Mining in focus
Physically demanding work activities can contribute to extreme forms of fatigue .
In addition to identifying causes of fatigue , it is important that managers and supervisors ( and the staff themselves ) are able to identify symptoms of fatigue and know what to do about it .
Among medical factors that can contribute to fatigue are diseases and disorders such as anaemia , sleep apnoea , hypothyroidism , heart problems , tuberculosis ( TB ), and diabetes , while lifestyle-related causes such as too little — or too much — sleep ; disturbed sleep ; lack of exercise ; use of alcohol , caffeine or drugs ( including prescribed medication ); and poor diet and nutrition can also have a detrimental effect on a person ’ s ability to function optimally .
Within the workplace , the employer has more control . Organisational factors that commonly contribute to fatigue include shift work , long and / or irregular working hours , physically demanding work activities , extremes of temperature , high noise exposure , increased humidity , vibration , and ergonomic factors ( like poor design of workstations or equipment ). Shift workers are particularly susceptible to fatigue , due to disruption to the body ’ s circadian rhythm ( internal body clock ). While shift work may be unavoidable , it is necessary to ensure that those working shifts do not become so fatigued that they cannot safely conduct their daily tasks .
Managing fatigue
In addition to identifying causes of fatigue , it is important that managers and supervisors ( and the staff themselves ) are able to identify symptoms of fatigue and know what to do about it . While it is relatively easy to identify signs such as yawning , this is not sufficient for actually measuring the levels of fatigue that employees are experiencing , or identifying when such levels impact their fitness to operate .
Section 11 of the Mine Health and Safety Act ( MHSA ) requires the employer to identify hazards and to assess the health and safety risks employees may be exposed to while at work , and then eliminate the risk , if possible , or otherwise control or minimise it . The purpose of the COP on fatigue management is to set out how these risks will be addressed .
[ 22 ] MINING MIRROR JUNE 2018