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What is Workplace Fatigue?

Workplace fatigue is one of the most common, costly, and dangerous safety risks affecting safety-sensitive industries. It is often described in terms related to sleepiness, tiredness, or exhaustion and is discussed in contexts such as workplace safety, enhancing work productivity, or reducing fatigue-related workplace risks.

However, it is important to look beyond this context to achieve a fuller understanding of what fatigue is, what causes it, its implications, and how you can manage it most effectively.

Millions of insomniacs, Netflix bingers, and parents with loud babies report to work every day. 

We see them everywhere. They’re the ones huffing and puffing as loudly as possible at any minor inconvenience, such as a lapdog yelping next door or a coworker crunching noisily on their chips. With maybe a few hours of low-quality sleep in them, they’re easily distracted and forget why they entered a room immediately upon entering it. They’re irritable. They mutter a few more cuss words than usual, dismissing regular filters and inhibitions. 

A title like that will perk up most safety supervisors' ears, ready to hunt down the alcoholics on site. 

If it said, "69% of Your Workers are Fatigued", it wouldn't get nearly the same reaction. 

So, here we are--Us lying to get your attention, you out there listening for clinking bottles. 

While many of us spent the last few months lounging blissfully in our homes, sipping coffee out of our favorite mugs, and tapping away on our laptops, we felt fortunate that the “new normal” didn’t wreck our businesses. We were still productive and efficient from home, we didn’t have to wear shoes, and we didn’t have to pay for office space.

For others, remote work was never an option. Businesses came to a halt. Workers were left hanging. 

What Does Fit for Work Mean?

According to CCOHS, "'fit for work' or 'fitness to work' is typically a medical assessment done when an employer wishes to be sure an employee can safely do a specific job or task." 

Why Do Companies Engage in Workplace Drug Testing?

56% of U.S. employers use pre-employment drug tests, or randomly drug test employees.

These companies pay $3,750,500,000 annually in pre-employment drug testing costs. (Statistic Brain)

Although it’s a hefty investment, for many employers there’s no way to get around workplace drug testing policies. It’s a practice rooted in legal compliance and corporate culture. But it’s well-intentioned.