Page 34 - OHS, JulyAugust 2023

PPE: FOOT PROTECTION Fighting Fatigue The cost of occupational fatigue and a wellness benefit solution. Dusan Petkovic/Shutterstock.com BY JANELLE KINNAIRD Over two-thirds of your employees feel tired during the workday, according to a workplace fatigue survey report by the National Safety Council1. Ok, so they’re tired. What exactly does that mean? How does fatigue hurt you and your company? And how can you improve employee energy? Tired at Work According to the NSC, fatigue is described as “the feelings of tired- ness, sleepiness, reduced energy and increased effort needed to perform tasks at a desired level.” When tired, your employees don’t think as clearly, don’t make informed decisions easily or quickly, get distracted and lose focus more, slow down and are less productive. Fatigue is a cognitive impairment affecting how we think as well as our attention level, memory, concentration, impulse con- trol and more. Ninety-seven percent of respondents reported decreased cognitive performance while at work — 97 percent! 34 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2023 www.ohsonline.com