By Michael Weston
In my time as a leader, I’ve been involved in many incident investigations where the contributing factor was fatigue.
Fatigue is more than just feeling tired after a long day—it’s a serious and often overlooked hazard that affects our Safety, Health and Performance.
It creeps in quietly without warning and can have dangerous consequences if ignored.
Whether caused by lack of sleep, working long hours, stress, medical conditions or shift work, fatigue impairs our ability to think clearly, react quickly and make good decisions. It slows us down mentally and physically, increasing the risk of accidents at work, at home or when driving on the road.
What makes fatigue especially dangerous is that we often underestimate it. You can’t always see fatigue in someone and many people push through it without realising how impaired they really are.
The Hidden Risks of Fatigue
- Microsleeps – brief lapses in attention that last seconds but can cause serious accidents.
- Impaired judgment – similar to being under the influence of alcohol.
- Reduced focus and memory – making it harder to learn or perform tasks safely.
- Emotional reactivity – fatigue affects mood, patience and communication.
Listen to Your Body
The best way to prevent fatigue-related harm is to recognise the signs early such as heavy eyelids, zoning out, forgetfulness, irritability or clumsiness. These are all red flags.
It’s the simple things in our lives that can make a greater difference when it comes to managing our fatigue such as:
- Taking breaks
- Prioritising rest and sleep
- Advocating for safe scheduling practices at work
- Communicating with your colleagues and leaders about your fatigue levels
- Importantly, looking out for one another and saying something
Fatigue may be invisible but its impact is not. By taking it seriously and addressing it openly, we can reduce accidents, improve well-being and create safer environments for everyone.
