Issue #82 – March 2025

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

Friday 14 March is World Sleep Day and this year’s theme is Make Sleep Health a Priority!

In this edition of Focus on Fatigue we will take a look at a recent study that linked sleep hygiene to sleep health in FIFO workers and consider how you can improve your sleep health.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

Sleep Hygiene Impacts Sleep Health

As we observe World Sleep Day, the theme “Make Sleep Health a Priority” resonates more than ever, emphasising the profound impact that quality sleep has on our overall health. A critical aspect of achieving better sleep health is through the practice of good sleep hygiene, a connection underscored by recent research.

In a recent study focused on mining shift workers in Australia, findings revealed a significant relationship between sleep hygiene and sleep health. Australia’s mine sites, often located in remote areas, require workers to adapt to challenging schedules, including 12-hour shifts and living in camp accommodations. Despite these conditions, the study found that workers who maintained better sleep hygiene experienced markedly better sleep health. The research, which involved 470 shift workers, utilised the Sleep Health Index and Sleep Hygiene Index questionnaires to assess this relationship.

Lead author on the study, Mr Philipp Beranek, noted the following:

“Key Insights:

• Mining shift workers with better sleep hygiene had better sleep health.
• In particular, a regular sleep schedule, a comfortable sleep environment, good mental health, and limited time in bed extensions had the strongest association with sleep health.
• These findings indicate that mining shift workers may be able to improve their sleep health by improving their sleep hygiene, with a particular focus on the strategies mentioned above. Further, improving mining camp accommodations may improve mining shift workers’ sleep health.”

Why Is Sleep Important?

• Restoration and Rejuvenation: During sleep, your body repairs and rejuvenates, enhancing cell repair and boosting the immune system.
• Cognitive Function and Memory: Sleep aids in processing and consolidating new information, crucial for memory retention.
• Emotional and Mental Health: Adequate sleep is essential for mood regulation and stress reduction.

Steps to Improve Sleep Health

While, for shiftworkers, there are certain elements of sleep health that may be outside of their control, we can chose to focus on what we can control. Make a plan to prioritize your sleep health by improving your sleep hygiene.

• Create a Restful Environment: Ensure your sleeping environment is quiet, dark, and cool.
• Mind What You Eat and Drink: Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and heavy meals before bedtime.
• Prepare Your Mind for Sleep: Develop a relaxing bedtime routine to ease the transition to sleep.
• Consistency is Key: Stick to a regular sleep schedule to help regulate your body’s clock (for shift workers this may involve a regular night shift and day shift schedule).

Organisations can support their shiftworkers by providing quality resources and training to help manage shiftwork and sleep.

The Path Forward

This World Sleep Day, let us treat sleep with the seriousness it deserves as a pillar of health. By prioritising good sleep hygiene and understanding its impact, we can enhance our sleep health and, by extension, our overall well-being.

‘Sleep hygiene’: How FIFO workers can get a better night’s sleep

Edith Cowan University, Jan 25
Better sleep hygiene could see fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining shift workers get a better night’s sleep, new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shown.

What FAID Quantum Can Do For You

We are pleased to share that InterDynamics is featured in this month’s Australian Mining Review, discussing the ways FAID Quantum can be used as a decision support tool in mining and other industries.

Leading Air Traffic Control Provider Adopts FAID Quantum

We are thrilled to announce that a leading provider of air traffic control has recently chosen FAID Quantum to enhance their fatigue management system. This partnership underscores the trusted reliability and effectiveness of FAID Quantum as an essential tool in managing fatigue and ensuring operational safety.

Issue #81 – September 24

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

The workplace landscape has seen significant shifts in recent years, with a growing emphasis on safeguarding employee well-being. In Australia, two pivotal recent developments stand out: the new ‘right to disconnect’ laws and regulations around managing psychosocial health risks. Together, these measures are designed to address the mental strains workers face, particularly those related to overwork and fatigue. These issues are not unique to Australia but are a growing global challenge. Other countries including France, Canada and Japan having introduced similar initiatives, and pressure is mounting in other regions for similar regulations.

In this edition of Focus on Fatigue we will take a look at these recent developments and how they relate to fatigue risk management.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

Psychosocial Health Regulations

In 2022, Australia introduced more stringent psychosocial health risk regulations, which require employers to actively manage and mitigate risks that may harm employees’ mental and emotional well-being. Psychosocial hazards include:

• job demands
• unrealistic workloads
• workplace stress
• bullying
• harassment
• workplace conflict
• lack of support
• poor management practices

These factors can lead to mental health impacts, burnout, absenteeism, staff turnover and fatigue-related incidents.

The regulations are part of the broader occupational health and safety framework and require organisations to conduct risk assessments to identify and address psychosocial hazards. Employers must also develop action plans to prevent these risks and provide ongoing support, ensuring that employees work in an environment that promotes mental health.

The Right to Disconnect

Further to this, Australia has recently passed ‘right to disconnect’ laws, designed to provide employees with the ability to disengage from work-related communication and demands outside of working hours. The right to disconnect is gaining traction across various regions and sectors, modelled after similar laws in countries such as France and Ireland. These laws aim to curb the expectation that employees must remain perpetually available for emails, calls, or virtual meetings outside their contractual hours. In essence, the right to disconnect is a formal recognition of workers’ need for clear boundaries between work and personal life, helping to reduce burnout and fatigue.

Linking These Developments to Fatigue Risk Management

These developments are closely tied to fatigue risk management as they both aim to mitigate factors that contribute to workplace fatigue, which not only has physical impacts but also mental and emotional. Fatigued workers are more susceptible to negative psychosocial outcomes. Workers that are stressed and always available are less likely to achieve the desirable restorative sleep. Both measures serve as important tools in broader fatigue risk management strategies by addressing the root causes of mental and physical exhaustion in modern workplaces.

