What is Fatigue?
ÜFatigue
describes a physical and/or mental state of being tired and weak.
ÜAlthough
physical and mental fatigue are different, the two often occur together - if a
person is physically exhausted for long enough, they will also be mentally
tired.
ÜWhen
somebody experiences physical fatigue, it means they cannot continue
functioning at their normal levels of physical ability.
ÜMental
fatigue, however, is more slanted towards feeling sleepy and being unable to
concentrate properly.
ÜFatigue
may have several possible causes.
ÜExperts
say that 10% of people globally at any one time are suffering from persistent
tiredness. Persistent tiredness affects females more than males.
What Causes Fatigue?
ÜFatigue
describes a physical and/or mental state of being tired and weak.
ÜAlthough
physical and mental fatigue are different, the two often occur together - if a
person is physically exhausted for long enough, they will also be mentally
tired.
ÜWhen
somebody experiences physical fatigue, it means they cannot continue
functioning at their normal levels of physical ability.
ÜMental
fatigue, however, is more slanted towards feeling sleepy and being unable to
concentrate properly.
ÜFatigue
may have several possible causes.
ÜExperts
say that 10% of people globally at any one time are suffering from persistent
tiredness. Persistent tiredness affects females more than males.
How do you combat Fatigue?
ÜMany
people experience fatigue due to lack of quality sleep. Quality/uninterrupted sleep is essential to
combating fatigue. Some helpful tips on
how to get quality sleep include:
·Try to go to bed and wake up at the
same time each day
·Set
your bedroom's temperature at a comfortable level. It must neither be too cold
nor too hot
·Do
not have your last meal of the day too close to your bedtime - not less than 90
minutes or two hours before you go to bed
·As
bedtime approaches, physically and mentally slow down.
ÜA
healthy lifestyle has a significant impact on fatigue
·Proper diet and regular exercise
can boost energy levels and improve mental sharpness
Recognizing Fatigue
ÜSince
fatigue is so commonplace in todays work environment, it may be difficult to
recognize in yourself and your co-workers.
Some of the symptoms of fatigue include:
·Lethargy – Low energy level and
non-productive.
·Visibly tired – Eyes are droopy,
slow to respond or act, not following directions accurately.
·Prone to mistakes – Mistakes are
made often and even simple tasks are not completed correctly
Employee
Responsibilities Regarding Fatigue
vEmployees
are responsible for:
•
ÜRemaining drug and alcohol free during
their employment with Furmanite.
Ü
ÜNot using over-the-counter or prescription
drugs to increase mental alertness.
Ü
ÜEmployees are prohibited from taking any substance
known to increase fatigue, including fatigue that sets in after the effects of
the drug wear off.
Ü
ÜEmployees must report fatigue/tiredness and lack of
mental acuity to supervision.
Ü
ÜEmployees/contractors should
use their time off the job to get the appropriate sleep or rest and maintain
their alertness and fitness for duty.
Ü
ÜEmployees should to monitor their own performance
and take regular periods of rest to avoid continuing work when tired.
Ü
ÜMonitor co-workers state of alertness.
