Studies suggest that workplace fatigue is responsible for 13% of work injuries, resulting in substantial financial losses in businesses. In most cases, fatigue creeps into your work life and takes over when you least expect it. When it does, it reduces your productivity by diminishing your mental and physical efficiency. In extreme cases, you might opt to call in sick so you can rest and recover from fatigue. It is prudent for employers and employees to know how to identify signs of fatigue and prevent it from becoming an issue at work. Here are some of the dangers of fatigue in the workplace according to a San Francisco work injury law firm.
Decreased Productivity
Fatigue causes you to feel extremely sleepy, which reduces your ability to stay alert. It becomes increasingly difficult for you to sustain concentration in this state, which affects your decision-making abilities. You also experience abnormal memory lapses, which manifest as an increased rate of forgetfulness. Finally, your response time will be reduced.
When you are fatigued, your productivity is significantly reduced—consequently, your chances of making errors at work increase exponentially.
Reduced Worker Adherence to Safety
Some catastrophic accidents are linked to workplace fatigue. A fatigued worker is less likely to pay attention to safety standards because of the effects of fatigue. For instance, a fatigued plant operator's response time is diminished, increasing their likelihood of getting into a work accident. In addition to this, as the body feels sleepy, your brain function decreases, affecting your ability to make informed decisions.
Compromised Driving Skills
Lack of sleep is one of the causes of fatigue. Studies suggest that working for prolonged hours, 17 and above, without sleep slows your response time. Even more alarming, the effects of going this long without sleep are similar to having 0.05% alcohol content in your bloodstream. A fatigued worker driving to and from work has a higher chance of getting into an accident. Similarly, the skills of a fatigued company driver or technician are compromised.
Questionable Information Processing and Poor Memory
Fatigue compromises your cognitive abilities. As your attention span and ability to be alert lower for an extended period, it becomes harder to process information properly. Likewise, your memory retention ability diminishes. Consequently, you begin to make questionable decisions. This is extremely limiting in jobs that need exceptional problem-solving abilities.
Falling Asleep at Work
In extreme cases of fatigue, you can fall asleep while working. As an employee, you will not know when things start to go south at work when this happens to you. As a result, you will not respond to hazards or any other potential risk happening at work. Get enough sleep to avoid the dangers of fatigue in the workplace.
Inability to Manage Stress
Ordinarily, you are supposed to get sufficient sleep. This will not only allow your body to rejuvenate but will also reset your mind. If you do not sleep for at least seven hours every twenty-four-hour cycle, you are likely to experience prolonged negative effects on your levels of stress and mood.
Increased Risk of Accident for Shift Workers
Night shift workers are predisposed to more risks associated with fatigue. Shift workers are more likely to get into accidents anytime from 00:00hrs to 08:00hrs.
The dangers of fatigue in the workplace are real. Therefore, when you get into an accident due to workplace fatigue, and you need a work injury attorney, contact The Law Offices of Alex Bonilla, P.C. at (415) 761-3171 or email the company at alex@bonilla-law.com or visit the company's offices at 1390 MARKET ST, STE 200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-5404.
