OP4
EVIDENCE BASED ROTA DESIGN : INTEGRATING MODELLING, TRAINING AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN FATIGUE RISK MANAGEMENT
- Hayes, Shell International, The Hague, The Netherlands
Background
Disruption of circadian rhythms from shift work is an established occupational health concern linked to sleep deprivation, impaired cognitive performance, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and increased cancer risk. Fatigue contributes to incidents in safety-critical activities such as driving and turnaround work. Although fatigue standards often exist, and organisations comply with the working-time regulations , these measures do not always prevent fatigue in complex shift patterns or safety critical operations.
Aims
To strengthen an existing corporate fatigue standard within a matrix organization by integrating modelling software, proactive review of proposed schedules, compulsory fatigue training, and collaboration between occupational health, human factors and industrial hygiene teams.
Methods
A Human Factors-led programme was implemented across operational sites, including clearer governance within the fatigue standard, development of site fatigue plans, use of modelling software to assess proposed rotas before implementation, mandatory fatigue awareness training for at-risk workers, and integration of fatigue risks into task-group HRAs with occupational health, industrial hygiene, safety and operations teams.
Results
Although a fatigue standard existed, fatigue plans and rotas were previously based largely on judgement. Proactive modelling enabled evidence-based advice on rota safety, supporting healthier schedule design and behaviour change among shift planners. Training improved early recognition of fatigue symptoms and multidisciplinary collaboration strengthened consistency of fatigue risk management across regions, especially in places where regulatory drive is limiting.
Conclusions
Strengthening an existing fatigue standard with proactive modelling, training and multidisciplinary collaboration represents an innovative shift to preventive, evidence-based fatigue management that protects worker health and operational safety.
References:
International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP / formerly OGP)
Managing Fatigue in the Workplace.
International Agency for Research on Cancer
Night Shift Work Classified as Probably Carcinogenic to Humans (Group 2A).
IARC Monographs Vol. 124.
Folkard S, Tucker P.
Shift work, safety and productivity.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Shift work and cancer : The evidence and the challenge by Thomas C.Erren et al., published in Deutsches Arteblatt International
EI 3133 Human factors briefing note no. 5 – Fatigue