Employers face a legal obligation to consider fatigue-related risk under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. These laws require organisations to implement effective fatigue management policies, which include ensuring that workers do not work excessive hours, are given adequate breaks, and are not overburdened with tasks outside their working hours. By addressing these hazards, organisations not only comply with regulatory standards but also actively reduce the likelihood of fatigue-related risks.

Legal Responsibility of Employers and Employees

Australian WHS laws place the onus on both employers and employees to manage workplace fatigue. Employers are required to ensure a safe work environment by implementing policies that reduce excessive working hours, allowing time for rest, and providing mental health resources.

However, employees also bear responsibility for managing their own fatigue. This includes responsibly utilising sleep opportunities, report any concerns related to their workload or work hours, and avoid undertaking tasks when they are too fatigued to perform them safely. Fatigue is a shared responsibility, and workers must be proactive in communicating with their employers about the risks they face.

In light of the new right to disconnect laws and regulations addressing psychosocial health risks in Australia, it’s clear that both employers and employees have significant roles to play in ensuring healthier, safer work environments. These legal changes are designed to help mitigate mental health risks, reduce burnout, and improve work-life balance. But as these laws evolve, it raises an important question for all workplaces:

How is your organisation addressing these critical factors?

Are you taking proactive steps to manage psychosocial hazards like workload stress, bullying, and excessive after-hours work expectations? Are you complying with legal obligations around fatigue risk management, ensuring that your workers have the support and boundaries needed to maintain their mental and physical health? As the responsibility to safeguard employee wellbeing grows, it’s essential for organisations to reflect on their current practices and consider whether they’re doing enough to protect their workforce from these emerging risks.

This is a moment for reflection and action. How will your workplace respond?

Understanding Psychosocial Hazards in the workplace

SafeWork SA

Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work – Code of Practice

Safe Work Australia

Mental Health at Work

World Health Organisation

The right to disconnect has started, giving Australians legal cover to stop responding to emails and calls after hours

ABC News, Aug 2024

A new code means employers need to protect worker’s mental health. But will it work?

ABC News, Apr 2023

Issue #80 – April 24

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

In this edition of Focus on Fatigue, we’re highlighting some of the elements of FAID Quantum that every user should understand. This article may serve as both a brief introduction for newcomers and a refresher for seasoned users.

We are also pleased to share some video resources about FAID Quantum and fatigue in the workplace.

We hope you find this issue useful and informative.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

While FAID Quantum is a relatively simple tool to use (input work hours + analyse = fatigue scores), all users of a biomathematical model should have a solid understanding of the model they are using. This ensures that you’re not only using the tool correctly but also fully comprehending the insights it provides. Whether you are exploring FAID Quantum for the first time or are an experienced user, here are six key points to consider.

1. Two Biomathematical Models

FAID Quantum Software incorporates two biomathematical models of fatigue – the FAID biomathematical model (providing FAID Score outputs) and the FAID Quantum biomathematical model (providing KSS outputs). While initially this may seem conflicting, once both models are understood, this approach provides a richer understanding of fatigue exposures. To understand more about the two models and how they compliment each other, read here.

2. Work History

To provide accurate fatigue scores, the FAID biomathematical model requires 7 days of work history (15 days for time zone version) prior to the analysis period. FAID considers the probability of sleep and recovery over the prior seven days. If the work history is not entered, the fatigue exposure will be underrated.

3. Commute Times

The modelling within FAID Quantum assumes average commute times of 30-45 minutes, with the standard sleep buffer settings set to 1 hour (sleep cannot be achieved within 1 hour of work start/end times). In the case where commute times are greater than 45 minutes between home and work, FAID Quantum may overestimate the recovery value of non-work periods. If commute times are known to be greater than 45 minutes between home and work, an organisation should consider how this is taken into account. There are a number of ways to address this (such as extending the work period or the sleep buffer). You can read further about FAID and commuting here.

4. Sleep

The FAID Quantum biomathematical model provides predicted sleep times. FAID Quantum does provide the option for actual sleep obtained to be considered in its calculations, if such data is available. While this enables FAID Quantum to reflect more closely the experience of an individual, the results are still based upon a statistical model representing the general population response to that sleep pattern and not a prediction of the individual’s level of fatigue.

5. Fatigue Tolerance Levels

FAID Quantum allows a user to set FAID Score and KSS Tolerance Levels as benchmark figures. Analysis results are compared against the Tolerance Levels and exceedances are highlighted and quantified in magnitude and duration.

There are no magical Tolerance Levels within FAID Quantum at which operations are ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’. Each organisation need to determine their Tolerance Levels and compliance criteria using a risk assessment methodology that quantifies the risks associated with the job task/role, environmental and other factor that could contribute to an intolerable event occurring when a worker is in a state of heightened fatigue. You can read more about fatigue tolerance levels here.

6. Statistical Models

FAID & FAID Quantum are statistical models that consider the probability of sleep and recovery of the average person and predicts fatigue exposure associated with hours of work only. It is not a pure measure of fatigue. Models can not detect individual fatigue and therefore should not be used as the sole determinant of an individual’s fitness for work. Individual circumstances, operating environments, task impacts and other fatigue risk factors should also be considered when assessing work-related fatigue risks. To understand where FAID Quantum fits in to a risk based approach to managing fatigue, you can read here.

Training

We hope you have found this brief overview helpful. We offer comprehensive training in FAID Quantum, which we highly recommend for all users. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss training options.

