A quantitative model of work-related fatigue: background and definition

Fatigue has been identified as a major risk factor for shiftworkers. However, few organizations or governments currently manage work-related fatigue in any systematic or quantitative manner. This paper outlines an approach to managing fatigue that could improve shiftwork management. Using shift start and finish times as an input, the outlined model quantifies work-related fatigue on the basis of its known determinants; that is shift timing and duration, work history and the biological limits on sleep length at specific times of day. Evaluations suggest that work-related fatigue scores correlate very highly with sleep-onset latency, neurobehavioural impairment and subjective sleepiness. The model is useful in that it allows comparisons to be made between rosters independent of shift length and timing or the total number of work hours. Furthermore, unlike many models of sleepiness and fatigue, individual's sleep times are not required as hours of work are used as the input. It is believed the model provides the potential quantitatively to link the effects of shiftwork to specific organizational health and safety outcomes. This simple approach may be especially critical at a time when many organizations view longer and more flexible hours from their employees as an immediate productivity gain.