When you think of workplace fatigue, you might consider the total cost to the company of lost productivity. But there is another, more serious cost. Workplace fatigue contributes to accidents, and your company may be held liable.

In certain cases, injured employees have the right to sue their employers instead claiming workers' compensation benefits. Protect your company and employees by getting to the bottom of workplace fatigue and taking steps to mitigate it.

Time of day

Humans have a natural circadian rhythm that governs their alertness levels. In other words, people are naturally programmed to be sleepy at night and alert during the daytime. If you have night workers on staff, the risk of workplace fatigue contributing to accidents increases.

Repetitive tasks

Many jobs are repetitive. Whether it's moving containers with a crane or operating a haul truck, workers must often repeat the same tasks. Lack of stimulation contributes to poor attention,  lack of focus and fatigue.

These factors reduce a worker's speed, accuracy and increase the risk of accidents.

Lack of sleep

While everyone is different, most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. One night of poor sleep can significantly affect a worker's performance and productivity. Sleep deprived workers are more likely to have poor attention and focus. They may also be more impatient and less able to react appropriately to potential hazards.

You can improve your job site safety by incorporating the signature technologies available from Hexagon. We offer an Operator Alertness System (OAS) to monitor operator awareness and issue real-time alerts that can prevent accidents.