InterDynamics has been working with MATES. MATES aim to reduce suicide and support the mental wellbeing of those in the construction industry. MATES have been developing a Resource Hub for FIFO and DIDO workers, their families, friends and mental health providers. As part of this, InterDynamics’ Peter Page was interviewed for a series of videos about FAID Quantum and Fatigue Management. We are pleased to share this resource with you:

Using Research to Inform Rostering

Fatigue model supporting FIFO – How the model helps industry

Use of Multiple Biomathematical Models to Help with Shift Planning

FAID BMM & FAID Quantum BMM as complementary models – Tracking and predicting sleep

Fatigue and Mental Health

How does fatigue affect your mental health?

Fatigue and Decision Making

How the FAID Score relates to decision making

Podcasts

These discussions are also accessible as podcasts.

We’ve come across a number of interesting and informative resources on sleep recently. Here’s a couple that we thought were worth a listen/watch.

Podcast: Sleep: How Do We Get More?

Science Vs, Nov 2023
Not sleeping enough turning you into a monster? In one of their most popular episodes, ‘Science Vs’ bring you the cutting-edge science that helps us understand why, and sort though the fads to find out what really works to get more ZZZs.

Video Series: Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley

SBS, Mar 2024
Dr Michael Mosley and the sleep scientists from Flinders University are on a mission to inspire a sleep revolution.

Issue #79 – December 23

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

It’s December and the silly season is once again upon us. At this time of year many people attend a variety of Christmas parties, and other end of year celebrations. It can be easy to find ourselves getting behind the wheel of a car at the end of a long night when we’re feeling tired and eager to get home to bed. For shift workers, driving at odds times of the day or night, often while sleep deprived, can be an all too common occurrence at any time of the year.

This month, our Focus on Fatigue newsletter will examine the issue of Drowsy Driving, including how to recognise the symptoms and what you can do to increase your chances of arriving home safely.

InterDynamics would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our Focus on Fatigue readers a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year period.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

It’s more than keeping your eyes open

We all know how important it is to be sober when we get behind the wheel of a car. The consumption of alcohol impedes our driving performance, making us more likely to have an accident. So we are careful about how much we drink, how long since our last drink, or we abstain from drinking alcohol altogether if we know we’ll be driving. We get behind the wheel of our car at the end of a long day, or at the end of the party, and we’re tired but sober. Does this mean that we are safe to drive?

Fatigue impairs driving performance

Studies have shown that extended wakefulness can impair your ability to drive in a similar way to drinking too much alcohol. Often we underestimate the effect of drowsiness on our driving performance, or we believe that we can fight off sleepiness long enough to get home safely. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Estimates vary (due to data collection and location variations) but around 10-20% of fatal and serious crashes are attributed to driver fatigue, with some suggesting the real numbers may be higher. The National Road Safety Action Plan identifies that ‘fatigue is four times more likely to contribute to impairment than drugs or alcohol’.

But what is drowsy driving and how do we know if it’s happening to us? When we do experience drowsy driving, what can we do about it?

What are the warning signs of drowsy driving?

The Sleep Health Foundation lists the following as signs of drowsy driving:

• Yawning
• Struggling to keep eyes open or focused
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering the past few kilometres
• Lane deviations
• Variations in driving speed
• Doing things to keep yourself alert – such as winding down the window or turning up air conditioning or music
• Head nodding – this is end-stage drowsiness, indicating that you are already having micro-sleeps

The danger of microsleeps

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines a microsleep as ‘an episode lasting up to 30 seconds during which external stimuli are not perceived. The polysomnogram suddenly shifts from waking characteristics to sleep. Microsleeps are associated with excessive sleepiness and automatic behaviour.’

Microsleeps are most likely to happen to people who are sleep deprived and performing a monotonous task, such as driving a car. Imagine, just for a moment, the possible consequences of experiencing a microsleep when driving. It may last a fraction of a second, or up to 30 seconds. Your car is still moving, your eyes may even be open, but your brain is asleep. You don’t see the brake lights of the car in front of you come on, or the red light up ahead, or the curve in the road, or the fact that you’re drifting onto the wrong side of the road. When you wake up from the microsleep, assuming you haven’t already had an accident, the decision-making areas of your brain are not the first ones to come back online. Meaning that even more precious seconds may elapse before you can react to what is happening around you.

Perhaps the scariest thing about microsleeps is this: You may not even be aware that you had one. So you keep driving. And chances are, it happens again. You can’t choose not to have a microsleep. You are no longer in control.

What about general drowsiness, without microsleeps?

Studies have shown that falling asleep at the wheel is not the only way in which drowsy drivers are at risk. They are also more likely to report crossing lanes while driving, more likely to increase their average driving speed, more likely to be aggressive and may take more risks due to an impaired ability to assess situations.

Why are shift workers more likely to experience drowsy driving?

Shift workers have been found to be one of the groups most at risk of drowsy driving (along with young drivers, commercial truck drivers, those with untreated sleep disorders and those who use medicines that make them sleepy). Shift workers are more tired than non-shift workers during commuting. They get less sleep overall, resulting in increased levels of sleepiness. The sleep they do get tends to be of a lower quality because of the increase in day sleep. They often commute longer distances. Shift workers are also more likely to be driving at times when their circadian rhythm (internal biological clock) is telling them it’s time to sleep.

One study conducted by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that shift workers were at a higher risk for drowsy driving crashes when driving during the day after a night shift. Even short commutes were shown to be potentially dangerous, with the risk increasing as the length of the drive increased. “Even veteran night shift workers were vulnerable to the risks associated with drowsy driving,” said one of the researchers involved in the study.

What should I do if I experience drowsiness while driving?

