Sleep and fatigue are essential aspects of injury prevention in workplaces of all kinds, from high-risk industries such as mining and construction to manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing. Affecting injury risks, productivity and workplace morale, fatigue is a critical factor in any safety program. Closely correlated with shift work, fatigue can cause serious impairment that leads to significant injury risks, as well as high costs to the employer. Consider these fatigue facts:
Fatigue-related employer costs average between $1,200 – $3,100 per employee per year
Up to 13% of workplace injuries include fatigue as a causal factor (National Safety Council)
Fatigue causes similar impairments as inebriation, increasing accident risks and making employees more prone to injury
In the latest episode of the DORN Injury Prevention Academy Podcast, we’re joined by sleep and fatigue expert Dr. Ian C. Dunican, Director and Chief Adviser at Melius Consulting and Sleep4Performance. Dr. Dunican holds a PhD in Sleep and Performance, and brings 25 years of experience in the research and application of sleep science across industries like mining, energy, transportation, and utilities. As one of the world’s leading fatigue scholars, Dr. Dunican has worked with countless employers to develop and implement fatigue management programs that help reduce fatigue among workers while cutting costs and bringing down injury rates.
Catch the podcast here: https://youtu.be/aEQVXgEMGNE
In this episode, we cover:
- Concepts from sleep and fatigue science applied to a broad range of professional settings
- How employers can manage fatigue for both on-site and remote workers
- Rising rates of burnout and how employers are handling the effects of fatigue on operations
- The most important factors for employers to consider when building effective fatigue management strategies
Want to learn more about workplace fatigue? Download DORN’s free white paper, The Dangers of Fatigue in the Workplace: https://www.dorncompanies.com/fatigue-in-the-workplace-white-paper/
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About the Author
Kevin Lombardo
CEO & President at DORN CompaniesKevin is Senior Executive and widely recognized thought leader in workers’ compensation and Total Worker Wellness with a focus on workplace injury prevention and on-site innovative therapy solutions.
