Tag: fatigue

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS WORK ZONE HAZARDS

Posted on by Jim Wood

National Road Safety Foundation studies show that auto accidents increase after the clocks fall back an hour in autumn. It takes time for drivers to acclimate to the decreased visibility during rush hour. And drivers may be more fatigued during this time, reducing their perception and reaction time.

SAFETY CUES

  • Remind employees of the increased risk due to the decrease in motorist visibility.
  • Increase worker visibility measures typically put into place for night work.
  • Make sure high visibility clothing is clean and in good condition.
  • Replace worn, damaged or dirty high visibility clothing.
  • Ensure that temporary traffic control devices are regularly maintained.
  • Make sure lane guidance and signage provide motorists with ample visual cues and minimal confusion.
  • Consider implementing portable lighting to offset less daylight and increased cloud cover.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.

Fighting Fatigue

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published 09/27/2019

Fatigue is the condition of being physically or mentally tired or exhausted. Extreme fatigue can lead to uncontrolled and involuntary shutdown of the brain, which can be extremely dangerous on a construction site. Research has shown that:

  • 17 hours of continuously being awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .05;
  • 21 hours of continuously being awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .08 (the legal limit in Indiana); and
  • 24-25 hours of continuously being awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .10.

These statistics show that when you are fatigued it is very likely that you will make errors in judgement. Your mind and eyes can be off task, and you can make a critical error.

A sleep-impaired worker may also experience lack of manual dexterity and alertness. The drowsiness associated with sleep deprivation can jeopardize safety when working with machinery, at heights and certainly while driving vehicles. Sleep-impaired workers may be more irritable and might take more risks than they would if they were rested. Research has also proven that workers are far more likely to forget rote tasks when they are deprived of sleep on a regular basis.

Here are some tips from the National Sleep Foundation for getting a good night’s sleep:

  • Don’t sleep in on your days off. Maintain your workday sleep schedule.
  • Wind down before going to bed. Experts recommend that you establish a regular relaxing routine to transition between waking and sleeping. Soak in a hot tub or read a book before retiring. This can greatly improve your quality of sleep. Make your bedroom sleep friendly by making it a dark, quiet, cool and comfortable place.
  • Use your bed for sleeping. Watching television or working on a computer can impede your ability to truly relax when it’s time to sleep.
  • Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for several hours before bedtime.
  • Allow enough time for sleep. Before you protest and say you would if you could, consider that people who get enough sleep are significantly more productive during their waking hours than people who are sleep deprived.
  • Nap when possible. A 20-minute nap (no more) followed by exercise will make you feel refreshed and provide a pick-me-up that will make you more productive.
  • Exercise regularly and complete your workout a few hours before bedtime.
  • Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.

Remember, the treatment for sleepiness and fatigue is sleep. A rested worker is more alert and focused, and is likely to be more productive and work safely.

Download the recording form here.

Safety Tips for Night Work Construction Crews

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published May 9, 2017

According to one report, nighttime construction work is almost 2 ½ times more dangerous than daytime construction work.

Some reasons this work is more dangerous include: operators and motorists find it difficult to see beyond the glare of headlights or work zone lights; motorists and workers are more likely to be fatigued and drowsy; a higher percentage of motorists may be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and work zone lane changes can catch motorists by surprise. Add it all up and it’s easy to see why nighttime work is more dangerous.

However, working at night is here to stay. Lane closures for roadway construction or repair can be accomplished with less disruption to the traveling public by doing the work during off peak (nighttime) hours. So what can we do to help ensure our safety when we are working at night?

While Off The Job – Make Sleep a Priority

  • An hour or so before you want to go to sleep, take a warm shower or bath to relax.
  • Lower the temperature in your bedroom (a cool environment improves sleep).
  • Darken your bedroom by pulling shades.
  • Avoid caffeine several hours before you want to go to sleep.
  • Don’t activate your brain several hours before you want to go to sleep.
  • Wear earplugs if daytime noise keeps you awake.
  • Turn on a “white noise” machine, like a fan, to give a gentle background noise.
  • Develop a regular sleeping schedule.

While On The Job

  • All construction crew members should wear high-visibility clothing. Flaggers in particular, should wear safety vests that are labeled as meeting the American National Standards Institute standard performance for Class 3 risk exposure safety vest, with “retro-reflective” striping.
  • Take short breaks when you feel yourself becoming tired.
  • Use the buddy system – try working close to a co-worker for conversation and help in recognizing when you’re getting drowsy.
  • If you find yourself fighting to stay awake, let a supervisor know and take a short break. A short break could prevent a serious accident.

We don’t recommend using sleeping pills or alcohol to go to sleep. They might help for a day or two, but not long-term. We also don’t recommend drinking lots of highly-caffeinated drinks, because the short-term energy burst they give is followed by a deeper sense of fatigue a short time later.

Consider these safety tips when working at night. The life you save may be your own.

Download the recording form here.

Fighting Fatigue

Posted on by admin_ici

Fatigue is the condition of being physically or mentally tired or exhausted. Extreme fatigue can lead to uncontrolled and involuntary shutdown of the brain, which can be extremely dangerous on a construction site. Research has shown that:

  • 17 hours of continuously being awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .05;
  • 21 hours of continuously being awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .08 (the legal limit in Indiana); and
  • 24-25 hours of continuously being awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .10.

These statistics show that when you are fatigued it is very likely that you will make errors in judgement. Your mind and eyes can be off task, and you can make a critical error.

A sleep-impaired worker may also experience lack of manual dexterity and alertness. The drowsiness associated with sleep deprivation can jeopardize safety when working with machinery, at heights and certainly while driving vehicles. Sleep-impaired workers may be more irritable and might take more risks than they would if they were rested. Research has also proven that workers are far more likely to forget rote tasks when they are deprived of sleep on a regular basis.

Here are some tips from the National Sleep Foundation for getting a good night’s sleep:

  • Don’t sleep in on your days off. Maintain your workday sleep schedule.
  • Wind down before going to bed. Experts recommend that you establish a regular relaxing routine to transition between waking and sleeping. Soak in a hot tub or read a book before retiring. This can greatly improve your quality of sleep. Make your bedroom sleep friendly by making it a dark, quiet, cool and comfortable place.
  • Use your bed for sleeping. Watching television or working on a computer can impede your ability to truly relax when it’s time to sleep.
  • Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for several hours before bedtime.
  • Allow enough time for sleep. Before you protest and say you would if you could, consider that people who get enough sleep are significantly more productive during their waking hours than people who are sleep deprived.
  • Nap when possible. A 20-minute nap (no more) followed by exercise will make you feel refreshed and provide a pick-me-up that will make you more productive.
  • Exercise regularly and complete your workout a few hours before bedtime.
  • Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.

Remember, the treatment for sleepiness and fatigue is sleep. A rested worker is more alert and focused, and is likely to be more productive and work safely.

Download the recording form here.