Occupational fatigue—new insights on causes and consequences
Review shows mental and physical toll of workplace fatigue
Sleep loss and poor working conditions are the most important causes of occupational fatigue—which can impair mental and physical performance with the potential for serious errors and injuries, reports a review and update in the October Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
Matthew Hallowell, PhD, and colleagues of University of Colorado at Boulder analyzed previous research to develop a "comprehensive systems model" of the interrelated causes and consequences of occupational fatigue. Fatigue, which may be acute or chronic, is defined as "a decreased ability to perform activities at the desired level due to lassitude or exhaustion of mental and/or physical strength."
Based on available data, the "major drivers" of fatigue were sleep deprivation and factors in the work environment—such as noise, vibration, and temperature. These causes could all interact with other factors, such as increased work load and long work hours.