-time physiological data capture can be employed as a tried and tested means of determining the risk of a person experiencing fatigue before it leads to severe consequences. It will not only positively impact worker wellbeing and productivity, but it provides the perfect solution for industrial workforces where employees are carrying out shift work, long hours, or repetitive tasks, such as driving.

The Bodytrak fatigue algorithm identifies when team members are drowsy from prolonged, monotonous tasks or mentally fatigued due to exhausting, complex tasks or physically fatigued after strenuous physical activity. The physiological response to fatigue can differ between individuals, so the Bodytrak algorithm has been developed to automatically determine each user’s baseline so that it can accurately identify abnormal levels for each person based on their own physiology. 

With highly accurate in-ear sensors and a cloud-based data analytics platform Bodytrak enables real-time intervention through an incident management dashboard and user alerts. Automated reporting provides key insights to health and safety leaders and supports internal policy making. Bodytrak ensures teams are safe from incidents while improving productivity and providing a return on investment.