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RoxanneThorpe788  
#1 Posted : 20 October 2025 13:50:49(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
RoxanneThorpe788

Hey All, 

How are you managing fatigue data? Interested in: 

  • How this is communicated with supply chain?
  • What metrics are been reported and how is this displayed? 
  • What risk assessments have been put in place for certain roles?

This is within construction.

Thank you 

Roxy 

peter gotch  
#2 Posted : 22 October 2025 10:34:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi Roxy

Your post has been read over 60 times but without reply, so I will try and get the ball rolling.

I think you might need to expand on the nature of the question.

All too often "fatigue management" is done by counting the number of hours people work in a day/week/longer period, partly as a nod to whatever legislation is in place to comply with the EC Working Time Directive and such like.

However, there are many other things to consider.

As example, there tends to be the assumption that those working night shifts will inevitably suffer from "fatigue" but studies long ago indicate that many people adapt entirely comfortable to working different hours to the majority, and that it is CHANGES to shift pattern that are sometimes likely to be more of an issue.

So another example, you can put people on rotating shifts say 8am - 4pm one week, 4pm to Midnight the next, Midnight to 8am the third and then repeat and many workers will probably adapt quite well.

In contrast, decades ago, researchers found that many people could not cope with the so call Reverse European Shift Pattern, so instead of the shifts going forwards from e.g. 8-4 to 4-12, they went backwards, so 8am - 4pm week 1, then Mighnight to 8am week 2, and 4pm to Midnight week 3.

The limited research that has been done also suggests that rates of accidents don't increase if shift lengths increase from the traditional 8 to about 10, but do start to increase if extended to about 12 or more and this happens on a regular basis. However, difficult to find evidence that withstands statistical scrutiny in terms of the level of impact particularly in jobs that do not fall within types that have been designated "safety critical", often with targeted legislation to cover such jobs.

If all you want to do is count hours, then a decent timesheet system that is effectvely implemented (i.e. people are expected NOT to work hours but not record them!!) is probably most of what you need.

In contrast, if you want to manage "fatigue" then there are numerous variables to consider INCLUDING quite how bad the outcome could be if things go wrong. 

....and by "quite how bad the outcome could be" I probably DON'T mean ONE fatality but rather multiple casualties and/or widespread environmental impact, and/or major impact on production and/or etc etc.

This is NOT to say that ONE fatality is OK, but all things are relative!! - for instance, very lttile tends to happen when there is a crash on the public highways with a single fatality in the UK - and even less if that were to happen in e.g. the US where the accident rates are MUCH higher. In contrast, all stops are rightly pulled out if a road bridge collapse and many people killed and injureed.

stevedm  
#3 Posted : 23 October 2025 09:58:22(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

as always Peter you call me to action...was avoiding it as I don't have direct construction experience to relay, however I first got involved in sleep and fatigue management back in 2000 when I had one of our drivers (Chemical tanker) fall asleep at the wheel and crashed into a stationary taxi killing the taxi driver.

To avoid a charge of death by dangerous driving the driver had a diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea…a local shop steward at the time.

What we had found after that was that there had been a number of unreported high potential near misses not just on the night shift, drivers recounting ending up on a slip road when they didn’t recall changing lanes…

So after much research with The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators, TRL and Loughborough University Sleep Research facility – specifically looking at heavy vehicle collisions we developed a fatigue management policy which also took into consideration the HSE guidance on shift risk.  Didn’t solve all ills but was defendable, we had to dismiss someone based on it later and although there had been 11 previous incidents of near misses where they only got a final written warning as there was no fatigue policy in place at the time, he did not have that luxury.  My message here is HR have to be on board to enforce when, not if, they don't comply.

What I found from that whole journey was that although we put these things in place and ‘force’ rest on staff, what they do with it can counter or take away any safety measure, indeed excessive screen time had been a significant problem for some time now.

We also looked at medical, and I fought a long battle on the definition of safety critical staff – how can a driver or in the OP case a plant operator not be safety critical?  Eventually along with drug and alcohol testing I managed to get the Epworth Sleepiness scale in as a basic screening tool…and to help build data locally.

So in response to the OP the definition of your workers will determine the levels of controls you put in place.  The Construction Better health guidance removed the definitions for Safety Critical Medicals in a basic sweep, it had a really good table in it that shows the requirements for each operative.  Sadly now defunct.

I do find in my reflective days, that there is still a machoism in the industry gene rally, one contractor I overheard recently was telling me where he lived close to my home town outside Glasgow and was travelling each day to Crewe for a 12 hour shift…a controls and instrumentation engineer…perhaps why the rail network isn’t as reliable

Some assessment tools I used along the way  - HSE Fatigue Index Tool – spreadsheet and document guidance HSG 256.  Human Factors analysis and bowties to display the possible failure mechanisms and barriers really helped with getting the message across.  The EI has a fatigue Management Plan Guidance document which has a nice wee checklist in it that can be used as part of your task-based risk assessment process and it gives guidance on creating the Fatigue Risk Management Plan.

Not sure any of that will help you in construction but there are a couple of good references there to assist. 

thanks 1 user thanked stevedm for this useful post.
Martin Fieldingt on 23/10/2025(UTC)
Kate  
#4 Posted : 23 October 2025 18:50:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

The HSE withdrew their fatigue calculator some time ago, on the grounds that (a) the software was obsolete and (b) the calculator was being misused.

stevedm  
#5 Posted : 24 October 2025 06:38:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

yes Kate but it is still a reasonable reference and so long as not used in isolation...still used quite widely in the Rail industry I believe...HSE solicitors are quite jumpy but guidance still up and referencing the research report which includes the excel sheet....as I said only one reference not the whole....like you say used correctly it can add something to your fatigue management planning.

Kate  
#6 Posted : 24 October 2025 09:30:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Yes, I agree with you there, Steve.  I even retained my download of it in case I might need it again.

thanks 1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
stevedm on 24/10/2025(UTC)
Hsefaisal22@gmail.com  
#7 Posted : 24 October 2025 10:35:17(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Hsefaisal22@gmail.com

Fatigue Data Management in Construction

  • Supply Chain Communication: Fatigue-related data is disseminated through centralized reporting systems and safety dashboards, ensuring all stakeholders—including subcontractors—are informed and aligned with fatigue risk protocols.

  • Reported Metrics and Display: Key indicators include hours worked, rest periods, biometric fatigue scores, and incident correlations. These are presented via visual dashboards, trend analyses, and alert systems to support proactive decision-making.

  • Role-Based Risk Assessments: Specific roles are evaluated based on physical demands, shift schedules, and environmental exposure. Mitigation measures include structured rest cycles, job rotation, and mandatory fatigue awareness training.

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