From March 3 to March 10, the National Sleep Foundation observes Sleep Awareness Week. Your company may consider participating, too, as you protect your business and employees. First, understand the risks of fatigue and effective solutions.
Causes of fatigue
Insomnia, anxiety, or nighttime disturbances can prevent a good night’s sleep. Certain medications, sleep disorders, and illnesses also contribute to tiredness.
Workplace factors such as rotating shifts, monotonous or difficult tasks, heavy workloads, poor visibility, high noise levels, and high temperatures can increase tiredness on the job.
Risks of fatigue
Infrequent or chronic sleeplessness can create numerous challenges for employees and for your company.
Physical concerns
Tired employees may experience dietary changes, digestive problems, weight gain, and distracting physical pain.
Mental impairment
Fatigue contributes to brain fog, reduced concentration, weaker memory, and slower decision-making and response times, which can affect the safe operation of equipment.
Emotional challenges
Lack of sleep can increase stress and anxiety and reduce emotional regulation.
Productivity loss
Fatigued employees take longer to finish tasks, may be less motivated to engage with customers or meet deadlines, and are at higher risk of absenteeism, medical costs, accidents, and turnover.
Tips to address fatigue on the job
- Require mandatory breaks during the day.
- Create ergonomic workspaces.
- Provide varied and engaging tasks to reduce monotony.
- Increase lighting to improve alertness.
- Lower temperature and volume where practical.
- Reduce shift lengths when possible.
- Encourage co-workers to watch for signs of fatigue.
How to encourage sleep at home
Motivate employees to prioritize nighttime sleep and offer resources or education where appropriate.
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, including weekends.
- Avoid napping.
- Eat a light evening meal and avoid caffeine or alcohol at night.
- Eliminate screen use for at least an hour before bed.
- Exercise during the day but not at night.
- Remove clutter, pets, TV, and other distractions from the bedroom.
- Implement a relaxing bedtime routine.
- Use the bedroom only for sleep.
- Turn down the thermostat and close the curtains.
- Talk to a doctor about health challenges or suspected sleep disorders.
Your business can also review available programs and resources to support workplace safety and employee wellbeing, such as the FIRST Funding Solutions Program.
Fatigue and tiredness at work can create risks that threaten your company. While business insurance policies can help cover accidents or mistakes, encouraging better sleep may reduce fatigue-related claims; for related coverage considerations see Fat Transfers — Insurance Considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common signs of fatigue at work?
Signs include frequent yawning, slowed reactions, lapses in attention, increased errors, and visible drowsiness or micro-sleeps.
How can employers reduce the risk of fatigue-related incidents?
Employers can enforce regular breaks, design ergonomic tasks, limit long shifts, improve lighting and temperature control, and promote healthy sleep habits.
When should an employee see a doctor about sleep problems?
If sleep problems are persistent, cause daytime impairment, or are suspected to be a sleep disorder, employees should consult a healthcare professional for evaluation.
Can improving sleep really lower workplace accidents?
Yes. Better sleep improves alertness and decision-making, which reduces the likelihood of mistakes and accidents on the job.