A variety of measures have been suggested over the years, some of which may work better than others.

Napping

If it’s not possible to pull over for an extended sleep, napping can be a useful short term remedy for drowsiness. A 5-min nap may improve a driver’s condition, but a 10-20 min nap is most beneficial. A 10-min nap in a reclined position, improves the ability of a driver for at least 1 hour. Napping for longer than 20 mins may not be advisable if you plan to drive straight away after, due to the onset of sleep inertia (that groggy feeling we can wake up with after napping).

Caffeine

Caffeine increases alertness in sleepy people. It has been suggested that a minimum of two cups of coffee is necessary for a positive effect on driving performance. The consumption of caffeine in drowsy drivers has been found to reduce lane deviations, potential crashes, and sleepiness for about an hour.

The coffee nap

Some researchers have explored the idea of combining napping and coffee. This involves drinking one-two cups of coffee quickly (so they can’t be too hot) and then immediately lying back for a short nap. By the time you are waking up from your nap, the caffeine will have entered your system. This combination was found to effectively increase alertness in drivers for an hour. In fact, the coffee nap was found to be more effective than either coffee or napping by themselves.

Other interventions

While other interventions are anecdotally popular, they have limited or no proven effectiveness. These include:

• Keeping the interior of the car cool
• Listening to talk or music on the radio
• Varying the route a bit
• Stopping to walk around for a while
• Having a driving buddy

The real cure for drowsiness

It is always important to remember that the only thing that will truly cure you of drowsiness is sleep. Always take this into account before getting behind the wheel of your car. And if you really need to get somewhere and you are not safe to drive, keep yourself and other road users safe, and call a cab! The cost may be more in the short term, but less in the long term!

Research

• Aidman, E., Balin, M., Johnson, K., Jackson, S., Paech, G. M., Pajcin, M., Yates, C., Mitchelson, E., Kamimori, G. H., Fidock, J., Vedova, C. D., & Banks, S. (2021). Caffeine may disrupt the impact of real-time drowsiness on cognitive performance: a double-blind, placebo-controlled small-sample study. Scientific reports, 11(1), 4027.
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2001) The International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Revised. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Westchester, IL.
• Brooks, A., & Lack, L. (2006). A brief afternoon nap following nocturnal sleep restriction: which nap duration is most recuperative?. Sleep, 29(6), 831–840.
• Caba, J. (2015) Night shift workers are at an increased risk for car crashes, even during daytime commute. Medical Daily, accessed 20 November 2023.
• Di Milia, L., Rogers, N. L., & Åkerstedt, T. (2012). Sleepiness, long distance commuting and night work as predictors of driving performance. PloS one, 7(9), e45856.
• Hilditch, C. J., Centofanti, S. A., Dorrian, J., & Banks, S. (2016). A 30-Minute, but Not a 10-Minute Nighttime Nap is Associated with Sleep Inertia. Sleep, 39(3), 675–685.
• Horne, J. A., & Reyner, L. A. (1996). Counteracting driver sleepiness: effects of napping, caffeine, and placebo. Psychophysiology, 33(3), 306–309.
• Lee, M. L., Howard, M. E., Horrey, W. J., Liang, Y., Anderson, C., Shreeve, M. S., O’Brien, C. S., & Czeisler, C. A. (2016). High risk of near-crash driving events following night-shift work. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(1), 176–181.
• National Road Safety Strategy, National Road Safety Action Plan 2018-2020 – Fatigue. Accessed 20 November 2023.
• NCSDR/NHTSA Expert Panel on Driver Fatigue and Sleepiness (1998) Drowsy driving and automobile crashes: Report and recommendations. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Reyner, L. A., & Horne, J. A. (1997). Suppression of sleepiness in drivers: combination of caffeine with a short nap. Psychophysiology, 34(6), 721–725.
• Rogers, A., Holmes, S., & Spencer, M. (2001). The effect of shiftwork on driving to and from work. Journal of human ergology, 30(1-2), 131–136.
• Sleep Health Foundation (2023) Drowsy Driving, Accessed 20 November 2023,
• Tefft, B.C. (2010). The Prevalence and Impact of Drowsy Driving (Technical Report). Washington, D.C.: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
• Thomas, M., Gupta, C., Sprajcer, M., Demasi, D., Sach, E., Roach, G., Sargent, C., Dawson, D. & Ferguson, S. (2021). Fatigue and Driving: An International Review. Appleton Institute – Central Queensland University, Adelaide, Australia.
• Thompson, J., & Wundersitz, L. (2023) The contribution of driver fatigue to casualty and fatal crashes in South Australia, Centre for Automotive Safety Research – The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
• Tietzel, A. J., & Lack, L. C. (2001). The short-term benefits of brief and long naps following nocturnal sleep restriction. Sleep, 24(3), 293–300.

Blood Test for Sleepy Drivers Could Pave Way for Prosecutions

Linda Geddes, The Guardian, May 2023
A blood test to measure whether a driver who has caused an accident was impaired by lack of sleep could be available within two years.

Driver Fatigue – ‘A Dangerous Form of Impairment’ – Continues to Take Lives 

Tanya Mohn, Forbes, March 2023
Research found that many drivers may be unaware of how drowsy they are, and as a result, fail to take breaks because they may not realize the risks until it’s too late.

Sleep Deprived Medical Staff Pose Same Dangers on Roads as Drunk Drivers

Robin McKie, The Guardian, June 2022
Survey published in the journal Anaesthesia found 57% of respondents said they had experienced an accident or near miss when travelling home from a night shift.

