Fatigue and Injury Risk
Fatigue is your body’s way of telling you it needs rest and time to recover. It can affect you physically, mentally, or emotionally. Here, we are focusing on physical fatigue and how it can impact your work. Working long hours, not getting enough sleep, or switching between day and night shifts can make you feel more tired. When you are fatigued, your risk of getting hurt goes up. Fatigue can slow your attention and reaction time. It can also affect your memory, make it harder to make decisions, and lead to mood changes and poor judgment.
While you may not be able to control your work schedule, there are things you can control. Making good choices about rest and recovery can help reduce fatigue and keep you safe on the job.
Ideas to reduce fatigue at work:
· Job/Task Rotation: Switch up tasks throughout the day so muscles are not being stressed the same way all day long.
· Get enough sleep: Aim for a consistent 7-9 hours in a cool, dark space.
· Stay hydrated and eat well: Limit caffeine and sugar to avoid energy slumps.
· Hearing protection: Utilize ear plugs in loud environments.
· Take frequent microbreaks: stand up, walk around, change up posture and stretch before resuming work duties.
Example: Shoulder blade squeezes: Start by standing with your best posture. Squeeze your shoulder blades back and down your rib cage to feel a gentle pinch in the mid back. Hold for 1-2 seconds, then release. Remember to keep your neck relaxed as you complete this movement. Don’t shrug your shoulders up. Try to do 8-10 repetitions.
