Tackling workplace fatigue in the mining industry

Fatigue can significantly impair a worker’s ability to perform tasks safely, leading to costly mistakes, incidents and injuries.

Managing workplace fatigue and the hours your workers are on site for is crucial for both employee wellbeing and operational success. This article explores the dangers of workplace fatigue and practical strategies to reduce the risks at your mine site.

The dangers of fatigue

Fatigue in the mines doesn’t just affect productivity, it can be a direct threat to safety, particularly for workers that often operate heavy machinery, perform complex tasks or work in isolation. Fatigue is a hazard and may be identified as a risk.

Fatigue can be physically evident in people through a few ways outlined below.

Decreased cognitive function
Fatigue slows reaction times and reduces attention to detail, which are essential for hazard identification and risk mitigation. Studies show that after 17 hours without sleep, cognitive impairment can be similar to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 per cent.
Physical exhaustion
Physically demanding tasks become riskier when workers are fatigued. Exhaustion affects coordination and strength, increasing the likelihood of workplace incidents such as slips, trips and falls.
Psychological risks
Fatigue can contribute to irritability, mood swings and stress, which may reduce the effectiveness of communication and create tension among team members. In the mining industry, clear and effective communication is essential to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to dangerous situations.

Effective fatigue management strategies

Fatigue management requires a proactive, holistic approach to control and minimise the dangers of fatigue outlined above. Four key strategies mining companies can implement to manage workplace fatigue effectively include scheduling, adequate workload distribution, health and wellness programs and digital management systems.

Scheduling

Not only is the effective scheduling of shifts ideal for managing fatigue but it is also a legal requirement. A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a duty under the model WHS laws to do all they reasonably can to manage the risk of fatigue in the workplace. Consider the following methods for optimising work schedules and allow workers enough time for rest between shifts.

Rest periods: short breaks throughout the workday can be just as important as extended breaks between shifts. Providing workers with the opportunity to take rest breaks after several hours of work and adequate time to recover between shifts can prevent the accumulation of fatigue and improve concentration levels.
Tracking worker hours: monitoring the hours your teams are working is a great way to ensure they are not working an unreasonable number of hours. Consider using site access technologies that feature timestamping to keep track of when workers are clocking in and out and provides warnings if they are working excessively

Workload distribution

Properly distributing tasks ensures no employee is overburdened and tasks are completed efficiently and safely.

Team collaboration: dividing tasks among team members can reduce the physical and mental strain on individual workers. Team-based approaches encourage collaboration, allow workers to share responsibilities and reduce the risk of burnout
Task rotation: assigning workers to different tasks throughout the day can help minimise the physical and mental exhaustion resulting from repetitive tasks. For example, rotating between operating machinery and performing maintenance tasks allows workers to engage different muscle groups and parts of the brain, reducing the likelihood of fatigue onset
Load monitoring: monitoring the workload of staff in real-time can help identify areas where workers may be overburdened or underutilised. Simple check-ins with staff on a daily basis can help to ensure workloads are balanced appropriately

Health and wellness programs

Investing in employee health and wellness is one of the most effective ways to combat workplace fatigue. When workers feel physically and mentally healthy, they are less likely to suffer from fatigue, which in turn improves safety and productivity.

Fitness programs: encouraging physical fitness through company-sponsored activities such as gym memberships, fitness challenges or onsite workout facilities can improve workers’ stamina and energy levels, making them less susceptible to fatigue
Mental health support: fatigue isn’t just physical; mental fatigue can be equally damaging. Providing mental health resources, such as access to employee assistance programs (EAP), stress management workshops or mindfulness training, can help workers manage stress and maintain mental clarity, even in demanding, high risk work environments
Sleep education: educating workers about the importance of sleep and how to improve sleep quality is essential. Offering resources like sleep hygiene programs, tips for managing stress and advice on managing sleep patterns during shift work can have a profound impact on reducing fatigue

Implement a digital management system

Utilising technological solutions is a great way to identify risks of fatigue and implement effective control measures on mine sites. A digital system can allow you to collect real time data of your workforce, ensuring you have accurate visibility of work scheduling, the hours staff are working and the potential for fatigue related risks to arise.

Fatigue: not just an employer’s responsibility

It’s also important to remember workers also have a responsibility to manage their own fatigue on mine sites. Companies should encourage workers to learn the signs of fatigue and implement effective strategies for managing it. Safe Work Australia’s fatigue management guide can help with this process.