Fatigue proofing

Since World \Var II we have seen an increasing focus on fatigue as a source of error and a threat to operational safety in a variety of industries, including transport, emergency services, health care, and others. There is a significant extant literature documenting both the causes and effects of fatigue. In brief, prior sleep-wake behavior, time-of-day, and workload are key factors determining the level of fatigue experienced by the individual worker. Slowed cognitive processing and impaired attentional and emotional control all c:ombine to increase the likelihood of task-related errors and thereby compromise judgement, decision making, and ultimately workplace safety.