MANAGING FITNESS FOR WORK

PETER SIMPSON

BOYLAN SIMPSON & SIMPSONCORPORATE PSYCHOLOGY SERVICEST (08) 9211 3700 / F (08) 9211 3711

FITNESS FOR WORK

Being “FIT FOR WORK” means that you are a state

that you can perform your duties effectively and in a

way that does not threaten your own or other’s safety

or health.

THE CAUSES OF IMPAIRMENT

Alcohol

Medication

Psychological

factors

Stress

Illegal drugs

Caffeine & nicotine

Medical conditions

Fatigue

IMPAIRMENT

DRUGS AND WORK TRAUMA

24% of patients from industrial / constructions sites were positive for alcohol or other drugs

N = 62

56% of patients from a “trade” or “service” area were positive for alcohol or other drugs

N = 61

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL - TRAUMA STUDY - APRIL 2007

DRUGS & TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

Alcohol - 22.6%

Cannabis - 17.5%

Benzodiazepines - 14.7%

Amphetamines - 6.9%

Opiates - 3.3%

(No. admissions = 539)ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL - TRAUMA STUDY - APRIL 2007

FATIGUE AND ACCIDENTS

CRASH TYPE ALCOHOL FATIGUE

All 5% 5 - 10%

Serious injury 20% 20 - 30%

Fatality 40% 25 - 35%

THE NARROW MARGIN FOR SAFETY

MANAGING FFW - 1

PROACTIVE

Minimise

causes of impairment

(identify &

address causes)

REACTIVE

Minimise

consequences

of impairment

(identify &

address risks)

IMPAIRMENT

ON SITE

MANAGING FFW - 2

Organisational Organisational

risks solutions

IMPAIRMENT

Individual Individual

risks solutions

SOME FATIGUE EXAMPLES

FATIGUE RISK

Working at

night

Obstructive

sleep

apnoea

SOLUTIONS

Roster design Napping policy Alertness mgt Nap before night shift #1

Pre-employment medical Weight loss

FATIGUELEVELS

SHIFT / ROSTER• Night work• Hours worked• No. consecutive days / nights• Rotation• Breaks• Cycle length• No. shift changes

WORK CULTURE• Work pressure• Support for self management• Work practises - job rotation - napping

NATURE OF WORK• Mental load• Physical load

ENVIRONMENT• Temperature• Noise• Light levels• Vibration• Humidity• Exposures

ONSITE SLEEPINGENVIRONMENT• Air conditioning• Inside toilets• Noise• Light control

INDIVIDUALCHARACTERISTICS• Suitability for night

work• Age• Fitness• Chronic illness• Sleeping disorders

PRIVATE COMMITMENTS• Family• Social activities• Study / other jobs etc

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE• Sleep habits• Ability to nap• AOD use• Nutrition• Management of stress• Preparation for first

night shift

COMMUTING• Daily • Start / end cycle

FFW RISKS

Pre employment assessments

Self management

Peer management

Supervisor management

FFWassessments

FFW ACCIDENTS

Safe workplace

Safe work practices

RANDOM TESTING ON THE ROADS

VIC WANT SA

ACT NSW TAS QLD

CONTROL PREVENTATIVE CORRECTIVE

ORGANISATIONAL • Appropriate rosters• Monitor / control excessive

working hours• Appropriate lighting,

ventilation• Extra breaks

• Napping procedures• Task rotation• Scheduling hazardous tasks

for high alertness periods• Extra checks at high risk

times• Strategies to improve

alertness (e.g., quizzes etc)PREEMPLOYMENT • Medical assessment to

identify individuals withsleeping disorders

• Assessment during selectionof experience & strategies tomanage shiftwork

• Provision of medical /counselling assistance forrecruits with fatigue issues.

• Education to improve skills /practices in managingshiftwork

SELFMANAGEMENT

• Education to improve sleepand skills to manage shiftwork

• Preparation for night shift#1 (afternoon sleep)

• Self assessment prior tocommencing work

• Education to promotewillingness to notify whenfatigue

• Provision of medical andcounseling assistance to assistwith identified fatigue issues.

PEERMANAGEMENT

• Education to improveknowledge of FFW / duty ofcare

• Education to promote ability /willingness to identify andassist fatigued workmates

SUPERVISORMANAGEMENT

• Promote culture of self andpeer management

• Pre-start assessment /discussion of fatigue

• Monitor hours worked

• Increased “on the job”supervision at high risk times

• Assessment and managementof fatigued individuals

• Provide written instructions

THE STRUCTURE OF SLEEP

ALCOHOL & SLEEP