Running on Empty: How Workplace Fatigue Affects Safety and Performance

By Kevin Winn, Co-founder and CEO of MuuvWell

We spend a lot of time talking about how employees start their workday. Are they trained? Do they have the right equipment? Are they prepared for the physical demands of their job?

But what about hour 10?

An employee can understand the task and care about doing it well while still struggling to stay focused late in a demanding shift. When we talk about workforce performance, we need to look at the demands we place on people and their opportunity to recover.

Listen to the conversation

Running on Empty: How Workplace Fatigue Affects Safety and Performance

Fatigue affects more than energy

Fatigue can affect how people think and respond. According to NIOSH, it can slow reactions, make it harder to concentrate, affect short-term memory and impair judgment. Night shifts, extended hours, stress and demanding tasks can all contribute.

For employers, that makes fatigue part of the safety conversation. When someone makes a mistake, it is worth asking what the workday looked like leading up to it. How much overtime had they worked? Had they been able to take breaks? Was the workload realistic?

Those questions help leaders understand the conditions surrounding performance and identify what they can improve.

What the workforce can learn from sports

As an ultrarunner, I think about preparation, pacing and recovery. I would never assume that being prepared for the first mile means I can ignore what my body needs for the rest of the race.

That same perspective belongs in the workplace.

A pre-shift warmup can be part of preparing for physical work. Employers also need to consider what happens throughout the shift: the tasks people perform, the pace they maintain and whether they have realistic opportunities to rest.

Recovery deserves a place in how we plan the work.

Start with the way work is organized

OSHA recommends reviewing staffing, workloads and work hours, providing opportunities for rest, and considering environmental factors such as lighting and temperature. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

A practical starting point is to ask:

• Where are we relying heavily on overtime?

• Can employees actually take their scheduled breaks?

• Which tasks are most demanding, and can we reduce those demands?

• What are employees telling us about how they feel late in the shift?

A break policy only helps when staffing and production expectations allow people to use it. Employee education should support changes in working conditions.

Make it easier to speak up

Leaders can open the conversation with a simple question: “How are you feeling as you get toward the end of your shift?”

Then listen. An employee may describe exhaustion, difficulty keeping up or discomfort that builds during the day. Those experiences deserve attention, even when there has been no injury.

Check-ins should help identify concerns and guide appropriate action. Employees need to see that speaking up leads to support and a thoughtful response.

Connect daily habits with practical support

Sleep, nutrition, physical activity and stress management belong in employee health education. Make that education relevant to the people receiving it. Someone working nights needs guidance that fits their schedule.

Education also has limits. A conversation about healthy habits cannot fix an unrealistic workload or replace adequate rest. Persistent fatigue or sleep difficulties may need evaluation by a healthcare professional. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Bridging the gap between wellness and safety

Fatigue is one example of why employee health and workplace safety belong in the same conversation. The way people feel affects how they approach their work, and the way work is organized affects how they feel.

For employers, a useful first step is to walk the floor late in a shift. Ask employees what feels hardest, listen for patterns and choose one working condition you can improve.

At MuuvWell, we help employers connect employee health, workplace safety and workforce performance through onsite injury prevention and virtual support.

Healthier teams. A healthier bottom line.

Learn how MuuvWell can support your workforce at muuvwell.com.