Issue #78 – August 23

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

In our recent conversations with clients, the significance of fatigue’s impact on service delivery has repeatedly emerged. So, in this edition of Focus on Fatigue, we wanted to consider the broad reaching influence of fatigue – going beyond the realm of safety outcomes – to delve into its profound effects on service quality. Read on to see how quality sleep promotes quality service!

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

The impact of fatigue on service delivery

When we talk about workplace fatigue, the emphasis is often on safety outcomes. While safety is rightfully an important concern, the repercussions of fatigue on service quality and customer interactions are also significant.  While we know that fatigue can lead to reduced reaction speed, reduced accuracy and microsleeps, even before we reach this point, fatigue impacts mood and communication, diminishes emotional intelligence and impairs decision making. These impairments affect service delivery and service outcomes.

Emotional Intelligence and Service Excellence

Emotional intelligence forms the bedrock of exceptional customer service. The ability to understand, manage, and connect with emotions, both one’s own and others’, is crucial for fostering positive interactions. However, a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine highlights how sleep deprivation diminishes emotional intelligence. For service-oriented industries, such as healthcare and law enforcement, where customer interactions are frequent and diverse, emotional intelligence is pivotal. Fatigued employees may struggle to read cues, respond empathetically, or manage challenging situations effectively.

Impaired Cognitive Skills and Customer Relations

Constructive thinking and effective decision-making are cornerstones of quality service delivery. Research has shown that sleep deprivation impairs cognitive skills necessary for problem-solving and innovation.  In roles that demand quick thinking and constant interaction with the public, these impairments can lead to suboptimal solutions and inadequate responses.

Customer Complaints

The impact of fatigue on service quality can clearly be seen in a study featured in the journal Sleep looking at the relationship between predicted fatigue levels (utilising FAID Quantum) and public complaints. The study found that greater predicted fatigue and reduced sleep opportunity were strongly associated with an increase in public complaints.

Implications

Along with emotional intelligence and cognitive skills, fatigue also takes a toll on mood, motivation and productivity; reducing an individuals willingness to ‘go the extra mile’. Fatigue impairments can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication, escalated encounters, longer resolution times and service errors, resulting in dissatisfied customers, adverse outcomes and complaints. Furthermore, fatigue can ripple through organisations, leading to absenteeism and higher staff turnover, further diminishing quality of service delivery.

Mitigating Fatigue for Enhanced Service Delivery

Organisations in service-oriented sectors can enhance service quality by prioritising fatigue management strategies. Investing in employee well-being by promoting healthy sleep practices, managing workloads, and providing opportunities for rejuvenation can have a profound impact. Encouraging short breaks, facilitating better work-life balance, and fostering a supportive work culture can significantly reduce the prevalence of fatigue.

References

Gordon, A. M., & Chen, S. (2014). The Role of Sleep in Interpersonal Conflict: Do Sleepless Nights Mean Worse Fights? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(2), 168–175. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613488952

Killgore, W., Kahn-Greene, E., Lipizzi, E., Newman, R., Kamimori, G. & Balkin, T. (2008). Sleep deprivation reduces perceived emotional intelligence and constructive thinking skills. Sleep medicine. 9. 517-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2007.07.003

Paterson, J.L.,  Dorrian, J.,  Ferguson,S.A., Jay, S.M., Lamond, N., Murphy, P.J., Campbell, S.S., & Dawson, D.
(2011) Changes in structural aspects of mood during 39–66h of sleep loss using matched controls,
Applied Ergonomics, 42(2), 196-201, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2010.06.014.

Riedy, S. M., Dawson, D. & Vila, B. (2019). U.S. police rosters: Fatigue and public complaints, Sleep, 42(3), zsy231, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsy231

Riedy, S., Dawson, D., Fekedulegn, D., Andrew, M., Vila, B., and Violanti, J. (2020), Fatigue and Short-term Unplanned Absences Among Police Officers, Policing: an International Journal, http://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-10-2019-0165

Whitney, P., Hinson, J., Jackson, M. & Van Dongen, H. (2015) Feedback Blunting: Total Sleep Deprivation Impairs Decision Making that Requires Updating Based on Feedback, Sleep, 38(5), 745–754. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.4668

FAID Quantum Training

We have conducted FAID Quantum training with a number of different clients recently and the feedback we are receiving is that this training has been highly insightful and valuable.

Here’s an a couple of example of the feedback we have received:

     “We found immense value in the training today. Peter was brilliant!”

     “The training session was well received and benefited the group.”

We tailor our training to the client and organisation, to assist in addressing your unique circumstances and ensuring you get the most out of the process.

If you think your organisation might benefit from training and you would like to know more, please get in touch.

Issue #77 – May 23

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

We are often asked for advice on how to assess whether fatigue contributed to an incident and if it can be determined simply by looking at the FAID Score at the time of the incident? The short answer is no. A systematic and situation-specific assessment is required to determine whether fatigue was a contributing factor to an accident or incident.

In this issue of Focus on Fatigue, we will provide some insight into this process.

We trust you find it useful and informative.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

Fatigue is a serious and complex issue and many organisations struggle with how to assess and determine whether fatigue contributed to an incident or accident. So, let’s have a look at this process. We will provide an overview of the information needed for a thorough investigation and identify personal and corporate/systemic fatigue-related contributors. We will also introduce the GRAID Investigation Tool, which can assist organisations in this assessment process.

Specific Details of the Occurrence

To assess whether fatigue was a contributing factor to an incident, you need to collect specific details of the occurrence. This includes timing, personnel involved, context, and incident details. This information will help you understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether fatigue may have played a role.

