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Fatigue on the Job

General Safety | 10-15 min

Summary

According to the National Safety Council, fatigue costs employers an estimated $136 billion annually in health-related lost productivity. More critically, fatigue is a contributing factor in 13% of workplace injuries. Research shows that workers who have been awake for 17 hours perform at a level equivalent to someone with a blood alcohol content of 0.05% - and after 24 hours without sleep, impairment equals 0.10%, above the legal driving limit in all states.

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Key Points to Cover

  • Fatigue impairs judgment and reaction time
  • Being awake 17 hours equals 0.05% BAC impairment
  • Quality sleep is the only cure for fatigue
  • Watch for signs of fatigue in yourself and coworkers
  • Report if too fatigued to work safely

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should this safety talk take?

Plan for about 10-15 min, with extra time for questions and site-specific examples.

Can I tailor the discussion to my workplace?

Yes. Use the key points as a starting place and connect them to the tasks, equipment, and procedures your team uses.

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