Fatigue management at workplace
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, fatigue is "the state of feeling very tired, weary or sleepy resulting from insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or extended periods of stress or anxiety. Boring or repetitive tasks can intensify feelings of fatigue”. Most common symptoms include: rubbing the eyes, head nodding, forgetting instructions, long eye blinks and yawning. Excessive sleepiness in the workplace and while driving is a serious safety hazard, as such Caldwell et al suggest the following management strategy. Basically, insufficient sleep is the main blamed factor of fatigue. It comes from self- or society-imposed sleep restrictions, long working hours, jet lag, etc. Experts recommend that an average adult should have 7–9 h of sleep per night. Thus, attention should be given to a proper nap and sleep schedule and the use of rest breaks. Sleep is a biological necessity like food, water, and oxygen, but it requires a voluntary engagement and personal time management that also adapts to social demands.