Preliminary Details

Once you have collected the specific details of the occurrence, you need to consider preliminary details related to the individuals involved and the circumstances surrounding the incident. This involves assessing factors such as:

• FAID Quantum hours of work assessment
• workload impacts
• work environment impacts
• non-compliance to work/rest rules
• self assessed Karolinska Sleepiness Scale
• self observed symptoms/behaviours
• personal health/medication
• third-party observations of symptoms/behaviours.

Assessing these questions will give you an initial determination as to the likelihood that fatigue was a significant contributing factor. If the likelihood is low, then no further investigation may be necessary. However, if the likelihood is not determined to be low, further investigation is warranted.

Personal and Corporate/Systemic Fatigue-Related Contributors

The next stage of the investigation involves assessing both personal and corporate/systemic fatigue-related contributors. Factors to consider include:

• the use of rest days
• secondary employment
• jetlag/significant recent time zone changes
• prior sleep in the previous 48 hours
• fatigue-related training
• sleep disturbance due to alcohol
• commute time prior to the occurrence
• sleep inertia
• fatigue detection technology
• quality of employer-provided sleeping environment
• predictability of working hours
• medical screening and monitoring
• record of absenteeism/sick days
• expectations and incentives that may increase personal fatigue
• whether rostering practices take into account fatigue
• alerting strategies and control measures

GRAID Investigation Tool

The GRAID Investigation Tool by InterDynamics was developed, together with Integrated Safety Support, to assist organisations in this assessment process. The tool applies a risk grading system developed by Zurich Risk Engineering and offers a consistent and practical approach to reviewing incidents, accidents, occurrences, and fatigue reports.

GRAID IT systematically steps the user through a review of 28 weighted fatigue-related elements. Once the investigation is complete, GRAID IT provides a grading of the likelihood that fatigue contributed to the occurrence, and the related scorecard can be reviewed. By taking a systematic approach to assessing fatigue, organisations can identify contributing factors and take steps to prevent future incidents.

Provided below are a selection of articles from around the web on the issues associated with fatigue. We hope you find them useful and interesting.

Reducing fatigue and errors among nurses working night shifts

Issue #76 – March 23

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

Sleep is not always the easiest thing to come by, especially for those working long or night shifts. When we are deprived of adequate sleep, many of us are faced with a number of important questions. How tired am I? Can I continue working? Is my work performance suffering? Am I putting myself or others at increased risk? We all like to think we can accurately identify our level of fatigue and how we’re being affected by it, but is this actually the case? Do we know how tired we really are? Is fatigue self-monitoring an effective fatigue risk management strategy? This is the question we’ll be investigating in this month’s Focus on Fatigue.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

Do we know how tired we really are?

Many shift workers rely on self-monitoring to assess their fatigue levels. But the question arises, how good are individuals at assessing their own level of fatigue and whether fatigue is impacting their performance?

Self-monitoring of fatigue levels: moderately good but not perfect

Studies have found that people are fairly good at recognizing when sleep deprivation is affecting their performance on simple tasks. However, one study of Australian fire fighters found that this ability to self-monitor performance begins to deteriorate after prolonged periods of wakefulness. Moreover, people tend to either over or under-estimate the degree that fatigue is hampering their performance. The ability to self-monitor fatigue can also be reduced during a person’s biological night (when our circadian rhythm is telling us we should be asleep).

Post-work evaluations are more accurate than predictions

Generally, people are better at evaluating their performance after completing a task, than predicting their performance before starting it. However, when it comes to risk management, pre-performance assessments are more valuable in reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. Feedback during the completion of a task can also lead to more accurate evaluation of performance.

Global predictions are more accurate

People tend to be better at making global predictions about our performance than they are at predicting how well they’ll do on particular tasks. For example, one study found that after a week of simulated night-shifts, participants were better able to predict their performance overall, than they were able to predict their performance for specific shifts.

This means that we aren’t necessarily great at identifying which tasks will be affected by our levels of fatigue. Considering that sleep deprivation does not affect all types of activities equally, such global predictions mean that we may not be good at adjusting our prediction of how well we will perform based on the type of activity we will be performing.

Acknowledging fatigue won’t help improve our performance – much

There can be a tendency to think that if we acknowledge how fatigued we are, then we can improve our performance by ‘trying harder.’ To a certain degree this is true. Studies have found that motivation to do well can make a difference to performance in people who are sleep-deprived (this depends heavily on the severity of the deprivation). However, it is important to remember that the best way to deal with fatigue, especially when we are able to recognize that fatigue is affecting our work performance, is to stop working and take a break or, preferably, have a sleep.

Work culture is also important

Fatigue will most commonly be apparent to a worker long before they cease to be ‘capable’ of working. Therefore, a person who acknowledges they are experiencing a high level of fatigue is not necessarily saying ‘I can’t continue working’ but may actually be saying ‘I believe it may be unsafe for me to continue working.’ It is imperative that workplace culture supports individuals who recognize that fatigue is impeding their work performance and wish to take steps to rectify the situation.

One useful tool

Overall, research tells us that self-monitoring can be one useful tool to assist in determining fatigue risk in the event of sleep deprivation. However, because our own assessment of fatigue has its limitations and is not necessarily as accurate as we would like to think it is, we should also be using the other tools at our disposal to assess risks that might be present as a result of fatigue.

