Fatigue Management Toolbox Talk
Fatigue slows your reactions, clouds your judgement and makes you miss things you would normally see. Being awake for about 17 hours affects you as much as a blood alcohol level of 0.05. Early starts, long days and long drives home all add up.
Takes about 5 minutes.
Key points to read out
- Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Less than that night after night builds a sleep debt.
- Warning signs: yawning, heavy eyes, slow reactions, losing focus, irritability and nodding off.
- Long shifts, heat, heavy work, night work and second jobs all increase fatigue.
- If you are too tired to work safely, tell your supervisor. It is not a weakness, it is a hazard report.
- Move tired workers off high risk tasks such as driving plant, working at height or using cutting tools.
- Take your breaks, drink water and eat properly. Caffeine and energy drinks only mask tiredness for a short time.
- The drive home is one of the most dangerous parts of the day. If you are drowsy, stop and rest or get a lift.
- Plan long shifts and overtime so people get proper rest between them.
Questions to ask the crew
- How many hours of sleep did you get last night?
- How long is your drive home after work?
- Which jobs today should not be done by someone who is very tired?
- What would you do if you saw a mate nodding off at the wheel of a machine?
Sign-in sheet
Print this page or download the sign-in sheet. Or run it in the app and the crew signs on the phone.
| Name | Company | Signature |
|---|---|---|
Get it signed
Run this talk in the app. The crew signs on your phone and you get a dated attendance record as a PDF.