OCC/General/TBT-OCC-008

Fatigue and Working Hours

Occupational Health › General › Fatigue and Working Hours

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Fatigue is a significant but overlooked cause of accidents on construction sites.
Long hours, overtime, and consecutive shifts degrade concentration and judgement.
The risk of accident increases significantly after 8 hours and doubles after 12.
The Working Time Regulations 1998 limit average weekly hours to 48 unless opted out.
Even with an opt-out, employers must still manage fatigue and provide rest.
Workers must have minimum 11 hours rest between shifts and a weekly 24-hour rest.
Driving home after long shifts is a major fatigue-related risk.
Physical work, heat, noise, and vibration all accelerate the onset of fatigue.
Early starts before 6am and work past 8pm carry higher accident risk.
Supervisors must monitor alertness and have authority to stand down fatigued workers.

Prevent accidents	Fatigued workers are significantly more likely to make errors causing injury.
Legal compliance	Working Time Regulations set minimum rest periods that must be observed.
Driving risk	Drowsy driving after long shifts causes fatal road collisions.
Long-term health	Chronic fatigue contributes to heart disease and mental ill health.

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See also: Occupational Health Awareness | Mental Health and Wellbeing on Site

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