References

• Armstrong, T. A., Cvirn, M., Ferguson, S. A., Christoforou, T. and Smith, B. (2013) Can Australian bush fire fighters accurately self-monitor their cognitive performance during a 3-day simulated fire-ground campaign? Sleep, performance and well-being in adults and adolescents, 18-23. 10th Annual Meeting, Australiasian Chronobiology Society: Adelaide.
• Baranksi, J. V., Pigeau, R. A., and Angus, R. G. (1994) On the ability to self-monitor cognitive performance during sleep deprivation: A calibration study. Journal of Sleep Research, 3(1), 36-44.
• Dorrian, J., Lamond, N., Holmes, A. L., Burgess, H. J., Roach, G. D., Fletcher, A., and Dawson, D. (2003) The ability to self-monitor performance during a week of simulated night shifts. Sleep, 26(7), 871-877.
• Muldoon, N., Sargent, C., Zhou, X., Kosmadopoulos, A., Darwent, D. and Roach, G. D. (2013) The efficacy of subjective ratings is limited during the biological night. Sleep, performance and well-being in adults and adolescents, 7-12. 10th Annual Meeting, Australiasian Chronobiology Society: Adelaide.
• Dorrian, J., Lamond, N. and Dawson, D. (2000) The ability to self-monitor performance when fatigued. Journal of Sleep Research, 9, 137-144.

Provided below are a selection of articles from around the web on the issues associated with fatigue. We hope you find them useful and interesting.

Drowsy drivers just won’t stop soon enough, AAA study finds

Issue #75 – August 2022 – Why We Sleep

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

Sleep! It’s the activity we spend up to a third of our life doing (or attempting to!). So, it’s no wonder there is continually new research seeking to better understand how and why we sleep and what happens when we don’t.

In this issue of Focus on Fatigue, we bring you some recent studies on sleep and feature a review of Matthew Walker’s book ‘Why We Sleep?’.

We hope you find it interesting and informative.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

Book Review – Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

As founder-director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, Matthew Walker has brought together into one book many recent studies in sleep research. He has analysed everything from sleep’s role in Alzheimer’s disease and depression, to its influence on learning and productivity.

An example of a fascinating study is the comparison between two similar businesses in towns on the east and west of the same time zone. The differences in productivity for individuals across this time zone were remarkable. In fact, those in the east, who get up when it is lighter and finish work when the sun goes down, not only slept better and were more productive but they even received more frequent increases in salary.

Walker’s 12 tips for healthy sleep are:

1. Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. You can’t make up for lost sleep. This is the most important sleep habit.
2. Exercise at least 30 minutes on most days, but not later than three hours before bedtime.
3. Avoid caffeine and nicotine in the late afternoon. These take time to wear off.
4. Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed. Alcohol robs you of REM sleep, keeping you in the lighter stages of sleep.
5. Avoid large meals and beverages late at night.
6. Avoid medicines that disrupt sleep. Talk to your GP about whether medication contributes to insomnia, and ask about the best time to take medication so as not to affect sleep.
7. Don’t take naps after 3pm.
8. Relax before bed.
9. Take a hot bath or shower before bed.
10. Dark bedroom, cool bedroom, gadget free bedroom.
11. Have the right sunlight exposure. Daylight is key to sleep.
12. Don’t lie in bed awake. Get up and do something relaxing if you are lying awake worrying about not sleeping. Go back to bed when you start to feel sleepy.

The book is available in print, ebook or audiobook format, and explains the science behind the various studies in everyday language.

Provided below are a selection of articles from around the web on the issues associated with fatigue. We hope you find them useful and interesting.

How Living on the Wrong Side of a Time Zone Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Issue #74 – May 2022

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

A recent article, featured in Accident Analysis & Prevention, reviewed the effectiveness of Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS). In this month’s Focus on Fatigue we feature this review, as well as considering the pros and cons of an FRMS in comparison to prescriptive hours of service rules.

We hope you find this issue helpful and informative.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

Hours of Service Rules v Fatigue Risk Management Systems

Prescriptive hours of service (HOS) rules involve setting rules, such as maximum shift duration, minimum break duration and total work hours in a period, in order to manage fatigue.

Fatigue risk management systems (FRMS), on the other hand, are “a data-driven set of management practices for identifying and managing fatigue-related safety risks”¹. They are a tailored risk management- based approach involving multiple layers of defence (predictive, proactive and reactive). Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both approaches.

Why not just set prescriptive hours of service rules?

While prescriptive hours of service rules may seem a simpler approach, there are a number of challenges with hours of service rules:

• While HOS rules may be appropriate for managing physical fatigue “prescriptive rule sets are not well suited to managing the risks associated with mental fatigue”².
• Not all hours are created equal! Prescriptive hours of service rules do not take into consideration circadian influence. “The relationship between shift duration and fatigue is critically dependent on time of day”², as is the effectiveness of recovery sleep.
• Often with a focus on regulatory compliance, over reliance on prescriptive rules can occur with no real grasp on whether a system is actually safe.

Advantages of FRMS

An effective Fatigue Risk Management System can…

• Allow flexibility to meet operational demand, while considering the risk context and remaining scientifically defensible.³
• Be tailored to the particular job or industry and better consider the particulars of night time operations and other nonstandard work schedules².
• Incorporate multiple layers of defence in the form of management practices that are predictive, proactive and reactive.
• Involve continual improvement; assessing the effectiveness of the system and continuing to refine and improve the safety environment.

Challenges to FRMS

However, there can be challenges to implementing an effective FRMS.

• FRMS implementation may be challenging in industries and organisations with limited resources.
• A just safety culture is required for an FRMS to be effective.

A hybrid approach

Hours of service rules can work in conjunction with an FRMS. Some regulatory bodies are now opting for a hybrid approach; combining prescriptive rule sets with risk management-based approaches. Or providing organisations the option of aligning with strict hours of work controls, or alternatively implementing an approved risk-based approach to fatigue management.

Resources

1. Sprajcer, M., Thomas, M., Sargen, C., et al. (2021) How effective are Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS)? A review, Accident Analysis & Prevention, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2021.106398
2. Honn, K. A., VAN Dongen, H., & Dawson, D. (2019). Working Time Society consensus statements: Prescriptive rule sets and risk management-based approaches for the management of fatigue-related risk in working time arrangements. Industrial Health, 57(2), 264–280. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.SW-8
3. Dawson, D. & McCulloch, K. (2005) Managing fatigue: It’s about sleep, Sleep Medicine Reviews, 9, http://doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2005.03.002
4. Gurubhagavatula, I., Barger, L., Barnes, C., et al. (2021) Guiding principles for determining work shift duration and addressing the effects of work shift duration on performance, safety, and health: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, Sleep, 44(11), zsab161, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab161

How Effective are Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS)?

A recent narrative review in Accident Analysis & Prevention sought to answer the question “How effective are Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS)?” While there was limited data available assessing the effectiveness of FRMS as a whole, the review was able to include 231 records looking at different FRMS components. The review found that “FRMS components (e.g., bio-mathematical models, self-report measures, performance monitoring) have improved key safety and fatigue metrics. This suggests FRMS as a whole are likely to have positive safety outcomes.” The review noted that “FRMS implementation may be challenging in industries and organisations with limited resources” and that organisational and worker commitment, workplace culture, and training, are crucial to the successful implementation of FRMS. The full article can be accessed through the above link.

Sprajcer, M., Thomas, M., Sargen, C., et al., (2021) How effective are Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS)? A review, Accident Analysis & Prevention, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2021.106398

Social Dialogue towards a Positive Safety and Health Culture

Dr Manal Azzi, International Labour Organisation, 2022 

Issue #73- March 2022

Welcome to Focus on Fatigue!

It’s been a busy few months here at InterDynamics and we are excited to share with you what we’ve been up to.

Our feature article also looks at two recent studies that offer hope for the long term health of shift workers.

We trust you find this issue interesting and informative.

The FRMS Team

Views expressed in articles and links provided are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of InterDynamics (except where directly attributed).

FAID Quantum Web Service

We are excited to let you know that we have been working hard behind the scenes creating FAID Quantum Web Service. This web based version of FAID Quantum will offer convenience and accessibility along with a modernized user interface. FAID Quantum Web Service will allow us to service an even broader market; expanding our range of options to suit your requirements. FAID Quantum Web Service is still in the early stages of release but is available for trial by visiting http://faidquantum.com and signing up for a free trial account. We welcome your feedback!

Covid Resilient Rostering

We have assisted a number of companies with bespoke Roster Design Solutions, taking into account fatigue and other context specific considerations. Most recently this has included “COVID resilience”; to minimise potential impact of COVID disruption. It is always satisfying looking at a challenging problem and developing workable solutions.

Nimbus Integration

We are pleased to announce that InterDynamics have recently partnered with nimbus to integrate FAID Quantum into nimbus’ time2work system. You can read more about the integration here.

Diet and exercise do make a difference!

We are constantly hearing about the health implications of shift work and poor sleep, and it is rarely good news. We know that shift workers are at increased risk of health problems, such as digestive upsets, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and certain cancers, to name a few. However, two recent studies offer some hope.

Exercise
A study published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that exercising according to World Health guidelines could help counteract adverse health outcomes associated with poor sleep. The study particularly looked at cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality. Both poor sleep and physical inactivity have previously been associated with health risks. The study found that while poor sleep is still associated with these negative health outcomes, engaging in moderate to high levels of physical activity appeared to minimise the risk.

Meal Timing
Another study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, looked at the impact of meal timing in night shift work. Eating at nighttime was found to boost glucose levels, while restricting meals to the daytime prevented the high blood sugar linked to night shift work. The effects on glucose are believed to be due to circadian misalignment. Restricting meals to the daytime, may therefore reduce health risks linked to night shift work, particularly diabetes.

Future Interventions
Although there is no substitute for sleep, and more research is needed, studies such as these do offer hope for shift workers. They could lead to practical interventions and assist shift workers to proactively influence their health outcomes.

References

• Chellappa S, Qian J, Vujovic N, et al. (2021) Daytime eating prevents internal circadian misalignment and glucose intolerance in night work. Science Advances 7(49). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg9910
• Huang B, Duncan MJ, Cistulli PA, et al. (2021) Sleep and physical activity in relation to all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality risk. British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104046
• Hulsegge, G., Proper, K.I., Loef, B. et al. (2021) The mediating role of lifestyle in the relationship between shift work, obesity and diabetes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 94, 1287–1295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01662-6
• Monnaatsie M, Biddle S, Khan S & Kolbe-Alexander T. (2021) Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in shift and non-shift workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101597

Provided below are a selection of articles from around the web on the issues associated with fatigue. We hope you find them useful and interesting.

High physical activity levels may counter serious health harms of poor sleep

BMJ, Science Daily, June 2021
Physical activity levels at or above the weekly recommended amounts may counter the serious health harms associated with poor sleep quality, suggests a large long term study.

Moving more a shift in the right direction for shift workers

University of Southern Queensland, November 2021
A study by University of Southern Queensland researchers has highlighted the need to improve physical activity among shift workers.

Daytime meals may reduce health risks linked to night shift work

NIH, Science Daily, December 2021
A small clinical trial has found that eating during the nighttime — like many shift workers do — can increase glucose levels, while eating only during the daytime might prevent the higher glucose levels now linked with a nocturnal work life.

Blessed are the shift workers: but how well-rested are they?

Georgia Stynes, ABC, February 2022
In this audio discussion, Siobhan Banks, Director of the Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre at the University of South Australia, joined Georgia Stynes to talk about the relationship between sleep and shift workers. They also touch on the role of diet and exercise.